Diadora Speed Finale Men's Tennis Shoe Review
A new addition to Diadora's shoe line, the Speed Finale checks all the boxes for great all-around tennis shoes. Diadora did not skimp on comfort, with Suprelltech and Air Mesh technologies on the upper and a shockproof EVA foam midsole underfoot. Additionally, the outsole features a Duratech 5000 rubber outsole for excellent durability on all court surfaces and a unique fishtail construction in the heel for smooth and easy stride transitions. Although the three playtesters on this review have varied foot types and shoe preferences, they all agreed that the Speed Finales did everything well. In fact, minus some minor personal gripes, the shoes consistently scored highly in every category. Overall, the Speed Finales offer a comfortable ride with plenty of support, stability and durability at a great value.
Plush cushioning
Excellent support and stability
Good blend of give and grip
Outsole durability
Nothing we could agree on
Final Verdict
Breakdown SummaryBreakdown
Comfort: 8.8
As with Diadora shoes of the past, the Speed Finales impressed our team with their cushioning and overall comfort. Chris appreciated the underfoot feel of the shoes. He said, "From the first wear until the end of the test, the Speed Finales were very comfortable. I didn't need to really break the shoes in since they felt so comfortable out of the box. The level of cushioning was very plush, and that was one of the highlights of this test for me. Even during long hitting sessions, my feet stayed comfortable, and I appreciated the cushioned ride."
"I liked the way the uppers flexed and moved with my feet to give the Finales a very natural feel on court."
"Comfort was the standout feature of the Diadora Speed Finales for me," continued Austin. "I did not need any sort of break-in period with these shoes, and they were plenty plush and cushy right from the get-go. The fit was true to size and even had a little extra room in the toe box, which I appreciated. The ventilation and arch support were non-issues as well."
Howard found a cushioned and forgiving feel. He said, "Overall comfort was great with the Diadora Speed Finales. At first, I was worried about the shoes being a bit too bulky, but that concern was quickly dispelled. My feet felt great in these shoes, and I enjoyed the additional room in the toe box."
Foot Support / Stability: 8.8
Our playtesters found high levels of both support and stability in the Speed Finales. The shoes exceeded Howard's expectations. He said, "I tend to not tie my shoes through the upper eyelets unless they feel a bit unstable. I did not find the need to use the upper eyelets during this playtest. As someone who likes to run a lot on court, the shoes held my feet securely. I had no issues with support and stability in the Diadora Speed Finales."
"While the Speed Finale felt built for comfort, I found adequate support in my pair," added Chris. "The uppers held my feet well, and I never felt like I was ballooning out over the midsole on aggressive lateral stops. The fit felt like a true medium in width, and I was able to get a secure enough fit for my narrow feet, which resulted in a nice, supportive ride. It felt like the shoes were flexing where needed and supporting in the right places."
Austin was also satisfied with the Speed Finales in this category. He said, "The Speed Finale doesn't feel quite as low to the ground as a Nike Vapor Pro, but it is more padded and cushioned. The result is a pretty balanced feel that offers both excellent support and stability."
Overall Sole Durability: 8.8
The durability of the Diadora Speed Finales was another major positive for our team. Austin had absolutely no issues in this department. He explained, "Even after 10 hours of playtesting, I saw no wear on the outsoles, especially in the toe area where I tend to wear shoes down fastest."
"After putting in several hours on court, I found that the outsoles held up very well," added Howard. "Usually, my number one issue with shoes is a lack of toe durability. I tend to drag my toe on serves and on changes of direction. To my surprise, the Speed Finales held up well in the toe area. Shoes that can stave off any toe bumper damage are a must for me."
Chris' pair of Speed Finales also survived the playtest with only minor damage. He said, "I saw the most wear under the big toe of my right foot, which is common for me. I drag that part of the outsole on every serve and most closed-stance forehands, so it takes a bit of a beating. The toe tip of my left shoe also showed some wear from dragging on wide backhands, but like the outsole, it held up well, with ample material left for me to wear through."
Traction: 8.8
Our playtesters were able to move around with ease thanks to the Speed Finale's multi-directional herringbone outsole pattern. Howard said, "Traction was great! I loved how I was able to stop and go without any issues. I run like crazy on a tennis court, and these shoes had enough traction for me to stop my run without feeling like I was glued to the ground."
"The Finales get an A+ for traction on hard courts; there's enough traction to get you going and enough to stop and react."
Chris was impressed, saying, "When it came time to sprint for a shot, I found impressive traction from the Speed Finales. Then when it was time to stop and hit my shot, I felt in control of my movement and could add a little slide if desired. I also found enough give from the outsoles to allow me to pivot freely without feeling like I was getting stuck to the court. On hard lateral cuts, the level of traction I was finding was solid and confidence inspiring."
The Speed Finale's traction got the job done for Austin. He said, "Like many of the characteristics of these shoes, I would describe the traction of the Speed Finales as appropriate, with a good balance of give and grip. I did not find myself sliding out of my shots or wishing for any more stopping power with the outsole, but I have worn shoes in the past that made me feel more connected to the court."
Weight: 8.4
The Speed Finales felt about average in the weight department for our playtesters, even with an official weight of 14.9 ounces (US size 10.5) on the scale. Chris felt fast in the Speed Finales. He described, "I liked the way the shoes transitioned from heel to toe, and my movement felt very natural. What weight there was in my pair felt well hidden, and I was able to cover the court to the best of my ability."
Although Austin likes shoes with a little more bulk, he had no major complaints in this category. He said, "I tend to prefer heavier shoes, so the Speed Finales actually came in a little underweight relative to shoes I've played in before. Nonetheless, I thought the weight of the Speed Finale was appropriate for its design and it didn’t hold me back in either the speed or maneuverability department."
Howard wrapped up the playtest on a high note, saying, "I’ve liked speed shoes in the past, but one thing I didn't like was the lack of stability. The Speed Finales have a nice blend of both worlds. The shoes seemed heavier on paper, but on court it was the opposite. I felt light and fast, which was a surprise for me."
Breakdown Summary
Comfort | 8.8 |
Ventilation | 7.8 |
Arch Support | 8.6 |
Foot Support / Stability | 8.8 |
Overall Sole Durability | 8.8 |
Toe Durability | 8.6 |
Traction | 8.8 |
Weight | 8.4 |
Final Verdict |
8.8 |
Playtester Thoughts
Chris
Players looking for a very comfortable pair of shoes should find a lot to like in the Speed Finales. I'd compare these shoes to other comfortable options, such as the Asics Gel Challenger 13s, KSwiss Ultrashot 3s and Mizuno Wave Enforce Tours.
I love the comfortable ride, and the cushioning is very good. The Diadora Speed Finales do everything well.
Not as low to the ground or as stable on defense as the Diadora Speed B.Icon 2s.
Chris' Breakdown | |
Comfort | 9.4 |
Ventilation | 7 |
Arch Support | 8 |
Foot Support / Stability | 8.4 |
Overall Sole Durability | 8 |
Toe Durability | 8 |
Traction | 9 |
Weight | 8 |
Overall | 8.6 |
Austin
I'm dating myself a bit with this comparison, but the closest shoe I've worn to the Diadora Speed Finale is the Nike Air Max Breathe Cage II. The Nikes had a bit more padding and also felt a little faster, with a more pronounced heel-to-toe drop, but the Speed Finale immediately reminded me of the Breathe Cage II given its balanced design and lack of any real shortcomings.
The thing I like most about these shoes is that they do everything well. The Speed Finale feels like a fantastic bridge between speed-focused and stability-focused shoe types.
Going back to my personal preferences, the only thing I might've liked to have seen would be just a tad more cushioning. Can't have too much of a good thing, right?
Austin's Breakdown | |
Comfort | 9 |
Ventilation | 7.6 |
Arch Support | 8 |
Foot Support / Stability | 9 |
Overall Sole Durability | 9.6 |
Toe Durability | 9.6 |
Traction | 8.6 |
Weight | 8 |
Overall | 8.6 |
Howard
On paper, the Diadora Speed Finales seemed a bit heavy, but to my surprise, they played a lot lighter! I have worn the Asics Gel Resolution 8 in the past, and I'd say these shoes have better overall comfort. I'm super excited to play with this pair of shoes longer to compare the durability to the Gel Resolution 8.
I like everything about the Speed Finales. They will be in my top eight for 2023! I am excited to see how these shoes evolve in the next version.
If I had to be extra critical and pick something, it would be the toe durability; I still think that the toe area will break down more quickly than the outsole.
Howard's Breakdown | |
Comfort | 8 |
Ventilation | 9 |
Arch Support | 10 |
Foot Support / Stability | 9 |
Overall Sole Durability | 9 |
Toe Durability | 8 |
Traction | 9 |
Weight | 9 |
Overall | 9 |