Diadora Speed Blushield 4 AG Men's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.4

When it came to the overall comfort, these Speed Blushield 4s did not disappoint. If our playtesters had one issue, it would be the wider fit, but that was somewhat expected based on previous iterations. Mark was more than content with the Speed Blushield 4's comfortable cushioning. He said, "The overall comfort level was top shelf. The interior felt cushioned to the point where I would refer to it as plush, with the materials used in the heel cup being extremely soft. That said, there was sufficient rigidity to the upper materials, specifically the heel cup, to keep the support on par with comfort. With the high degree of comfort and support, the breathability was sacrificed a little, but not so much that it bothered me while I was playing. In terms of fit, I felt that these Speed Blushield 4s were pretty wide, maybe wider than the past three versions. And like most tennis shoes I test, the arch height felt a bit low, but it wasn't a big issue for my higher arches."

Jason was also satisfied with the comfort of the Speed Blushield 4s. He described, "There was plenty of room for my wider feet. Actually, it was maybe slightly wide for me, especially in the forefoot. The arch support was low, which I liked, and I had no arch soreness at all. I thought the underfoot cushioning was nice, and it helped dissipate the shock on harsh landings."

Even though the fit wasn't a perfect match for his narrow feet, Chris was still able to reap the benefits of the Speed Blushield 4's comfortable ride. He said, "The Speed Blushield 4s felt very comfortable throughout the test. The uppers flexed with my feet very well, so I never had discomfort from poking or pinching. I liked the way the uppers vented too, and my feet never ran hot in these shoes. The fit was very generous in the width department for my skinny feet. Ideally, I would have preferred a snugger fit, but with two pairs of socks, I was able to find just enough support to prevent any uncomfortable sliding around inside the shoes. I also found the arch support adequate. Although these Speed Blushield 4s did not feel super rigid, my arches felt supported, and the shoes flexed in the right spot."

The roomy fit caused issues for Troy, even after sizing down. He explained, "The overall comfort was good, which is something that I have come to expect from Diadora shoes. These Speed Blushield 4s were pretty similar to the Speed Blushield 2. The fit was relatively big, and I had to go down a half size, as I did with the Speed Blushield 2. These shoes were rather wide in the toe box even after I adjusted the length, and the mesh uppers seemed to loosen up even more as time went on. That being said, the mesh uppers did a good job of letting my feet breathe, and I found ventilation to be good considering these shoes are designed as a heavy-duty option. Arch support was slightly lower than I prefer, but there was enough rigidity and support from the shank to keep it from becoming an issue. I did feel my toes jamming into the front of the shoes a few times when I ran toward the net and came to an abrupt stop. It wasn't the worst toe jamming I have experienced, but it made me second-guess myself every time I sprinted forward."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.8

The Speed Blushield 4s provided enough stability to keep our playtesters from toppling over or rolling an ankle. Unfortunately, the testers who had trouble finding a snug fit also had problems with the support. The wider fit worked well for Jason, and he was happy in the support and stability department. He said, "I had to really pull my laces tight to get a snug fit, but once I cinched them up, these shoes felt very supportive and stable. My ankles felt well supported even when I was changing directions and sliding into my shots, and the uppers were rigid enough to keep me from moving within the shoes."

Mark also felt confident and locked-in, specifically around his ankles. He said, "I give high marks to the Speed Blushield 4's level of stability. The midfoot shank felt firm, but not stiff, preventing my feet from twisting too much during aggressive lateral movement. With the combination of the supportive heel cup and upper materials comfortably holding me in place, my feet were secure every step of the way."

Chris found these shoes stable on lateral movements, but the fit was too roomy for him to achieve a high level of support. He explained, "Due to the wider fit, the support was not ideal for me. Still, I felt safe in the shoes, and they flexed in the right places while feeling stiffer and more supportive in key areas. On the stability front, the shoes never felt like they were going to roll over and were very confidence inspiring."

As with Chris, Troy just couldn't quite get the support he needed due to the fit. He said, "My main issue with these shoes when it came to support was that the fit was a bit too wide for me, especially as time went on and the uppers stretched out. These shoes started out somewhat wide for my feet, and by the end of the playtest they felt very wide. I could feel my feet sliding inside these shoes whenever I was changing direction laterally, and I just didn't feel locked-in or secure. I think that the stability could have been decent due to the shank, but the roomy fit and soft uppers didn't quite hold my feet in place."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.2

Most of the playtest team found the overall durability of the Speed Blushield 4s to be good, and everybody appreciated the durability guarantee. Mark likes to wear down his opponents by running down a lot of balls, so he really put these Speed Blushield 4s to the test. He said, "I still have plenty of outsole left after close to 30 hours of hard court play, which is what I expect from shoes backed with an outsole warranty. I don't drag my toes all that much, but there was definitely enough material in that region to protect these shoes from the gritty hard courts."

Because Jason was able to slide into his shots more frequently, he was impressed by how the rubber held up. He said, "The outsoles held up remarkably well considering how much more demand I was putting on them by sliding. There was some tread loss on the medial forefoot area, but it wasn’t too significant after about 10 hours of wear. I would expect to be able to wear these for at least 25 to 30 hours. From a consumer standpoint, it is always comforting to know there is a durability guarantee as well."

Troy found plenty of durability for his game. He compared the Speed Blushield 4s to his shoes of choice, saying, "I found the outsole durability to be good overall. It wasn't the beefiest outsole I have ever seen, but it definitely had some good density to it, and the six-month outsole guarantee is a bonus on top. I would put these Speed Blushield 4s just below my go-to Asics Gel Resolution 8s when it comes to durability. They aren't quite as beefed up around the toe cap as the Gel Resolution 8s, but the majority of the outsole held up well throughout the playtest."

Of the four playtesters on this review, Chris put the most stress on these shoes. He described, "The outsoles of these Speed Blushield 4s held up OK. If these were my go-to shoes, I would wear through the outsole under the big toe of my right foot in under a month. That's not necessarily a bad thing, since I have worn through that area in some shoes in under a week. However, very durable shoes will last me around two months, so these were only about average for me."

Traction - Score: 4.4

All of the playtesters were pleased with the traction of the Speed Blushield 4s. Some of the testers found the outsole to be slightly slick, which is something that is becoming more common to accommodate hard court sliders. Chris said, "I liked the level of grip I found with these shoes. There was enough grab to push off quickly and come to quick stops. Impressively, the outsoles also offered enough give that they never felt hung up on small adjustment steps, and I could slide out of a quick stop if I wanted."

The well-balanced traction was likely Jason's favorite aspect of these shoes. "I loved the traction!" he exclaimed. "These shoes are definitely on the slicker end of the spectrum, so I was able to slide into my shots much easier than normal, but there was still enough grip that I wasn't left spinning my wheels. I am always looking for that ideal balance of grip and give, and I found it here. I favor shoes that keep me feeling safe while helping me with my hard court sliding."

Troy pretty much agreed with Jason, although he doesn't tend to slide into his shots on hard courts. He described, "I enjoyed the traction of these shoes; the somewhat dense traditional herringbone tread pattern worked well. I appreciated that the outsole rubber wasn't very sticky. I like my shoes to have a bit of give to the traction, so when I go to stop quickly they grip the court without making the stop feel too abrupt or jarring. I think these could be a good option for aggressive hard court sliders, based on the outsole and the level of traction, but the uppers are rather soft and stretch out, which might diminish that aspect support-wise."

The combination of traction and support had Mark feeling confident while moving all over the court. He said, "This was yet another part of the playtest where I felt very confident changing directions or stopping. These Diadora Speed Blushield 4s never felt too sticky or slippery, even when they were new. I played with these shoes on various hard courts, from gritty to slicker, and the traction level never let me down or made me feel like I couldn't move to the best of my ability."

Weight - Score: 3.8

The weight of these Speed Blushield 4s was noticeable, but it wasn't something that proved detrimental to the playtesters. The uppers flexed well during sprints, which was a plus for most of the team. Mark explained, "At around 15.7 ounces, these shoes are heftier than some others that feature an outsole warranty, but I never felt like their weight slowed me down. On the contrary, the weight of these shoes helped maximize the lateral stability without feeling overly rigid or stiff. Based on the comfort level and supportive ride, I wouldn't want to reduce the weight of these shoes."

Chris was impressed by how speedy and natural these shoes felt in action. He said, "I liked the fast feel of these Speed Blushield 4s on court. I felt like I was moving well in them, and I liked the way they transitioned from heel to toe. The uppers had a light and airy feel to them. They flexed in all the right places, which made it easy to forget about the shoes and focus on my tennis, which is always a good sign."

The weight of these Speed Blushield 4s was noticeable to Troy, but he didn't think that kept them from feeling smooth while moving. He said, "These shoes felt fairly hefty and pretty much indicative of what they weighed on the scale. They're definitely not ultra-fast shoes, but what they did have going for them was their rather soft and supple feel. So although these shoes are pretty heavy, they didn't feel too stiff or rigid, especially after a break-in. These shoes became softer and more flexible as the playtest went on, and that made for a smoother ride."

While Jason generally prefers lighter shoes, he thought the Speed Blushield 4s made the most of their weight. He said, "They did feel a little on the bulkier, clunkier side to me. I typically like lightweight, speedy shoes, so the Speed Blushield 4s took some getting used to. But with that said, the stability, support, durability and plushness all made up for the weight. So while I do prefer lighter options, those who like the support and comfort will find the weight of the Speed Blushields 4s pretty average for that category."

Overall - Score: 4.1