The new ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 tested by Mike! This is by far the lightest and fastest tennis shoe from ASICS at the moment and one of the lightest shoes on the market! This review includes a comparison with the previous version of this shoe.
Intro:
I have been wearing ASICS tennis shoes for quite a few years. Roughly speaking, my last 9 pairs of tennis shoes have all been ASICS shoes. In terms of (narrow) fit and speed, the previous Solution Speed FF 2 is my favorite and my standard competition shoe. The Gel Resolution 9, which I recently tested, is an absolute winner in terms of (sideways) support. For 'the best of both', i.e. speed and stability , ASICS has the Court FF 3, the Djokovic shoe. I have put all these models through extensive testing. Click on the links to read the reviews again. So now it was time to put the Solution Speed FF 3 through a rigorous test!Fit:
With ASICS tennis shoes I always use a size 9.5 US = 43.5. I also came up with this again with this Solution Speed FF.
However, a lot has changed in terms of fit with this update of the Solution Speed FF. The previous versions all had the uppers tightly wrapped with PU for abrasion resistance and optimal forefoot containment. The Dynawrap strap then did the rest in terms of forefoot support. With the Solution Speed FF 3, a special type of sturdy mesh has been developed for the upper, in addition to the protective PU guard material on the inside of the forefoot and on the toe. This makes the shoe lighter, faster and airier, but the well-known tight forefoot fit as you know it from the latest versions is no longer there. This new upper works less well for my narrow foot, I experienced more space in the shoe, which I was ultimately able to solve with a MySole Solution filling sole. I have a fairly narrow foot, so I think this new fit makes the shoe playable for a wider audience.
Speed/agility:
Of course we have to start with this! The Solution Speed FF 3 has the same 'low to the ground' feeling as its predecessors. The FlyteFoam midsole material (which is what the FF stands for in this shoe) has also remained the same. This gives the shoe a nice, direct and fast playing feeling with sufficient comfort. The shoe has a kind of plastic frame in the sole construction called SpeedTruss. This ensures the speed and agility of the shoe. The Trusstic itself ensures that the heel and forefoot parts of the shoe can move 'independently' of each other, but it also provides torsional stiffness. This SpeedTruss runs all the way to the lateral side of the shoe towards the little toe. This gives the feeling as if the shoe is giving you an extra push when you push off. All in all, everything to make this shoe a speed devil and it certainly succeeded! The shoe is nice and direct and fast, where the FlyteFoam material in the shoe provides lightweight cushioning.Stability:
The stability of the new Solution Speed is solid. The shoe has a fairly deep shell construction so that the heel bone remains well fixed. The heel counter itself is also nice and sturdy, as we have come to expect from ASICS. The shoe is of course built as a lightweight speed devil. So if support is (extra important) for you, be sure to check the Gel Resolution 9 first.
Abrasion resistance and grip ASICS Solution Speed FF 3:
I have now tested the new Solution Speed FF 3 for roughly 3.5 hours in the hall on carpet. For this test I used a pair with the All Court outsole. This sole is particularly suitable for hard courts or indoors. In terms of wear resistance, I can't say much about it yet: the shoes still look neat. I am curious how the new upper will hold up on gravel when there is a lot of sliding and dragging.Comfort/cushioning:
I actually think the cushioning is just enough: you do have comfort, but without the sole immediately 'inflating'. The FlyteFoam material is soft, but also responsive enough if you need to push off quickly. So in my opinion the right damper for this shoe. So you retain the nice, direct, low-to-the-ground playing feeling. The comfort of the upper, I must honestly admit, has clearly improved. I say this even though I am more of a fan of the previous upper, as mentioned earlier. I think that with this new upper you hardly need any time to break in the shoe/have it shaped to your foot.
