Asics Solution Speed FF 4 Women's Tennis Shoe Review

FlyteFoam cushioning underfoot makes these Asics Solution Speed FF 4s stand out among the many tennis shoe options on the market today. As a fan of the previous version, the cushioned feel is one of the first things Zsofi noticed. She said, "I was in love with the previous version, but it really feels like Asics perfected the shoes with some nice updates. I did have to go up half a size, but there was no break-in time needed for me at all. If you enjoyed the previous generation, the feel of these shoes on your feet will be very familiar. This update feels more cushioned, but still manages to stay very lightweight and stable, which is a big feat! The Solution Speed FF 4s are super comfortable. I'm sitting just a bit higher off the ground than I did in the previous generation, but it doesn't take away from that connected-to-the-ground feel that I love."

Michelle found a comfortable fit after going up a half size. She described, "I think I have worn every version of the Solution Speeds at this point, so I am always intrigued to see how the updates perform. The one thing that stood out about this model is that I immediately went up a half size; the Solution Speed FF 4s ran very short for me in my true size 10. Once I adjusted to the 10.5s, these shoes fit me nearly perfectly. From there, I felt like they had better underfoot cushioning than the previous two versions, and I was happy with how the uppers felt as well."

Overall cushioning was a high point of the playtest for Brittany as well. She said, “The Solution Speed FF 4s in my true size 8 fit perfectly widthwise, but my toes felt like they were right up against the toe bumper. I tried on an 8.5 and found the length to be what a normal 8 would fit like, but I was slightly worried that the forefoot might open up too much. I took the risk and went up the half size, and I’m so glad I did. I felt the uppers were just slightly stiff at first, but by the time I finished warming up (about 15 minutes), the uppers had softened and started to mold around my feet. Now for one of the highlights of the shoes: the cushioning. I felt the underfoot cushioning was plush from my heel all the way to my forefoot, which made for a very comfortable ride. I found the ventilation to be OK; it didn't stand out one way or another for me."

These Solution Speed FF 4s ran a bit narrow for Tiffani, even after sizing up. She explained, "Historically, the Solution Speed series has been on the narrow side for my wider feet. When I tried on the Solution Speed FF 4s, I opted to go with a half size longer, which felt just right for me in terms of length. The toe box was on the tight side, and I did feel pressure on the medial side where the PGUARD material is on the uppers. I also got arch pain during play, especially on the lateral side of my feet. I'm not sure if it was due to the shoes being slightly too narrow for me in the midfoot or if I just needed more support. Aside from that, I appreciated the underfoot cushioning. I felt protected from harsh landings, and the ride felt lower to the ground in the heel than the Solution Speed 2s (the last version I tested), which I appreciated. The breathability of these shoes was another highlight for me."

Updated Speedtruss technology in the midfoot of the Asics Solution Speed FF 4s improves the stability, while the Flexion Fit of the upper and updated heel cushioning provide support with a locked-in feel. Zsofi was impressed to find so much support and stability in such lightweight shoes. She said, "I felt super locked in with every shot; the stability was amazing. It is not easy for shoes to be so lightweight and stable at the same time. I like to move aggressively on court and change directions quickly, and I was able to rely on the Solution Speed FF 4s to assist me without any issues."

After lacing up through the last eyelets, Brittany was happy with how the Solution Speed FF 4s supported her. She explained, "Being a stickler for support and stability, I felt like the Solution Speed FF 4s did the job for me. As far as stability, I had no issues with ankle support and felt secure even on aggressive movements. I did use the last eyelets to get the shoes to really cinch tightly around my ankles. When it came to support, I felt really locked in (with an almost glove-like fit), and I didn’t have any wiggle room within the shoes. This helped me feel confident in my movement, and I could trust the shoes were protecting my feet."

Tiffani felt stable and supported on court, but she questioned the level of ankle support toward the end of the playtest. She described, "I'll give a shoutout to Asics for the lacing system on these Solution Speed FF 4s. It's really easy to pull on the laces and get a snug fit from the uppers. There wasn't any need to tighten the laces eyelet by eyelet. I really felt supported and stable when I was on the court. I only had one instance of toe jamming, which I probably only noticed because I had bruised toes from another pair of shoes. I do question whether I needed more ankle support, though. The last few times I wore these shoes during the monthlong playtest, I had sore ankles and Achilles tendons in the evening and the next day."

With her high arches, Michelle struggled to get the level of support she needed, but she did find the Solution Speed FF 4s to be stable. She said, "The one issue I had with these Solution Speed FF 4s was a lack of arch support. After the first few wears, I noted that I had some arch pain that followed each hitting session. I have a high arch so I instantly tried aftermarket insoles, but they didn't work very well with the shallower toe boxes. My feet were too smushed in the shoes with my insoles installed, and I had even more discomfort than with the stock insoles. This is a fairly flexible pair of shoes, so I can understand why my higher arches were craving more support. On the flip side, I was surprised to find that the stability was good for me. I assumed I would want more stability because speed shoes can sometimes lack in this department, but it was OK for me."

The rubber on the outsoles of the Asics Solution Speed FF 4s held up well for our whole playtest team. Brittany almost needed a magnifying glass to spot the wear on the soles after many hours of play. She said, "Because of how much I enjoyed the Solution Speed FF 4s, I really put them to the durability test. I easily got in 30-plus hours of hitting on both indoor and outdoor courts, with a variety of grittiness levels. Looking at the outsoles at the end of the playtest, I am seeing such slight wear under my big toes that they almost looked brand new until I inspected them closer. The toe bumpers and uppers remain in like-new condition."

The Solution Speed FF 4s stood up to Zsofi's aggressive play. She described, "The durability was amazing! I played more than 30 hours in these shoes, including a couple of matches. I absolutely loved them and was able to perform my best in them."

"For speed shoes, the outsoles were fairly durable," Michelle added. "I am seeing some smoothing underfoot, but no holes or issues, although I don't tend to wear out my outsoles all that fast. I was surprised by how well they held up throughout the playtest."

Durability got good marks from Tiffani considering the Solution Speed FF 4s' lighter weight. She noted, "I wore my Solution Speed FF 4s for about 12 hours on hard courts. I'm seeing just a bit of smoothing under the balls of my feet on the outsoles. The toes are plenty built up for me. I wouldn't expect Gel Resolution levels of durability, but they'll hold up well for speed shoes."

Our playtesters all agreed that the balance of grip and give in the Asics Solution Speed FF 4s was a highlight of their time with the shoes. Tiffani always felt confident in her movement. She explained, "The grip level of the outsoles was spot on for me, and I don't recall having any issues moving in the Solution Speed FF 4s. I felt like I transitioned well and stopped moving when I needed to. I have nothing but positive feedback in the traction department."

Brittany also enjoyed the traction level, and she noted that the Solution Speed FF 4s would work well for people who like to slide into their shots. She said, "The outsoles of the Solution Speed FF 4s had a good blend of give and grip. I would say they lean a little more to the slick side, but I never felt like I was slipping. It was definitely easy to push out of my shots and not feel stuck. While I am not much of a slider, I do feel like those players who are would be able to do so with ease."

The Solution Speed FF 4's traction was optimal for Zsofi. She said, "The traction was a perfect blend between grip and give — maybe just a tad bit less sticky, which I honestly preferred."

While Michelle didn't think the outsole was anything revolutionary, it worked well for her. She said, "I liked the traction levels: not too slick, not too sticky. It's a fairly familiar pattern that I am pretty sure we've seen on some other models. The rubber was a soft compound; a little squeaky at times, but no complaints."

Weighing in at 10.6 ounces (size 8.5), the Asics Solution Speed FF 4s fall on the lighter end of the scale. Michelle appreciated the slight increase in weight from the previous versions in exchange for extra cushioning and stability. She described, "This is definitely a lightweight pair of shoes. I appreciate the subtle cutouts on the outsoles that helped with breathability and kept the weight lower. I think Asics made the previous versions of the Solution Speeds way too light, and they really didn't have enough support, stability or cushioning. I am much more comfortable with this update."

The light weight was welcomed by Brittany. She noted, "Another highlight of the Solution Speed FF 4s was their lightweight feel. Even though there is plush cushioning underneath, I felt fast and quick in these shoes, and I moved effortlessly in every direction. In fact, I didn't have to think about the shoes when I was playing, and that is the biggest compliment I can give. The Solution Speed FF 4s are light but not flimsy."

Tiffani was surprised to see this level of cushioning in a shoe this light. She said, "The lightweight feel is another high point for the Solution Speed FF 4s. These shoes definitely feel light around the court, but they're not skimpy in the cushioning department either. I think the balance of weight and cushioning is great. This is another area where I have no complaints."

These Solution Speed FF 4s did not slow Zsofi down either. She added, "The Solution Speed FF 4s are a tiny bit heavier than the previous version, at least on paper, but I couldn't feel the difference on the court because they were so quick. All in all, these Solution Speed FF 4s feel super light and speedy on my feet."