A basketball shoe maker created pickleball's first signature shoe
シカゴ拠点のフットウェアブランドSTRIA Sportが、ピックルボール専用シューズ「G1 Pro」を発売した。PPA Tour男子ダブルス世界ランキング1位のゲイブ・タルディオとシグネチャー契約を結び、売上連動ロイヤリティ方式を採用。バスケットボール靴の技術をピックルボール専用に再設計した一足は、130ドル（約19,500円）で販売されている。
The dedicated pickleball shoe market is growing fast, but much of it has amounted to "relabeling" tennis shoes. According to a survey by The Dink Newsletter, 34.5% of pickleball players don't wear dedicated pickleball shoes, and 10.5% substitute basketball shoes. STRIA hit that gap in the market.
How it came about -- it started with a phone call for a "bulk order of eight pairs"
It was in 2024 that STRIA founder Eric Porter got the phone call that became a turning point. A customer ordered eight pairs of STRIA's 107 Series basketball shoes at once. When he asked what they were for, the answer was pickleball, not basketball. The customer was an enthusiast who played six days a week and valued the ankle support and fit.
Similar reports came in from Utah, Austin, and Florida, and Porter became convinced of a pattern. On the technical hypothesis that "basketball and pickleball share a large amount of lateral movement," he set to work developing a dedicated pickleball model.
The G1 Pro's technical specs and design philosophy
The G1 Pro was completed after a four-month design cycle. Wear tests were run with both a 25-year-old competitive player and recreational players aged 55 and over, pursuing a design that suits a wide range of ages.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Silhouette | Low-mid top (balancing ankle protection and light weight) |
| Heel | Built-in heel cup (stability during direction changes) |
| Midsole | Foam midsole (shock absorption plus energy return) |
| Base | Wide support base (balance during lateral play) |
| Upper | Breathable mesh zones |
| Ankle | Padded ankle collar |
| Outsole | Dedicated rubber for outdoor courts |
| Sizing | Runs slightly large (accommodating the foot's natural movement during long play) |
Rather than a carryover from tennis shoes, the design differentiator is that it is optimized for pickleball-specific movements -- sudden stop-and-go, lateral cuts, and pushing off on drives -- based on basketball biomechanics.
Tardio's signature deal -- what a revenue-linked royalty means
20歳のゲイブ・タルディオは、PPA Tour男子ダブルスで世界ランキング1位。ベン・ジョンズとのペアで2026年シーズン当時は無敗を記録していた。STRIAとの契約では、単なるエンドースメント（推薦契約）ではなく、売上に連動したロイヤリティが支払われる構造を採用。タルディオ本人がスケッチ段階からカラーウェイ、サンプルテストまで製造プロセス全体に関与した。
Tardio commented, "They let me do whatever I wanted with the shoe." He says he prioritized three elements -- support, looks, and light weight -- and reflected them in the design. This "signature model with deep player involvement in the design" is common in the NBA but a first for pickleball.
Andre Drummond joins too -- pickleball as an investment destination for NBA players
In March 2026, two-time NBA All-Star Andre Drummond joined STRIA as an investor and creative director. Unlike Tardio's royalty deal, Drummond is betting on the company's growth on an equity (share-holding) basis. He also plans to be involved in developing and wear-testing a size-18 G1 Pro for himself.
The trend of NBA players investing in pickleball-related companies is not limited to Drummond; LeBron James and Drew Brees, among others, also hold ownership stakes in MLP teams. In Drummond's case, it can be called a deeper commitment in that he "not only invests but also gets his hands dirty on product development."
市場の反応――テニス転用からの脱却
The Dinkは「バスケットボールがピックルボールの最も革新的なシューズを生んだ」と報じ、テニスシューズの転用が主流だった市場に一石を投じた製品と評価した。
Empower Pickleball focused on the "athlete-first approach" and highlighted that STRIA's founder is a former college athlete. It pointed out that a stance of building products with a focus on performance rather than marketing-first is backed by a track record of adoption by more than 100 pro players.
striasport.comではレディースサイズ（6〜9）が全サイズ完売。メンズ（8〜13）は一部サイズで在庫ありの状態で、初回生産分の需要が供給を上回っている。
Impact on players -- a new standard for choosing shoes
The survey result that more than a third of all players don't wear dedicated pickleball shoes shows there is still large room to develop this market. Conventional options were mainly repurposed tennis shoes or substituted basketball shoes, and 2026 is the moment when the option of "a shoe optimized for pickleball's movements" itself has begun to gain a presence.
The G1 Pro's $130 price range is on par with the pickleball models of major tennis-shoe makers (roughly $100-180). For players who value ankle support and outdoor players concerned about the impact on concrete courts, it is an option worth considering.
Ripple effects on the pickleball equipment market
In the paddle market, Selkirk, JOOLA, Vatic Pro, Engage, and others are in a fierce battle for share, but the shoe market still lacks a "decisive brand." STRIA's entry draws attention as a crossover approach that brings the technical assets of a different field -- basketball -- into pickleball.
Contract structures such as Tardio's royalty deal and Drummond's equity involvement could also affect the compensation model for pickleball players. From "fixed-fee sponsorships" to "revenue-linked, equity-holding business partnerships" -- if this trend spreads, the relationship between players and equipment makers will become more equal.
G1 Pro buying guide
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Product name | STRIA G1 Pro |
| Price | $130 (about 19,500 yen) |
| Where to buy | striasport.com, select retailers |
| Sizes | メンズ8〜13 / レディース6〜9（レディースは当時完売） |
| Colors | Pure (white tones), Rosado (pink tones), and others |
| Signature player | Gabe Tardio (world No. 1 in PPA men's doubles) |
| Sizing note | Runs slightly larger than standard (half size down recommended) |
Summary
STRIA's G1 Pro is the first product to bring basketball's technical philosophy in earnest to a pickleball shoe market rife with "rehashed tennis shoes." The contract structure -- adopting a revenue-linked royalty in Tardio's signature deal and Drummond taking an equity stake -- also shows the maturation of the pickleball industry. As the instant sellout of women's sizes shows, players were waiting for "a shoe built specifically for pickleball."
Recommended Reading
- PPA Tour men's doubles world ranking TOP 20 [April 2026]
- The PPA Tour releases pickleball's first-ever reality show "PARTNERS" on Prime Video on May 5
FAQ
How is the G1 Pro different from a tennis shoe?
It is designed based on basketball biomechanics and specialized for ankle stability and handling lateral movement, with features such as a built-in heel cup, a padded ankle collar, and a wide support base. Rather than a carryover from tennis shoes, it is designed optimized for pickleball-specific movements.
Can I get women's sizes?
2026年5月時点でstriasport.comではレディースサイズ（6〜9）が全サイズ完売していました。再入荷のタイミングはSTRIA公式サイトで確認してください。
How is Tardio's signature deal different from a normal sponsorship?
Rather than a fixed-fee endorsement deal, it is a structure that pays a revenue-linked royalty (commission). Tardio was involved in the entire manufacturing process from the sketch stage, so it differs from a normal sponsorship where you "just lend your name."
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