ON Tennis Shoes Compared: The Roger Pro 3, Advantage Pro, Centre Court and Every Model Explained (2026)

ON is not a traditional tennis shoe brand. It started as a Swiss running company in 2010, built its reputation on the now-iconic CloudTec pod system, and only launched its first proper tennis shoe in 2019 — the same year Roger Federer took an equity stake in the company and began co-designing a line built around his specific demands on court. The Roger line, named after him, is everything ON brought into tennis: Swiss engineering, lightweight materials, and a philosophy that prizes court feel and speed over the thick-cushioned stability approach of most established tennis brands.

That approach works for certain players and not for others. This guide covers every current ON tennis shoe, what the technology actually does, which players are wearing them on tour, and which model makes sense depending on how and where you play.

Roger Federer and ON: The Story

Federer is not a co-founder of ON. ON was founded in 2010 by Olivier Bernhard, David Allemann, and Caspar Coppetti. Federer took an equity stake in the company in 2019 — reported as roughly 3% in exchange for approximately $50 million — and became actively involved in the Roger line's design direction. He is credited as co-creator of the Roger Pro and has been publicly hands-on with product development rather than simply a face-on-the-box endorsement. ON went public on the NYSE in September 2021. By August 2025, Forbes reported that Federer had become a billionaire, primarily on the strength of his ON stake.

The partnership changed what ON made for tennis. The Roger line targets competitive players with demanding footwork requirements, not recreational buyers looking for comfortable court shoes. That intent is visible in every design decision in the Pro line: firm platform, Speedboard plate, premium foam, low-profile tread designed for Federer's trademark slide-and-recover movement style.

ON Tennis Shoes at a Glance

The Roger Pro 3 — The Flagship (April 2025)

The Roger Pro 3 is the most significant upgrade the Roger line has received since the original Pro launched. The headline change is the midsole: the Pro 3 replaces the EVA foam used in the Pro 2 with Helion HF, ON's PEBA-based hyper foam. PEBA (polyether block amide) is the same class of material used in high-performance running shoes — it is lighter, more energy-returning, and more resilient under compression than standard EVA. This is the first time ON has used this material in a tennis shoe, and the difference is noticeable. Rackets & Runners described the feel as "a launchpad effect rather than a sinking feeling" — more bounce underfoot without the boardy stiffness that characterised the Pro 2.

The carbon fiber Speedboard returns from the Pro 2, running mid-foot to provide torsional rigidity during lateral changes of direction. The new Pro 3 also adds a heel clip system to limit foot roll, which was an issue on aggressive wide steps in the Pro 2. The outsole changes from a standard herringbone to a diamond/herringbone hybrid pattern — designed to allow the controlled sliding movement that Federer built his game around on hard court. A clay variant of the Pro 3 uses a full herringbone pattern instead.

Fit is updated from the Pro 2. The Pro 2 was notably narrow; the Pro 3 adds forefoot width while maintaining the snug, locked-in character of the line. Rackets & Runners noted "snug with zero dead space" — this is still a performance fit, not a forgiving one. One persistent weakness: no medial lace guard, which means players who drag their toe through serves or who scuff their upper on contact will wear through the mesh faster than on shoes with toe protection.

Who wears it on tour: Ben Shelton (ATP) wears ON's Roger Pro on tour under a head-to-toe deal signed in 2023. Iga Swiatek (WTA, currently world number one) wears the Roger Pro line and was involved in the Advantage Pro's design.

Who it suits: Advanced and competitive players who want a fast, responsive shoe built for lateral court movement. The Pro 3 is not a comfort shoe — it is demanding, it requires good footwork, and it rewards aggressive, technically sound movement. Not recommended for players with wider feet or those who want significant impact cushioning. The clay variant is a separate purchase.

Tennisnerd: Called the Pro 3 "a clear evolution toward a speed shoe that doesn't compromise the rigid stability required for professional-level sliding."

The Roger Advantage Pro — The Accessible Performance Option

The Roger Advantage Pro sits between the Pro 3 and the lifestyle range in ON's tennis lineup. At $160 USD, it is $60 less than the Pro 3, and the price difference reflects the materials: CloudTec foam midsole instead of Helion HF PEBA, and a nylon Speedboard shank rather than a carbon fiber plate. The result is a shoe that retains the Speedboard's torsional stability but lacks the Pro 3's energy return and rigidity. It is heavier too, at approximately 14.8 oz (420g) — meaningfully more than the Pro 3's 13.8 oz.

The Advantage Pro's hidden CloudTec cushioning works well at this level. Tennis Warehouse gave it 8.4 out of 10, noting "the CloudTec did a great job even though there was less material than I would've liked" and describing it as a shoe testers felt "entirely comfortable playing a match in." The forefoot is more generous than the Pro 3, making it more accessible for players with wider feet. One key fit note: the Advantage Pro runs short — Tennis Warehouse testers went up half a size from their usual size. Size up if ordering.

Iga Swiatek provided design input on the Advantage Pro, which positions it in the market as the women's-accessible option in the Roger performance range — though it is available in men's sizes too.

Who it suits: Club and competitive players across all levels who want a genuine on-court performance shoe from the Roger line without the price or narrow fit of the Pro 3. The more forgiving forefoot and integrated CloudTec cushioning suit players who want comfort alongside stability. Not a beginner shoe, but not as demanding as the Pro 3 either.

The Roger Centre Court — The Versatile Middle Ground

The Roger Centre Court is ON's versatile all-court option — structured more heavily around ankle support than the Advantage Pro, with concealed CloudTec cushioning and a TPU-injected Speedboard. It targets counter-punchers and baseline players who want stability and ankle security across surface types, rather than the speed-first feel of the Pro line.

The Centre Court uses a more structured upper with a thicker collar than the Advantage Pro, contributing to the higher ankle support profile. The concealed CloudTec works as a cushioning layer rather than a visible outsole feature, so it behaves like a traditional cushioned midsole — no pod compression or distinct feel from the CloudTec architecture you see on ON's running shoes.

Who it suits: All-court players who want balance between cushioning and support, particularly those who benefit from additional ankle security during lateral movement. A good option for players transitioning from stability-focused shoes from other brands who want to try the ON platform without going all-in on the Pro's demanding performance profile.

The Roger Clubhouse Pro — The Lifestyle-Court Shoe

The Roger Clubhouse Pro is not primarily a performance tennis shoe. It uses Helion superfoam with hidden CloudTec and a Speedboard, which gives it genuine court capability — it will handle recreational hitting and club-level social tennis without issue — but it is designed first as a lifestyle shoe that can also be worn on court. The aesthetic is premium and clean, the fit is roomy and comfortable, and reviewers consistently note it has virtually no break-in time.

TennisLeo scored it 9.5 out of 10 for comfort and breathability, and 9 out of 10 for stability, noting it as "the most comfortable option in the ON lineup." The same review flagged that it "could have used more pushback" during intense play — which is the honest trade-off. If you want the Roger look and the ability to wear the shoe socially and occasionally on court, the Clubhouse Pro is a strong choice. If you are primarily a performance player looking for match-day footwear, the Advantage Pro or Pro 3 are more appropriate.

The Roger Spin — Lifestyle and Casual Court

The Roger Spin is the most lifestyle-focused shoe in the Roger tennis range. It uses CloudTec chambers in the heel, EVA foam in the forefoot, and a Speedboard plate, all packaged in a retro-inflected aesthetic that is designed to look as good off the court as it functions on it. The drop is 6mm — neutral for casual wear and mild recreational court use. Soleracks described it as having "a retro vibe" and scored it highly for everyday comfort and breathability.

The Roger Spin is also one of the few ON tennis shoes that runs true to size, which is notable given that most of the Roger performance line runs short or narrow. If you are buying casually and do not want to experiment with sizing, the Spin is the most straightforward fit in the range.

For regular match play, look at the Advantage Pro or Pro 3 instead. The Spin is the shoe you wear when you appreciate the Roger aesthetic and want something comfortable for daily life that you can also knock around the club in occasionally.

A Note on CloudTec in Tennis

CloudTec — the hollow rubber pods ON uses on its running shoes — works differently in tennis than in running. In ON's running shoes, the protruding pods compress on impact and snap back for energy return. In the Roger tennis line, this architecture is almost entirely hidden or replaced: the Pro 3 uses Helion HF foam without prominent pods; the Advantage Pro and Centre Court use integrated CloudTec embedded inside the midsole; the Clubhouse Pro and Spin use hybrid constructions with CloudTec in specific zones. The outsoles of all ON tennis shoes use standard rubber with herringbone or hybrid tread patterns.

This matters for one practical reason: ON's running shoes with exposed CloudTec pods are not suitable for clay courts because the pods collect clay and destroy grip. ON's tennis-specific models do not have this problem — their outsoles are clean rubber and their clay variants use full herringbone patterns designed for clay. If you see an ON running shoe and wonder whether you can play tennis in it, the answer is no. The Roger tennis line, however, is built for the court.

Roger Pro 3 vs Advantage Pro — The Key Decision

Most players buying a performance ON tennis shoe are choosing between these two. The Pro 3 is faster, lighter, more energy-returning, and more demanding. It costs $60 more and fits narrow. The Advantage Pro is more forgiving in fit, more cushioned, heavier, and accessible across all playing levels.

If you are a competitive club player or above, have narrow to medium-width feet, and want the best performance ON has in tennis, the Pro 3 is the answer — especially now that the Helion HF foam addresses the Pro 2's stiffness criticism. If your feet are wider, you play at all levels, or you want a shoe you can trust without the Pro 3's exacting demands on footwork, the Advantage Pro is the better choice and the better value.

Which ON Tennis Shoe Should You Choose?

Tour-level performance, narrow fit: The Roger Pro 3. The PEBA Helion HF foam and carbon Speedboard make it ON's most technically advanced tennis shoe to date.

All-level performance, more forgiving fit: The Roger Advantage Pro. Genuine court performance at $60 less, with a roomier toebox. Remember to size up half a size.

All-court versatility with ankle support: The Roger Centre Court. Structured upper, concealed CloudTec, good for counter-punchers and players who want more ankle security.

Comfort-first with court capability: The Roger Clubhouse Pro. Excellent comfort, lifestyle aesthetic, real-world court capability for recreational and club players.

Lifestyle with occasional court use: The Roger Spin. True to size, retro aesthetic, comfortable for everyday wear and light court sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions — ON Tennis Shoes