Ben Shelton Leads The Roger Pro 3 Tennis Shoe Launch

Ben Shelton began sporting the brand new The Roger Pro 3 tennis footwear publicly throughout January’s Australian Open. But the world No. 6 has been pulling on the footwear for for much longer. As the primary male tennis participant ever signed to an On endorsement deal, Shelton has served because the face of The Roger Pro franchise since he joined the model in 2023, testing prototype footwear alongside the way in which. His arms—and toes—have touched the brand new Roger Pro 3 forward of the shoe’s April 21 launch.

“It has been cool to be a part of the process and help On really build a great shoe,” Shelton tells me. “I do think that each iteration of The Roger Pro has been better than the last.”

For the third launch in what was the Switzerland-based model’s first efficiency tennis shoe providing, Edwin Janes, lead product supervisor of On tennis footwear, tells me they wished to double down on pace and agility. To get there, On added a layer of Helion foam within the midsole for a “new level of responsiveness that players will notice on the court.” It’s the identical foam utilized in a number of the model’s efficiency operating fashions, such because the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, for max vitality return. This is the primary time it is appeared in tennis. Janes says the Helion works at the side of the carbon fiber Speedboard plate for a contemporary stage of vitality return.

“The Roger Pro 3 is used by tennis players who want to feel light and fast on the court,” Janes says. “We think the first thing players will notice is a more responsive sensation, and over time, they’ll find that elements designed to improve durability will be reflected in the shoe’s appearance.”

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During design, Roger Federer stays actively concerned. “He always challenges us to create footwear that looks great and improves athletic performance,” Janes says. “He also asks us to make sure athletes are happy and get everything they need from the footwear. Working with athletes like Ben and Iga [Swiatek] “means we innovate with their needs in mind.”

Shelton has offered inspiration that really shapes The Roger Pro lineup. “He spoke about being explosive and fast on court, not being too high off the ground and changing directions quickly,” Janes says. “All of those insights went right into the brief for the Pro 3. He was the muse from the beginning, and we built the shoe with him in mind as the face of it.”

Since joining On, Shelton has been testing shoes, really serving to help craft each model. “If you look at the back of the 3 by the heel,” Shelton says, “it comes up a little bit higher, a little bit over the ankle bone.” Shelton says initial testing showed him it was something he wanted for increased comfort. His suggestion made the final version.

“I want something light, I want something that feels low like my feet are almost on the ground, to feel stable, able to slide, fly around the court well and at the same time not having to worry about rolling my ankle,” Shelton says about his list of must-haves. “That is the place On has made the most important strides. They made a shoe simply as gentle and quick as earlier than however fully strengthened so it’s steady, and I haven’t got to fret about rolling my ankle or going exhausting right into a slide. It is a shoe that basically protects you and helps you carry out.”

At 10 grams lighter than The Roger Pro 2, there’s additional updates, even with the lighter package. The new diamond outsole pattern meant to allow sliding—changed from a herringbone design—is an evolution of the outsole tread from the original Roger Pro. “The progression is designed to provide dynamic grip and control while also preserving some of the original design DNA from Roger’s first performance tennis shoe with On,” Janes says.

Also new is the coated engineered mesh reinforcements on the upper designed for durability and breathability. They feature molded reinforcements to protect against wear. The lace cage also received an update.

As On continues to grow their presence in tennis, Shelton says it has been a “cool opportunity” to grow with them. “I was there with the very first tests of the Pro 2 and I still have some of those models at home in my closet,” he says. “I feel that the shoe has develop into virtually a parallel to myself, extra well-rounded. I feel initially it was a light-weight shoe, however simply not tremendous supportive on the higher. They have strengthened it to a degree now it seems like a premium shoe. For me, I’m able to develop with the corporate on the identical time I’m making an attempt to develop and carry out higher annually. I feel it’s a cool alternative as On expands as an organization, as their tennis division expands.”

On wanted the design of the Pro 3 to reflect the “essence and spirit that embodies our first performance tennis sneaker,” Janes says. Outside of technology updates and efforts to make the shoe more durable, he says consumers will notice small aesthetic changes like logo placements.

Launching April 21 in both a linen and lime and a white and pink colorway for hard courts, the model also offers a clay version, one in black and pink and the other in thistle and pink, the featured color for Roland Garros. All four colorways are available for men and women.

One of Shelton’s favorite parts of the process is getting involved in shoe’s look. “As they become more and more innovative as a footwear company and performance brand I get to see and be around and give input on certain things,” he says. “I feel the fashion, the colorways, whether or not on court docket or off court docket, is the good alternative. To have the ability to be in a few of these conferences and put a few of my private contact on a particular colorway or a sure shoe is absolutely cool.”

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