Head Sprint Pro 3.0 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.7

Our playtesters could not come to a consensus when it came to the Head Sprint Pro 3.0's comfort. Michelle was ready to head straight down to the court after sliding on her pair. She said, "No break-in was required for me. I was able to lace these up and get going right away. I wouldn't say these are the plushest shoes underfoot, but the cushioning was responsive. They fit a bit snug, which I was happy with since I like feeling locked in, but I wasn't feeling as locked in as I wanted in the heel. The upper was comfortable, supportive and breathable. The shoes really felt low to the ground as well, which was great for feeling speedy and light on my feet, but because they were so flat, I did notice my arches aching after an hour or so. I definitely need to utilize an aftermarket insole. I had no rubbing and no real issues overall; the comfort was solid. The Sprint Pro 3.0s weren't the most comfortable shoes I've played in, but they definitely did the job."

Tiffani is no stranger to Head shoes, having playtested previous iterations. She did need a small break-in period for her wide feet. She said, "Out of the box, these Sprint Pro 3.0s felt a bit tight from the midfoot down to the toes. The fit wasn't so constricting that I was unable to play, but I did feel some soreness on the sides of my feet while I broke in the shoes. After about the third hour, the uppers loosened up enough that I felt comfortable for the duration of my hourlong hitting sessions. The cushioning was not as plush as Head's Revolt Pro 3.0, but I liked the low ride and thought there was just enough padding to keep my feet feeling protected from hard landings. The ventilation level was fine, and I can't recall any issues with the arch support. So besides the three-hour break-in period, I was pleased with the overall comfort of the Sprint Pro 3.0s."

"As with the two previous versions of the Sprint Pro I playtested, there was a lengthy break-in period of three to four hours," continued Brittany. "The uppers were very stiff and unforgiving at the beginning of the playtest, but they started to loosen up toward the end. I thought the cushioning was on the plusher side, but it did not feel bulky or excessive. I had issues with the back heel cushioning creasing and folding into the heel when I was putting them on. I was able to push the cushioning back up, but I had to be very cautious every time I put the shoes on to avoid having this happen again. In terms of overall comfort, I struggled with the Drift Defense technology on the upper. It was putting pressure on my big toe joint, causing some discomfort. This came and went throughout a hitting session. I also wanted to take the shoes off immediately after playing."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 3.8

The team also had some mixed feelings when it came to the support and stability of the Sprint Pro 3.0s. Tiffani needed to make adjustments throughout the month-long playtest to get her optimal support and stability. She said, "About 30 minutes into my first session with these shoes, I stopped to adjust the lacing and use the last eyelet. The area around the ankle felt too wide-open without using the last eyelet, so I didn't feel secure enough on lateral movements. Once I had that laced up, the shoes felt good to go in terms of stability. As the test wore on, however, the level of support changed. At first, the shoes were pretty tight on my feet and held me in place very well. After about six or seven hours, the uppers started to loosen a bit too much, and I fiddled with how tightly I was tying my shoes. I like them snug, but my feet would ache if I cinched them up too much. It was merely a matter of getting the right amount of tension in the laces, but it took a few adjustments as I played to get it right."

"I was happy with the support from these Sprint Pro 3.0s," added Michelle. "I felt like the uppers held my feet well. They were fairly stable, but as I mentioned already, there were times I felt my heels coming out of the shoes, which sometimes played into the stability and support. Again, I feel like they did the job well but were not the most stable or most supportive shoes I've ever worn."

Brittany had very similar feedback to the other two playtesters. She said, "During my first hitting session in the Sprint Pro 3.0s I noticed my heel was slipping in and out when I was moving around, and there was a lot of extra space around my ankles. Luckily, Tiffani told me about the second eyelet, which I hadn’t noticed when I first put the shoes on. This helped alleviate most of the issues, although it didn't leave a lot of extra length for the shoelaces. As far as stability, I think the fact that the shoes felt low to the ground helped me feel secure in them. My previously injured ankle was not getting sore, so I can safely assume I was getting the stability I needed."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.0

The Head Sprint Pro 3.0s held up for our team throughout the month-long playtest on a gritty indoor hard court. Brittany was surprised by how little wear she saw on her pair by the time the playtest was over. She said, "By the looks of the outsole, I wasn't sure if it was going to be durable. After eight-plus hours on court, with a couple more hours in the gym and just walking around, I was impressed. The outsoles held up quite well, and I did not see any premature wearing even on my high-wear areas."

Michelle couldn't find any fault with the Sprint Pro 3.0's durability. She said, "Considering how light these shoes are, their durability is a standout feature. They have a lot of life left in them after this playtest. The traction levels remained consistent as well throughout the test."

"I'm really pleased with how my shoes are holding up," added Tiffani. "These Sprint Pro 3.0s felt pretty light on my feet, and unlike many other speedy shoes, they had some good durability. I've worn them about a dozen hours, and I would need a microscope to detect any wear to the outsoles. The toes look a bit scuffed, but there's not really any wear to be worried about there either."

Traction - Score: 4.0

With a zonal tread design, the Sprint Pro 3.0s offered a superb combination of give and grip, allowing the playtesters to feel connected to the court. Tiffani had nothing but compliments, saying, "The tread pattern on these shoes is interesting to look at, but it certainly did its job on the hard court. I enjoyed the balance of stick and slide, and probably most important for me is the fact that the traction was always reliable and consistent."

The Sprint Pro 3.0's balanced traction and low-to-the-ground feel worked well for Brittany. She described, "There was nothing that stood out about the traction of the Sprint Pros. I would maybe say they are slightly more grippy, but it did not negatively affect my movement at all. The grip, combined with the low-to-the-ground feel, allowed me to be very connected to the court, even during the most abrupt movements."

Michelle found confidence from the traction of these shoes. She said, "They were not too slick or slippery, but they weren't too tacky either. I wasn't worried about slipping at all when wearing these shoes and moving aggressively."

Weight - Score: 4.3

The weight of the Head Sprint Pro 3.0s was hands (or feet?) down the standout feature for our playtesters. Michelle felt speedy moving around the court. She said, "A strength of these shoes was definitely their weight and speed. I felt quick and ready to move in them. The low-to-the-ground ride helped me feel like I could pick up the pace whenever I needed to."

Compared to the previous iteration, Brittany preferred the weight of this update. She said, "I looked back at my comments on the Sprint Pro 2.0s after I wrapped up the playtest and saw that I thought those shoes played heavier than their weight indicated. This was not the case for the 3.0s. I thought Head did a great job distributing the weight, and the shoes felt light on my feet. They definitely earn a spot in the lightweight category."

The lightweight feel of the Sprint Pro 3.0 was a highlight throughout the playtest for Tiffani. She wrapped up the playtest, saying, "These shoes fit well, even if they were initially too tight, so moving from shot to shot felt seamless. In many ways, I find the Revolt Pro 3.0s and Sprint Pro 3.0s similar in how they perform, but this is where the Sprint Pro series separates itself and feels faster."

Overall - Score: 3.9