In February, Diadem was kind enough to invite us to Diacon 2025 were we received an advance look at the technology behind Diadem’s BluCore paddle innovation as well as an in hand look at the brand’s most recent footwear release, the Diadem Court Flo.
Since that time, the Diadem Court Flo became my most anticipated pickleball shoe of the year, both for its aesthetics and the opportunity to discuss the goals for the shoe with Diadem’s lead footwear designer. Fast forward to the present, after months of use, here’s my Diadem Court Flo pickleball performance review.
What is the Diadem Court Flo?
A follow-up to Diadem’s first shoe, the well performing Diadem Court Burst, the Court Flo seeks to capture the attention of consumers searching for the best balance of price and performance.
But let’s find out how all of that actually worked on the pickleball court…
How did the Diadem Court Flo perform?
Starting from where the Court Flo makes contact with the court, the outsole is respectable both in terms of durability and performance on dedicated pickleball court surfaces. The wide, blown up herringbone pattern (there are mid foot zones featuring a much tighter herringbone pattern) covers both linear and lateral movement, and the tread pattern is hefty enough to buy a touch more time through wear and tear compared to your average pickleball shoe. Be mindful that the rate of wear could vary for players, depending on if you also play singles pickleball and play in higher skill level games with more pace and harder-cutting action.
Compared to the Court Burst, the Court Flo uses a typical EVA midsole that offers a little more cushion in exchange for a little less court feel. This was a welcome change as it’s a bit easier on my aging joints but still felt secure. The midsole cups a good portion of the foot and is subtly molded to feature a lateral outrigger that widens the base. Don’t expect a one-of-a-kind experience underfoot, but if you’re looking for something that gets the job done and lack of court feel is not a deal breaker, the Court Flo should work just fine.
While materials leave something to be desired for those wanting something on the premium side, they are understandably intentional as far as balancing affordability and performance.
For performance basketball shoe enthusiasts, the combination of open textile and fuse coverage actually reminds me of a slightly beefed up version of the Nike Kobe 11 EM, a shoe that I managed to hold on to and have taken out on the pickleball court once or twice. Like that model, I do not have many complaints about comfort or feel, despite the extra fuse and synthetic layering that makes the shoe feel plastic-like to the touch. Any pinching or hotspots from the overlays went away fairly quickly during early testing as the Diadem Court Flo broke in.
Fit is true-to-size in length, however, I would prefer a little more width in the toe box for toe splay. A few brands have nailed this area with their pickleball shoes and I feel Diadem did a better job with this on the Court Burst, though it’s not much wider in the forefoot area than the Court Flo.
One thought I have on the difference between the two is that the fuse toe cap extends around the entire forefoot to both the lateral and medial sides, restricting breathing room. The Court Burst actually caps the toe with a thick plastic layer that you would think is more restrictive, however it does not extend as far on the lateral side. The Court Flo’s extra coverage for durability and containment is unfortunately a trade off that means it loses a bit of breathing room.
While there is room for improvement in support and stability, I didn’t find any glaring issues testing the Diadem Court Flo. Torsional rigidity is minimal at best, but I can’t envision many players having issues over twisting inside the shoe. I would prefer a little wider base for extra security in exchange for a touch more weight, but I could very well be in a minority there, especially given I don’t recall any issues rolling over the footbed.
As mentioned before, you do sit within the midsole just a bit and the midsole does extend outward on the lateral side. That, combined with the upper containment and a minimal internal heel counter all work together well to create a serviceable level of security within the shoe.
Who is the Diadem Court Flo best suited for?
While both the Diadem Court Flo and Court Burst are interchangeable between racket sports, the Court Flo feels more like a shoe catered towards doubles pickleball versus the Court Burst that’s better suited for tennis court coverage and singles pickleball.
The extra bit of cushion the Court Flo provides over the Court Burst is more welcome for the longer points that typically come with doubles pickleball as well as the longer duration of sessions that often comes with doubles pickleball in both recreational and tournament settings.
Though there’s not as much court feel as a few other pickleball shoes in the market, the Diadem Court Flo is still a comfortable enough ride and doesn’t sacrifice much in stability. Plus it all comes in a relatively affordable package that will be appreciated by those on a budget.
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Disclosure
While Diadem did send the Court Flo, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.
