Asics Solution Speed FF 3 review

We are convinced that the Solution Speed FF 3 is going to be a very pleasant surprise for the players who:

• want an extra lightweight tennis shoe to stay quick and nimble on their feet
• shift all over the court, from the baseline to the net
• would prefer a shoe that's also worn by Alex de Minaur

The one-to-one fit of this ASICS shoe is likely to be a struggle for players with wide feet. We recommend shoes like the New Balance FuelCell 996 v5 or the K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme instead.

Players who dominate the baseline are also not the Solution Speed FF 3's target group. These folks will be better off with the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 or the ASICS Court FF 3.

ASICS promises improved breathability in the Solution Speed FF 3 and we are happy to confirm that it delivers!

The third edition strips away the full-length PU coverage, exposing a very open mesh fabric. This allows the Solution Speed to breathe like never before!

It is by far the most breathable tennis shoe in our lab with the highest breathability score of 5 out of 5.

You can see how swiftly the smoke escapes through the shoe's upper in our breathability test above. No wonder we felt that cool air on our feet throughout the game!

The shoe's ventilation holes are rather tiny but the porous nature of the fabric keeps the airflow going.

A closer look at it through our microscope reveals how the mesh layers overlap to create a rather breathable upper.

Removing a huge portion of protective overlays was a risky decision for the Solution Speed. It made the FF 3 look like it wouldn't last a week compared to its predecessor!

But ASICS nailed it to a T. It kept the sturdiest bits where abrasion resistance is most needed - at the toe drag guard and near the topmost eyelets on the medial side. But it didn't forget about the rest of the upper by using a pretty hard-wearing type of weave.

Applying our Dremel's sandpaper tip to the least protected part of the toebox, we were utterly surprised. After 12 seconds of drilling at 5K RPM speed, the tool didn't even burn halfway through the mesh!

That's an incredible result for such a seemingly delicate material. It convinced us to rate the shoe's toebox durability with the highest score: 5 out of 5!

The shoe's inner lining happens to be just as impressively wear-resistant as its outer layer.

Holding the Dremel against the shoe's heel collar for 4 seconds, it looked as though we barely even touched that area!

Compared to the damage caused to other tennis shoes in the same spot, we can readily give the Solution Speed FF 3 the highest score for heel padding durability.

You can be as agile as you need in this tennis shoe without worrying about premature holes. This thing is not afraid of friction.

Featuring the brand's AHAR PLUS rubber, this ASICS shoe promises a longer-than-average lifespan right from the start.

Measuring its hardness with a durometer, we got a reading of 84.0 HC. Being on the hard side of tennis shoes, it takes much longer to wear through this rubber.

To test how much abuse this outsole can handle, we set the Dremel speed to the relentless 10K RPM. We applied it to the same sport at consistent pressure (3.2N) to check how much rubber its sandpaper tip would burn through.

To be honest, it looked more like we were just brushing off the dust. After 22 seconds of drilling, the dent was barely even existent at 0.4 mm.

Slightly shallower than average, it once again proved that the quality of ASICS tennis shoes is hard to beat.

To keep the weight of the shoe down, ASICS went for a little bit less rubber in its outsole.

At 3.5 mm, it is not as thick as in some other tennis shoes but you don't need more given its abrasion resistance.

With an astonishingly low weight of 10.9 oz (309g) in a men's US size 9, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 is among the lightest tennis shoes we've ever tested!

If you thought that the FF 2 was light enough, get ready for an even lighter Solution Speed!

The weightlessness of this ASICS shoe on the court was something else. Not only did it help us move faster, but it also seemed to have delayed the fatigue quite a bit.

No wonder agile players like Alex de Minaur choose the Solution Speed FF 3!

On foot, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 feels very grounded, even intimate with the court.

That's why we were quite surprised to find that the shoe's stack height is just average. Our caliper showed 28.3 mm in the heel.

We also found that the Speed FF 3 offers a good amount of impact protection but it feels most optimal for players who staying on their toes a lot.

If you need all the cushioning you can get for hard landings, the ASICS Court FF 3 (heel stack: 32.2 mm) is a more suitable option.

Checking the shoe's forefoot stack with a caliper, we got 18.5 mm.

A bit thinner than average, it works very well with the shoe's flexibility to improve the court feel. The shoe felt amazingly responsive to all the micro-adjustments we made with our feet.

We felt like were able to move faster because none of our energy was "lost in translation," so to speak.

This ASICS shoe has a gradual curve from the heel to the toes. At 9.8 mm, it is just the same as the tennis shoe average.

The slight heel elevation provides support for the Achilles to avoid overstretching. But it is not too steep to make your feet feel like they're constantly sliding forward.

It is no surprise that ASICS chose one of its lightest foams for a speed-oriented tennis shoe - the FlyteFoam.

This type of cushioning is also quite firm, contributing to responsiveness and enhanced court feel. Pressing a durometer against the foam, we got 31.5 HA. It is only 5% firmer than average and is similar to the foam inside the ASICS Court FF 3.

But there is no need to worry about the shoe's firm midsole when you've got a generously padded insole on top of it.

With a thickness of 5.3 mm in the heel, this cushioning unit adds a sweet touch of comfort to the Solution Speed.

ASICS puts an unexpected twist on the Solution Speed FF 3 - a rockered heel!

This feature is commonly used in running shoes as it helps to rock your foot forward to the next step faster and smoother.

We could feel the benefits of this altered design when dashing forward to the net. But if you're someone who prefers extra stability in tennis footwear, we recommend going for the classic heel of the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 instead.

With tennis shoes, there is almost always a compromise: you either get a hefty but stable option for dominating the baseline or a speedy but less stable shoe for all-court movement.

As you can probably guess, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 leans more toward the latter. And its curved heel design doesn't make it any more stable.

But luckily, the shoe's got a stiff shank and a firm heel hold to compensate.

ASICS replaces the Twistruss shank of the previous model with an updated Speedtruss.

The newer version comes with less plastic to shave off the weight but still provides stiffness in the right areas to help with stability and propulsion.

Twisting the Speed FF 3 in our manual test, we found that it has more stiffness than we expected. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most rigid, we gave it a solid 4. That is a bit more pliable than the FF 2 (score: 5) but stiffer than the average tennis shoe.

On the court, this ASICS shoe provided a rather secure midfoot hold and we couldn't complain about ankle twists at all!

Another stability component that can't be ignored is the shoe's heel counter. Its stiffness has a direct impact on the level of heel hold and steadiness in the rearfoot.

Based on our manual push-and-squeeze test, the Solution Speed FF 3 received the highest stiffness score of 5.

No matter how agile and intense our footwork got, this ASICS shoe never let our heels and ankles shift or slip uncontrollably.

The shoe's landing area can't be called narrow but it's not particularly wide either.

Measuring the widest part of its forefoot, our caliper showed 106.5 mm which is narrower than the average tennis shoe. This ASICS shoe is clearly not the best option for super aggressive lateral moves at the baseline.

The heel, on the other hand, is on par with the average. Our caliper measured its widest part at 89.7 mm.

We found it to be wide enough to stabilize our landings from all the awkward angles.

Even before doing any lab tests, we could feel that the Solution Speed FF 3 was much more agreeable and aligned with our foot movements better than the FF 2.

The absence of heavy upper overlays, the trimmed-down shank, and the redesigned outsole made this ASICS shoe more flexible.

Our stiffness test confirmed this on-foot experience. Bending the FF 3 with a force gauge, we found that it only took 25.7N to get the shoe to a 90-degree angle. That's 20% less than it takes a tennis shoe on average!

ASICS calls it "Precision Sole," and we call it magic.

The AI-generated outsole of the Solution Speed FF 3 is truly impressive! We believe that it is a step up from the previous iteration in terms of the grip and give it provides.

Whether it was stopping on a dime, taking off for a shot, or changing directions, the shoe's traction pattern kept us surefooted.

The absence of a "hard shell" on top of the upper has notably changed the shoe's fit. Even though the Solution Speed FF 3 still feels rather close-fitting, we felt like our feet had a little more breathing room without the PU overlays and the shoe broke in much quicker.

Measuring the shoe's toebox at the widest part, our caliper showed 101.0 mm. This is on par with all the other medium tennis shoes we've lab-tested in a men's US size 9.

Our toes didn't feel constricted towards the tip of the toebox either.

Measuring the forefoot width near the big toe, we got 75.0 mm which is also within the average of tennis shoes.

To sum it up, we can say that the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 has a very streamlined fit and upper design which are ideal for its intended purpose - speedy all-court play.

The tongue of this ASICS shoe is not gusseted but luckily it wasn't a problem for us. There was no shifting around or bunching up whatsoever.

Its lightweight and speedy design didn't hold the Solution Speed 3 back from having a well-padded interior. We measured its tongue thickness at 8.6 mm which is even slightly thicker than average.

We also enjoyed the plush padding around the shoe's collar which added comfort and ankle hold.

There are no pull tabs but the back of the collar extends up high enough to assist in putting the shoe on.

The shoe's insole is easily removable in case you need a custom orthotic to level up the comfort of your tennis shoes.