Head Sprint Pro 3.5 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.7

Players looking for a speedy, light and comfortable pair of court shoes will find what they're looking for in the Sprint Pro 3.5s. Having worn previous models and some other Head shoes, Michelle noted, "While these aren't going to have the most cushioning in the Head family of shoes (as that is reserved for the Revolt Pros), I found the new mesh upper really comfortable, and I had zero issues with break-in. Although these aren't super plush shoes, they were quick and never caused my feet any pain. The feel underfoot was on the firm side, but the fit was great for my medium-width feet, and even the arch support worked well for my high arches. I noted some toe jamming in the more stable Revolt Pro update, but I never suffered any in these shoes. There is a little less midsole cushioning than in previous models, and these shoes feel a bit lighter and more responsive than versions from the past. After a month of wear, I would say they are match-day shoes rather than practice shoes for long hours on the court."

The previous version felt a bit too narrow for Tiffani's wider feet, but the Sprint Pro 3.5s were a much better fit. She said, "The uppers were pliable enough to offer my feet room right out of the box. Underfoot, I noticed the cushioning was minimal in the forefoot, but I didn't struggle with any aches or pains after playing on the court. These shoes also felt really breathable. There is a vent feature under the insole that requires a sticker to be removed, but because the uppers are really meshy, I think the Sprint Pro 3.5s feel quite ventilated."

Having just playtested the Revolt Pro 4.0s, Brittany was pleasantly surprised these shoes fit her narrow feet much better. She explained, "I found the length to be true to size and the width to be a true medium. There was less room in the toe box and throughout the shoe compared to the Revolt Pro 4.0s. I felt more secure within the shoes, and they didn't require a break-in period. I noted decent cushioning in the heel, but the forefoot offered a more minimal feel. The mesh uppers were extremely breathable, and I found plenty of airflow throughout the shoes. These Sprint Pro 3.5s are probably some of the most well-ventilated shoes I have worn in years."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.5

Because of the Sprint Pro 3.5's very light feel and pliable uppers, our team was split when it came to deciding whether the shoe had enough support and stability. Tiffani felt that the Sprint Pro 3.5 was dependable enough for her needs. She described, "The support was good for me. I never felt these shoes giving out, and they were holding my feet and ankles well. They don't have a 'tank-like' feel since they are built for speed, but I felt safe during all my movements."

Due to an ankle injury a couple of years ago, Brittany puts a higher priority on support and stability. She explained, "After the first few hits, I thought the Sprint Pro 3.5s held up well. Then I noticed the uppers starting to give, and my feet were starting to move around within the shoes. There were a couple of times when my foot would continue to move out over the edge of the shoe when I stopped, bordering on rolling over. I immediately retied my laces using the last eyelet in hopes of getting a more secure fit. This helped a little bit, but after a couple more intense hitting sessions, my ankle was pretty sore. I then reserved these shoes for doubles or days when I knew my movement would be lighter. I would say these are a little below average in this category."

"For me, the Spring Pro 3.5s performance is similar to other light, speedy shoes," Michelle added. "They offered a great blend of support and stability. They are not going to be the most stable shoes on the market, or even in Head's lineup (I would check out the Revolt Pro 4.0 if that is what you are looking for), but the mesh upper held my feet well and offered a good amount of support. Stability was good too. I never felt like they were going to give way."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.9

Lighter shoes often come with less durability, but the Sprint Pro 3.5's outsole surpassed everyone's expectations. Brittany described, "I was impressed that I was just seeing small sections of wear in my normal high-wear areas after 10-plus hours on court. The shoes have plenty of life left; I would expect at least a couple more weeks. The toe bumper was much the same story. It did its job, and I only saw some small cosmetic scuffs. Not much to complain about here!"

Michelle was also happy with how long these shoes held up. She said, "Shoes like this can often wear out quickly, but the rubber compound is holding strong. I was expecting the outsoles to be very slick at the end of the playtest, but that's not the case."

After putting these shoes through their paces on court, Tiffani still isn't seeing any significant wear or tear. She said, "For lightweight shoes, the Sprint Pro 3.5s are holding up really well. I've put a dozen hours of hard-court play on them, and I don't really see any wear on the outsoles or toes."

Traction - Score: 4.2

When it came to traction, our team agreed that the Sprint Pro 3.5s felt just right, meaning there were no complaints in this category. Michelle said, "The Sprint Pro 3.5s have the perfect blend of tack and give, without being too sticky or too slippery. I never slipped or slid, and I felt like I could pick up and change directions quickly when needed. I had some traction problems in the Head Revolt Pro 4.0s, but I didn't find the same issues in these speedier shoes."

The first thing Tiffani noticed was that there wasn't any squeaking when she moved around the hard court. She continued, "I really appreciated the relative silence. I don't recall any issues with the traction levels, which is always a good thing. I was transitioning from shot to shot seamlessly, so I have no complaints in the traction department."

For Brittany, the minimal cushioning and the reliable traction allowed her to feel very connected to the court. She said, "The tread pattern itself is extremely interesting and a little different from the traditional herringbone. This did not impact the traction at all; I had grip when I needed but not so much that I felt stuck. I didn't really think about it throughout the playtest, and that is a win in my book."

Weight - Score: 4.4

As the lighter option of Head's top-tier shoes, the Sprint Pro 3.5s delivered a speedy ride on the court. Tiffani described, "These Sprint Pro 3.5s feel quite light around the court and also feature a streamlined fit. They're designed for speed, so they feel minimal in the forefoot. If I wanted just a little bit more cushioning on a particular day, I'd take the Head Revolt Pro 4.0s out to the court instead."

For Brittany, the Sprint Pro 3.5s felt nice and light, with an almost slipper-like sensation on foot. She explained, "They have a very streamlined feel that allowed me to transition from heel to toe very smoothly. My strides felt easy and fluid, even on my most aggressive movements. This is definitely a highlight of the playtest."

Michelle agreed, saying, "These go straight into the lightweight category. They are quick and light!"

Overall - Score: 4.0