Lacoste found a pretty literal way to bring tennis into its next sneaker. The new Ace-T has an actual tennis ball built into the heel, turning something normally hit across the court into part of the shoe’s construction.

The Ace-T was shown during Lacoste’s “Dress Code: No White Required” runway show, where the brand put more focus on the crossover between tennis and fashion. Its upper is wrapped in a large TPU frame with diamond-shaped openings, covering layers of mesh and canvas underneath. There’s a bit of a Nike Kobe 3 feel to the cage, although the overall design goes in a much different direction.

Things get even stranger underfoot. Angled triangular openings break up the platform, while the heel splits into a V shape with the tennis ball wedged between the footbed and lower section. Instead of hiding the idea inside the cushioning, Lacoste leaves the ball completely exposed as one of the main parts of the design.

The Ace-T also comes as Lacoste continues putting more attention on sneakers and performance footwear. Earlier this year, the company introduced the AG-LT Pro for tennis, while the Ace-T takes a far more experimental approach to the sport.

Look for the Lacoste Ace-T to release as part of the Spring/Summer 2027 season.

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Photos: eyesmag