*I haven’t been in the mood to post this due to Hurricane Harvey but I decided to post it today so that maybe, just maybe, I can help get some donations in to help out Houston and surrounding areas. Donate here to add to the Youcaring and JJ Watt fund I have so much respect and adoration for all the nameless volunteers who helped save people around the city. Much love and respect to JJ Watt, the Rocket’s Clint Capela, Kevin Hart, Houston’s own Mattress Mac for really helping out the community.
Executive Summary: Uh oh Hyperdunk 2017, you might have some competition. Great all around performer at a low price point but could use more midfoot support.
Not the Adidas Explosive everyone talks about but maybe they should. Don’t worry the Crazy Explosive PK 2017 review is coming soon.
So I broke one of my rules about buying budget team shoes but it was by accident. If you don’t know my rule:
Don’t buy budget team shoes at retail because they get even cheaper more quickly than the rest.
As I was buying the Crazy explosive 2017 I had added the Explosive Bounce to the cart to look at it later and I forgot to remove it when I checked out.
Of course since it was just sitting there I tried it on and I was like hmmm this feels familiar in a good way. Fit was great right out of the box, cushioning felt great, and most importantly to me the traction looked and felt promising. So I said what the hell, I’m going to try these out and I’m glad I did. If D Lillard ever had a team shoe, this is it.
Consider this D Lillard 2 ‘s uglier but maybe better cousin, Plain Dolla.
Pros: excellent traction, cushioning, fit, support and stability, containment
Cons: midfoot support is minimal, not suggested for plantar fasciitis sufferers. Very team shoe looking if you consider that a negative thing.
Best for: all positions
Sizing: runs a little long but not like the Crazylight Boost 2016. Wide footers stay true to size, regular and narrow will probably want to go down half a size but best to try on.
Buying Advice: wait for price drops. Team budget shoes drop fast and hard. $80 range is fair bottom around $40-50
Weight:
I would say 95% of shoes nowadays weigh between 14.5 to 15.5 ounces. Pretty average weight.
Traction
I’m not sure what to call this pattern, maybe amoebas gone wild? Whatever its name, it works great, much better than the Lillard 2 especially on dusty floors. The rubber is similar to what’s found on the Crazylight Boost 2016 Non Continental which is a great thing; it is soft and pliable without picking up dust. Very minimal wiping on dusty floors with great stopping power just makes me happy. I enjoyed this traction pattern much more than the Crazy Explosive Coral pattern. Awesome job Adidas!
Cushioning
Like the Lillard 2 cushioning but wish it was a a hair lower? Well here you go. Consistent from heel to toe with that signature Bounce feel. Unlike the Crazy Explosive, I had no issues with the cored out portions since Bounce is denser than Boost.
It’s really hard to see a difference in the pic above but it rides a touch lower than the Lillard 2. One thing Adidas changed from the Lillard 2 was the strobel and insole.
The Lillard uses a fiber board strobel while the XBounce uses a foam board. This makes the cushioning feel better but you sacrifice a little support which you’ll see later on.
Lillard 2 left, Xbounce right
Adidas also used an insole similar to what you find in the Crazy Explosive which is pretty thin. This is what probably accounts for most of the difference in ride height. Sorry I couldn’t take the insole out without tearing it.
Overall, I loved the cushioning on the XBounce. Pretty close to perfect for me. Well done Adidas!
Fit
The XBounce runs a touch long but not like the Crazylight Boost 2016 or Kd IX. Wide footers can stay true to size while regular and narrow footers will probably want to go down half a size. Best to try them on if you can if possible though.
I had no movement side to side going true to size and no heel slip from the get go.
This external TPU wrap goes all the way around the ankle and does a great job pulling the ankle back and locking it in place. It does take a little time to warm up, soften and conform to your ankle but the process is quick . Just a nice one to one fit overall after all is said and done.
Well done Adidas!
Materials
Like the textile upper of the Dame 2?
Although not “premium” per se, it is soft and flexible just like the Lillard 2. As most of you know I don’t think materials matter that much so if you’re into XXXknit you’ll want to pass on this. If it makes you feel better, we can all just call this PrmTxt or Flytxt. #rebadgeit
It’s nothing fancy but it works and that’s what counts in my book.
Support and Stability
Support is good nothing outstanding though. The ankle collar is flexible enough for full range of motion while the sturdy internal heel counter keeps your ankle in place. See below
Stability is excellent thanks to a low to the ground ride and possibly the partially caged design.
This appears to help keep the Bounce from over compressing in theory but the rubber is so soft I can’t say for certain if it’s actually helping. Either way stability is excellent even without a traditional outrigger.
Ankle support and stability aside, one thing that is missing on the XBounce is midfoot support.
Yes it is very flexible almost like the Mamba Instinct, however it does a much better job with torsional support as it isn’t nearly as twistable. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. I had no issues personally.
Containment
I was a little worried about containment but the slightly raised midsole did a good job keeping my foot in place . Very similar in height to the Lillard 2 and it runs the entire length of the shoe. For reference my foot sits about where the midsole meets the outsole. In addition there are Adidas’s “Fly Straps” just like on the Lillard 2 to help keep the foot contained.
Conclusion
Rules are meant to be broken as I broke my budget baller rule but I’m glad I did. I had high hopes for the Dame 3 but the gimmicky lacing system just didn’t work for me and required wayyyy too much time tinkering to solve. I either had poor lockdown or too much lace pressure or not enough laces for a good lockdown. For what it’s worth, I think the Dame 4 will be great.
Although not the sexiest shoe I’ve ever seen, the Explosive Bounce is an excellent shoe for all types of players. Excellent traction and cushioning, great fit, good overall support, stability, and containment, what’s not to love? Oh that’s right the minimal midfoot support. It isn’t a deal breaker for me but if you’ve ever had plantar fasciitis, it isn’t worth risking weeks and weeks of trying to heal your PF. As the midsole breaks down more, expect even less midfoot support.
Will this make my rotation ? YNO? NES? It is a pretty awesome all around shoe but every shoe in my top ten meet or beat the same criteria. It is a shoe I really like playing in though and I plan to rotate it into my rotation not because it does anything better than my top 10 but because it is damn fun to play in and performs great all around. I’d take it over the Crazylight Boost, Crazy Explosive 2016 (and 17 probably) Harden V1, Dame 2 and 3, KD 9, Curry 3, 3Zero, the list goes on and on…Definitely one of the top three this year AND LAST.
No it doesn’t doesnt have the latest and greatest tech, a signature athlete, a famous designer or even colored laces (nothing says team shoe like white laces on black). Hell, I don’t even think there is a single ounce of marketing for these. What Explosive Bounce has is great performance without the hype. It just goes to show you that if you get basics down you can make a great shoe without the latest and greatest tech touted by company XYZ. Well done Adidas!!
schwollo.com 
what do you mean issues with the cored out portions, pls explain
LikeLike
The part in the middle of the sole where it is indented. Look at the pic under traction
LikeLike
yeah what issues exactly?
LikeLike
My foot bottoms out in the Crazy explosives right where my neuroma is. No issues with explosive bounce though
LikeLike
Adidas is really killing it right now and this is another great budget shoe from the brand. Once again a very thorough review! Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for addressing plantar fasciitis, great review
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve had it a few times and it sucks!! Lol
LikeLike
“I’d take it over the Crazylight Boost, Crazy Explosive 2016 (and 17 probably) Harden V1, Dame 2 and 3, KD 9, Curry 3, 3Zero, the list goes on and on…Definitely one of the top three this year AND LAST. ”
WOW! Great review as always. Never thought of considering these until now.
LikeLike
I had issues with almost every adidas shoe except the Rose 7. Just wait for prices to fall like rocks before you buy
LikeLike
Hey man the rose 8 just arrived in Brazil on the white colorway. Really beautiful shoe and a lot earlier than the October 28 release date. The problem is the price, 200ish
LikeLike
Oh nice ! Yea that price is a problem lol
LikeLike
Hey there. When you put on the shoe does it feel more like the crazy explosive 2016 or the Dame 2? Curious on the initial feel and shape. I play in the CE2016 now and I actually like the shape and how my foot feels in it. Dame 2 felt awkward to me and the Dame 3 was slightly better but the heel was raised too high. Thanks!
LikeLike
More like the dame 2. Fit is better for me
since it’s a mid though
LikeLike
Thanks keep up the good work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Team shoes are the best when done right! I remember in the early and late 2000’sNike used to release a lot of PE team shoes that were really nice. I remember seeing , shoes like the Nike Blue chips in PE colorways (I think it was B-Roy and KD), Hyperdunk (D-Will, Nash, Dirk) and various Tony Parker PE for teams shoes like Uptempo, Huarache and Zoom BB. I don’t see a lot of these releases any more, I remember PG13 had a PE team shoe in the Hyperrev15 or Hyperlive. I think Nike should go back to this like what Adidas is doing. I know it doesn’t add to the performance value of the shoes, but team shoes with PE colorways and logos do give it a ‘dope factor’ , besides being a ‘pro’ model without paying the ‘pro’ price (in some cases).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha every star and almost star is getting a sig so gone are those PE days . Nike team models are just meh for the most part although the Hyperdunk still stands out. I don’t mind the higher retail bc I know they’ll drop lll
LikeLike
Which one do you recommend between Explosive Bounce, Crazy hustle and Zoom Evidence for 65€?
LikeLike
I haven’t tried any of those except the Explosive Bounce sorry
LikeLike
How is the Explosive Bounce for Flat Feet? I’m on the heavier side (190 ish), so I’m looking for good cushioning and shock absorption. Are these better than the Rose 7? Seems like these cost around USD 90.00, so far… Better to wait for it to drop further?
LikeLike
Saw some on eBay for 76 dollars us. I like these a lot and I have flat feet and weigh 180 . Better than Rose 7? No traction isn’t as awesome but it’s a damn good shoe
LikeLike
good evening,
Are these good for outdoor use?
LikeLike
Not unless you want a worn out outsole and torn up upper. The mesh upper has no protection from toe drag and the outsole rubber is too soft.
LikeLike
is the explosive bounce good for concrete courts (durability & traction) and would you take it over hyperlink 2017 lows on concrete courts?
LikeLike
The rubber is soft so it will wear down but almost all indoor shoes won’t last that long outdoors. Would I take these over the Hyperdunk low? Depends if you want firmer cushioning or not (hd is firmer) the rest of the shoe is pretty similar in terms of performance
LikeLike
thx for the fast reply. so is the hyperdunk 2017’s traction going to wear down just as quickly?
LikeLike
It’s grooves are thin so they will dull quickly. Look at adidas classic Barricade Bounce if you want a durable well cushioned bball shoe even though it’s a tennis shoe. Bounce feels great upper is a little stiff to start but durable and the outsole will last longer .
LikeLike
i always feel there should be a pinned list of your rotation shoes man.
so we can see them and see it change in time.
for me at least this is one of the main concerns ))
but if u want to specify it, as often as possible, starting now ^_^ . what is your rotation please?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll do my best to do that. I think I have a top ten rotation pinned but it includes all my shoes. Only new shoes to get in from this year are the Hyperdunk 2017, AJ xxxi low and Explosive Bounce although that might be replaced or subbed out by the Dame 4 bc thy feel so similar (will know once I get more pt in them) and they look better lol. Clutchfits are out i think 😱.
LikeLike
CF1? are u planning on trying the Drive 4 ?
LikeLike
Cfd 1. Nope no plans on the cfd4
LikeLike
mr scwhollo these (xbounce) or dame 4? tks
LikeLike
Xbounce. Better traction a little softer cushioning. Dame looks better has a little better fit and better midfoot support
LikeLike
Thanks for the review. I’m in Australia and I copped a pair of these on eBay after reading your review….picked them up for approximately USD $50 so good value there. Really happy with them so far, great cushion, grip and fit. I do get a little slide off the footbed on really hard lateral movements but only a little and I’m not too worried. Actually love the bit of flex through the sole which improved my court feel.
I’m an older player so appreciate the cushion 😄
Cheers man!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome glad to hear it! Cheers!
LikeLike
I don’t ball as much I used to, and don’t buy bball shoes very often anymore. So when I do, I typically go for the signature shoes as I know I’ll be wearing them for a while. However, I picked these up based on your recommendation and I am glad I did. I’ve played in them a few times and they feel great. Just what I was looking for, for a much lower cost. Thanks for the review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep np!
LikeLike