Our verdict

The product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes proved that the funky chicken-foot plate in its base works wonders for stability on the court. Its rigidity pairs with the shoe's secure lockdown to make the 996 v6 Clay highly responsive to fast moves and direction changes. But on the downside, its heavier weight and lack of energy return held this NB shoe back from making our top picks for speed. 

New Balance 574 Year Of The Snake Baby_shibs Pros

  • Grounded sole feels planted
  • Stable and supportive build
  • Great mix of outsole grip and give
  • new balance accelerate 5 in short fbio ms93187 bio
  • DTLR Villa x New Balance 998 Four 4 Four
  • Excellent breathability for warm weather

New Balance 574 Year Of The Snake Baby_shibs Cons

  • Heavier than average (especially for a speed shoe)
  • Questionable durability
  • Not propelling as promised

Audience verdict

N/A
Not enough reviews yet

New Balance 574 Year Of The Snake Baby_shibs | Who should buy

Having weighed the pros and cons of the New Balance grå t-shirt med lille logo, we believe that it can make a great option for players in search of the following:

  • a tennis shoe with a very rigid response that promotes stability and efficient energy transfer (no shifting or wobbling)
  • a clay court shoe with a perfect balance of grip and give for sliding
  • a shoe with an accommodating fit and wide width options

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes review

Who should NOT buy

The 996 v6 Clay was supposed to be a speedy shoe 'inspired by racing cars', but it happened to gain some extra weight along the way.

Thus, it got undercut by the ASICS Solution Speed 3 FF Clay, which not only proved to be a lighter racer but also more durable, more flexible, and better cushioned in the heel.

The all-court Wave Exceed Tour 6 from Mizuno New Balance Classic Traditionnels US574M1.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes lab test

Cushioning

Shock absorption

New

The 996 v6's grounded profile becomes apparent from the very first step on the court.

Our shock absorption measurements confirmed that the shoe's impact protection is moderate at 99 SA in the heel and 70 SA in the forefoot. Both readings are standard for the tennis shoe category and can feel either sufficient or lacking, depending on the player's personal preferences and cushioning needs.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes New Balance 54 70
Heel
Forefoot
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 99 SA
Average 99 SA
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
50 SA
Shock absorption
113 SA

Energy return

New

The brand's product description sounds very promising, as it states that the shoe's FuelCell foam 'delivers a propulsive feel to drive you forward.'

But when we measured the exact amount of energy return that the 996 v6 Clay generates in the heel (50.4%) and in the forefoot (50.6%), we found that it is no different from most other tennis shoes in our catalog.

While the shoe does feel responsive, it's not particularly propelling or explosive.

Heel
Forefoot
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 50.4%
Average 48.8%
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
34.0%
Energy return
66.0%

Heel stack

Measuring the heel stack of this New Balance shoe, we also got a fairly standard reading of 28.3 mm. It's neither too low to the court nor too high off the ground.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Heel stack
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 28.3 mm
Average 29.2 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
25.3 mm
Heel stack
33.0 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe also provides a decent buffer for the ball of the foot and the toe joints with a forefoot stack height of 20.6 mm.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Forefoot stack
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 20.6 mm
Average 19.5 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
15.5 mm
Forefoot stack
23.4 mm

Drop

The heel-to-toe drop of the NB 996 v6 Clay feels pretty subtle at 7.7 mm. It offers a slight elevation in the rearfoot to cushion the heel and support the Achilles, while keeping the foot grounded enough for stability.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Drop
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 7.7 mm
Average 9.7 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
6.2 mm
Drop
14.7 mm

New Balance 574 Year Of The Snake Baby_shibs | Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The 996 v6 Clay employs a full-length FuelCell foam for primary cushioning.

It is a single-density component that proved to be moderately soft with a durometer reading of 22.0 HA. But please note that the large bottom-loaded shank beneath it makes the ride feel firmer.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Midsole softness
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 22.0 HA
Average 28.1 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
17.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
34.0 HA

Size and fit

Size

Owners of this shoe, how does it fit?

1 size small½ size smallTrue to size½ size large1 size large

New Balance M420 Royal Blue White

On the shoe's product page, New Balance warns buyers that the 996 v6 Clay 'runs narrow' and that they 'may prefer a wider width.' But is that so?

Having created a one-to-one gel mold of the shoe's interiors, we used a digital caliper to measure its forefoot dimensions more thoroughly.

The widest part of the mold (ball of foot area) returned 94.6 mm, which is, in fact, wider than average! Our medium-width feet didn't feel restricted in this NB shoe at all!

But if you do need a more accommodating fit, this model is also available in the wide (2E) variant.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes New Balance M420 Royal Blue White
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 94.6 mm
Average 92.9 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
88.7 mm
New Balance M420 Royal Blue White
96.9 mm

Toebox width

We cannot complain about any aggressive toebox tapering either.

The shoe's forefoot shape stays rounded towards the front, reflecting its roomy fit in an above-average width of 72.0 mm in the big toe area.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Toebox width
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 72.0 mm
Average 69.2 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
65.5 mm
Toebox width
74.3 mm

Toebox height

Lastly, the shoe's toebox height comes in at 23.1 mm, slightly below the average.

But even though the vertical space is slightly limited by the shoe's protective rubber overlay, it didn't feel uncomfortably restricting.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Toebox height
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 23.1 mm
Average 25.1 mm
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
20.7 mm
Toebox height
29.2 mm

Traction / Grip

Forefoot traction

New

The clay court version of the 996 v6 offers a moderately tacky outsole rubber, which is ideal for this type of court.

With a friction coefficient of 0.57, this NB tennis shoe stops and controls the footing when necessary without hindering the fluidity of slides and toe drags.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 0.57
Average 0.76
Compared to 35 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.53
Forefoot traction
1.07

Outsole design

New

The 996 v6 carries over the v5's outsole design and tread pattern with no tweaks or changes. But in this case, it is only reasonable given how perfectly functional it is.

Bricks and Wood x New Balance 57 40 From South Central With.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Outsole design

Flexibility / Stiffness

The brand's description makes it sound like the FuelCell 996 v6 is a flexible shoe, but we found the complete opposite to be true!

Even though its chicken-foot shank doesn't stretch all the way to the forefoot, the shoe's raised midsole topline and protective overlays limit its pliability quite a bit! Our shoe stiffness tester showed that it took a whopping 24.5N to bend the 996 v6 by 30 degrees.

As one of the highest readings among our lab-tested tennis shoes, it can be a positive thing for players who prefer a more rigid response for better energy transfer through their shoes. But it can also backfire for athletes who value more freedom of movement and maneuverability in the forefoot.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 24.5N
Average 16.6N
Compared to 36 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.4N
Flexibility Stiffness
24.5N

Weight

The 996 v6 Clay is marketed as a tennis shoe that's built for speed, but our scale numbers tell a different story.

Weighing the shoe in a men's US size 9, we recorded a hefty reading of 13.5 oz (383g). This is heavier than the category average and even heavier than the stability-packed ASICS Gel Resolution 9 Clay (13.0 oz/369g)!

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Weight
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 13.5 oz (383g)
Average 12.8 oz (362g)
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
10.3 oz (292g)
Weight
14.7 oz (417g)

Breathability

Fortunately, one characteristic from the 996 v6 Clay's description did get backed up by our lab tests.

Assessing the size and density of billows passing through the shoe's toebox in our smoke-pumping machine test, we readily gave the shoe a high breathability score of 4 out of 5!

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Breathability Microscope test

Taking a closer look at the shoe's mesh through the lens of our microscope, we could see how wide open its pores are.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Breathability under microscope

And as our transparency test confirmed, this well-ventilated fabric stretches to cover the 996 v6's toebox, vamp, and quarters, spreading the airflow all throughout the shoe.

malla New Balance Impact Run!

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Stability

Lateral stability test

Very often, oddly-looking shoe features turn out to be gimmicky and merely decorative, but this is not the case with the NB 996 v6 Clay's chicken foot torsion system!

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes chicken foot shank

It is a long, three-point, and bottom-loaded shank that helps to plant the foot very firmly and surefootedly in the court.

It works together with the other components, like raised midsole sidewalls, to create a highly supportive platform for quick and forceful side-to-side movements.

Torsional rigidity

No wonder this New Balance shoe proved to be impossible to twist in our manual test!

The aforementioned tandem of stabilizing features raises the 996 v6 Clay's torsional rigidity high above the average to a maximum stiffness score of 5/5!

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 5
Average 4.4
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

A higher collar with improved heel lockdown is listed as one of the shoe's major updates.

As you can see from the side-by-side comparison below, the collar line rises slightly higher in the v6, indeed. And there is a new sturdy overlay embracing the heel, too.

New Balance FuelCell 996 v5 vs v6 collar height

We can also confirm that the v6's heel collar got notably stiffer as we had to apply more pressure to push and squeeze it in our manual test. This increased our heel counter stiffness score from 3 to 4 in the 996 v6.

This helped to minimize heel shifting and slippage inside the shoe, particularly during hard stops and lateral cuts.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 4
Average 4.1
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

The shoe's midsole protrudes on both sides of the forefoot, forming a highly stable and reliable outrigger to lean on.

Measuring its width in the broadest area, our caliper returned an above-average reading of 115.6 mm.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Midsole width - forefoot
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 115.6 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
105.3 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.4 mm

new balance 5740 apr

Although not particularly wide, the shoe's heel turned out to be sufficiently broad to support surefooted steps at 86.8 mm.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes new balance 5740 apr
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 86.8 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
82.4 mm
new balance 5740 apr
99.7 mm

Durability

Toe guard durability

The bumpy texture of the shoe's protective toebox overlay may seem like it's ready for toe drags, but to our great disappointment, it was destroyed in just a few seconds of our Dremel test! Not even a hint of resistance from that rubber!

We didn't expect such poor durability from a clay court shoe and couldn't rate the 996 v6 Clay's toe drag guard durability any higher than the lowest score of 1/5.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 1
Average 3.3
Compared to 23 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toe guard durability
5

Toebox durability

In return, we were utterly surprised by how hard-wearing the shoe's mesh textile is. Especially in contrast with the rubber overlay.

The Dremel only burned through the fabric's topmost layer, leaving some notable scuffing but no see-through hole. That bumped up the 996 v6's toebox durability to 3/5.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 3
Average 3.7
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The shoe's heel collar also sustained some chafing, but not to a critical extent. Moderately wear-resistant, it earned a middle-ground durability score of 3/5 as well.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole durability

Last but not least, we applied our Dremel to the shoe's outsole, hoping for good news from the New Balance NDurance rubber.

With a dent of 1.1 mm, it wasn't the best result for a tennis shoe, but not a disappointing one either.

Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 1.1 mm
Average 0.8 mm
Compared to 46 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The thickness of its outsole also gives some confidence with a standard caliper reading of 4.1 mm.

We are not as concerned about the 996 v6 Clay's outsole durability as we are about its vulnerable upper materials.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Outsole thickness
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 4.1 mm
Average 4.2 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.2 mm

Misc

Insole thickness

A major part of the 996 v6 Clay's step-in comfort is played by its well-padded insole. It showed a solid thickness of 4.5 mm on our caliper.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Insole thickness
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 4.5 mm
Average 5.1 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
3.4 mm
Insole thickness
7.5 mm

Removable insole

Tecnologias New balance Arishi V3 Running Shoes.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Removable insole
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay Yes

Tongue padding

Examining the inner side of the 996 v6's upper, we found it to be minimally padded in both the tongue and the collar.

zapatillas de running New Balance neutro talla 44 baratas menos de 60.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Tongue padding
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay 5.4 mm
Average 8.1 mm
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
2.5 mm
Tongue padding
13.3 mm

Tongue: gusset type

A fully gusseted tongue works together with the shoe's stiff heel counter to lock the foot in securely for dynamic movements.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Tongue: gusset type
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay Both sides (full)

Price

The product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes finds itself in the same price range as the other highly regarded speed tennis shoes, like the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 Clay.

However, its heavier weight and questionable durability make it feel inferior to similar options from the other brands.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Price
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay $135
Average $132
Compared to 48 tennis shoes
Number of shoes
$80
Price
$200

Heel tab

There are no finger loops or pull tabs on this New Balance shoe.

product eng 1029064 New Balance W5740HL1 shoes Heel tab
Test results
FuelCell 996 v6 Clay None