Breakdown

Comfort: 7.5

With a secure, plush and slightly narrow fit, the Fila Mondo Forzas performed fairly well in the comfort department. The fit was almost ideal for Chris' narrow feet and higher arch. He said, "The width of the Mondo Forzas worked well for my narrow feet. I was able to get a secure feel inside the shoes, so I never experienced any sliding around inside them or rubbing discomfort. The arch had a noticeably high feel to it. I have high arches, so the height wasn't an issue for me. However, the arch location was farther back than ideal, so I could feel the arch of the shoe where my arch slopes to my heel. I wouldn't say it caused my feet any discomfort, but the feel of it was something I was cognizant of when playing. I liked the level of cushioning the shoes offered, and my feet were well protected from the court on tough landings. The uppers flexed nicely with my feet, and the fit around the ankle collar was comfortable."

For Mark, the biggest highlight of this shoe was its level of midsole cushioning and its low-to-the-ground feel. He said, "While still keeping my feet reasonably close to the court, I felt the midsole cushioning of Fila's Mondo Forza was more than sufficient from heel to toe. My size 11 was snug in terms of length, and the toe box had a medium width to it. From there, it narrowed through the midfoot area and tapered a bit more to nicely hold the rear of my feet in place without having to use the empty eyelet."

Foot Support / Stability: 8.3

It was clear to our team that support and stability were big priorities for Fila when designing the Mondo Forza. Mark was impressed by this shoe's ability to change directions on a dime. He said, "The overall level of foot support and stability while twisting and turning on court was really good. The footprint of the Mondo Forza was just right: broad enough for me to confidently plant my feet while split-stepping, yet narrow enough for me to move off of that stance in any direction."

The glove-like upper fit and the sleek feel were Chris' highlights here. He said, "I felt very secure moving on court in the Mondo Forzas. The ride was low enough to the ground to give the shoes a fast feel, and I quickly found that I could trust them even during my most aggressive movements. On lateral cuts, the uppers felt supportive and held my feet well. I was able to get a snug fit from the lace system and never had to worry about my toes jamming into the ends of the shoes on quick stops. My heels and ankles also felt very secure, and I didn't have any slipping at the heel of the shoes."

Overall Sole Durability: 7.9

With little to no wear at the end of the playtest period, the Mondo Forzas earned high praise from the team for their durability. Chris only saw minor wear on the outsoles after about 12 hours of play. He said, "The toe tips of the Mondo Forzas were nicely built up and proved plenty durable for my toe dragging tendencies. I did see some wear on the outsoles in my high-wear areas, but nothing excessive, and I would expect the shoes to last well."

Mark put around 10 hours of play on his pair, and he noticed no significant wear or tear at the end of the playtest. He said, "As with the cushioning, the Mondo Forza's outsole and toe cap durability was more than sufficient. To bolster the value and the hard court longevity of the Mondo Forza, Fila also includes a six-month outsole warranty." 

Traction: 8.5

With a unique outsole tread, the Fila Mondo Forza certainly raised some eyebrows for our team. Chris appreciated how the shoes helped him slide around the court, especially since he isn't much of a slider to begin with. He said, "I liked the blend of grip and give I found in these shoes. I was able to push off aggressively for a quick sprint and find the traction needed to get me going quickly. When coming to a quick stop, there was enough give to allow me to slide out of a shot slightly. I'm not the biggest slider on court, but I felt very confident when I did have the occasional small slide in these shoes. I found I could control my slides better than I can in most shoes."

The Mondo Forza's distinctive tread pattern allowed Mark to slide around the court. He said, "The tread pattern of the Mondo Forza is unique for a hard court shoe. It features a smooth plane on the lateral side of the outsole, which reminded me of a carpet-specific shoe trait. That said, I played on the same five hard courts as I always do and experienced nothing but safe, predictable traction. Although I never deliberately slide into shots, I did find this shoe to be a natural slider, so to speak."

Weight: 7.9

Despite being among the heavier shoes our team has tested this year, the Mondo Forza felt quite fast and light on the court. Chris thought the weight of the shoe was justified by how the shoe played. He said, "The Mondo Forzas felt faster on court than the scales would suggest. I think the fit, feel, traction and support all came together to get me moving at my best. There was plenty of support and toe durability in these shoes, so it felt to me like whatever weight was there had been put to good use."

Mark was surprised by how much the shoe weighed after having playtested it. He said, “For weighing 15.1 ounces for a U.S. men's size 10.5, the Fila Mondo Forza never feels clunky around the court and is competitive with other tennis shoes with a focus on support and durability, like the Ultrashot 3 and Gel Resolution 9."

Breakdown Summary