Yonex PC Fusion Rev 3 Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 3.7

The midsole of the Fusion Rev 3 is constructed with Yonex's signature Power Cushioning, which promises to provide a soft underfoot feel, as well as quick, responsive energy return. As a player who always ties her shoes extra tightly for a snug fit, Julie immediately loved the Fusion Rev 3s. She began, "My favorite feature was the off-center lacing and full-bootie construction. I often feel a pressure point where I tie my laces because they are so tight, but in this case it wasn't an issue at all. My feet were wrapped up comfortably, and I felt super secure in the Fusion Rev 3s. Another positive for me was the cushioning. It felt plush and responsive; I couldn't ask for anything more! Moving around the court felt natural, and I don't remember losing any time when changing directions. Even though I loved these shoes instantly, they needed a break-in. I experienced arch pain during my first hit, but it was not so bad that I couldn't handle it. Also, they started to wear after about 20 hours on court, and I started to feel some discomfort. The cushioning was plush, but I did have a pressure point on the medial side of my forefoot. This discomfort was temporary, but it lasted for a solid four hours on court. Besides this small negative, the Yonex Fusion Rev 3s are top-shelf on my equipment list."

For Brittany, there were both positives and negatives to the Fusion Rev 3's comfort features. She explained, "On the plus side, I really enjoyed the fit. The shoes fit my narrow feet perfectly. I thought the length was standard, and I stayed in my true size. I also liked that the bootie construction gave me that sock-like fit. However, I was hoping for a little more overall comfort. I had a rather long break-in period of at least two to three hours before the uppers started loosening up and molding around my feet. While there was plenty of plush cushioning under the heel, I was missing some under my forefoot. I had issues with the arch support as well; I didn't feel like it was hitting the right spot (I felt it toward the outside of my feet)."

In the past, sizing for Yonex shoes has been a bit hit or miss for Tiffani. She noted, "For the Fusion Rev 3s, I did find the length to run truer to size than past models, and I stayed in my usual size 6. These shoes had a narrow fit, and they squeezed my wider feet, especially through the midfoot area. I kept waiting for the uppers to loosen, but after about 10 hours in them they still felt rather tight in that section, although the toe box did feel a bit better. Despite a fit that wasn't made for the shape of my feet, there were some high points for comfort. The Power Cushion midsole felt good, especially in the heels, so my feet felt protected there. This was balanced by a lower profile in the forefoot, so while I enjoyed the cushioning, I also felt connected to the court. The arch support never bothered me, and my feet never ran hot in these shoes."

Michelle laced up and found instant success in the Fusion Rev 3s. She said, "I was a bit suspicious about the lacing being off-center on these shoes, but it proved to be perfect for my feet. I like to feel snug in my shoes, and the Fusion Rev 3s offered that right off the bat. The Power Cushion cushioning was responsive, but still comfortable. It wasn't too plush, so I didn't feel like I sunk too far into it, and I felt like I was always on my toes. The fit worked just fine for my medium-width feet. I really didn't have any break-in issues or any rubbing or sore spots. I have experienced some bad break-ins with some past Yonex shoes, but that was not the case here."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.2

The snug fit of the Yonex Fusion Rev 3s provided good levels of support and stability for our team. "The Fusion Rev 3s felt ready for any movement," said Tiffani. "Yes, they were tight, but at the same time, the uppers were strong enough to keep me from sliding over the edge of the shoes, which is a common issue I have when shoes are too narrow for me. The stability was also good, and I felt secure making cuts in every direction. These shoes don't feel as built up as Yonex's Eclipsion model, but they are just as stable and supportive for me."

Michelle is always looking for lots of support and stability, and she continued to be impressed with these shoes. She said, "The snug fit held my feet in, and I never felt like I was going to lose my footing or fall over. The uppers held me in as well, and I always felt stable. While the uppers did open up a bit during the playtest, I never felt like the support was compromised. Everything came together well for me, and I was really happy that I could wear these for my most intense hits and practices."

With a comfortable fit and responsive cushioning already taken care of, Julie checked off another box when it came to support and stability. She said, "I thought the support and stability were excellent. I felt very secure moving aggressively from the start, and I really felt connected to the shoe. The narrow fit kept my feet in place as I raced for the droppers. I was hoping the upper fabric of the shoe would last a bit longer, but it opened up after about 20 hours on court, and the impressive level of support dropped off. I kept on wearing them until the end of the playtest, but I started sliding toward the lateral side of the shoe each time I stepped for a change of direction."

When it came to support and stability, Brittany continued to have mixed opinions. She described, "On one hand, I appreciated the stability these Fusion Rev 3s gave me, especially around the ankles. I felt extremely locked in and never worried about tipping in the shoes or rolling an ankle. As far as support, I had no issues with aggressive side-to-side movement. Where I did encounter some problems was when I had to run forward to a short ball or drop shot and stop suddenly. My feet would slide forward and jam against the toe bumper. I tried tightening my laces down lower and was able to get a slightly more secure fit."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.0

Our team was impressed with the Fusion Rev 3's durability. Julie wore these shoes exclusively for a month and a half, and her pair still has some life left in them. She reported, "I found the outsole durability to be higher than average. Once again, I have to mention I go through tennis shoes quickly; a pair usually wears out for me in a month. After this month-and-a-half playtest I still have a few hours of playability in these shoes until they completely wear out, so durability is definitely a thumbs up for me."

Tiffani wore these shoes sparingly since she did not find them to be very comfortable, but she still noted that they seemed to resist wear well given their weight. She said, "I'm not seeing much damage to either the toes or the outsoles after 10 hours on court. Considering these shoes felt relatively light around the court, the durability levels are impressive."

"I certainly didn't get to wear the Fusion Rev 3s as much as Julie, but since I was happy with the performance, I found myself in these shoes very often during the month-plus playtest," said Michelle. "I was impressed with the durability. I was pretty rough on these shoes, and I feel like they are showing less wear than expected. The rubber outsole was built to last, and the traction remained consistent as the playtest went on."

"Although I wasn't 100-percent comfortable in these shoes, I was able to put around 10-plus hours on the court," added Brittany. "This included practice, and some singles and doubles play. I even played a little bit of pickleball in them as well. Looking at the outsoles, I was impressed. I saw little to no wear and expect to have plenty of life left well after the playtest is complete."

Traction - Score: 4.2

Our playtesters agreed that the Fusion Rev 3s offered a seamless blend of give and grip that faded into the background as they played. Michelle described, "Traction levels worked well for me. I never slipped or worried about losing my footing. I've always liked the traction on Yonex shoes, which is very similar from model to model. They always have great grip and are durable. No complaints!"

Brittany didn't really notice the grip during the playtest, which meant the shoes offered the perfect level of traction. She said, "I could move around confidently on the court and expect the shoes to push off when I needed them to. They offered just that tiny bit of give, so I never felt stuck. The traction was a highlight for me!"

"With just the right blend of grip and a bit of give, I thought the level of traction was ideal," said Julie. "The outsole didn't start to wear off before a month, but when it did, the traction started to feel grippier. I ended up getting used to the grippy traction by the end of the playtest, but it resulted in my feet sliding inside the shoe a little bit in the forefoot on lateral movements.

"When I'm not thinking about the traction levels, I call it a plus," added Tiffani. "I felt smooth in my movements and found the right amount of grab and go from the outsoles of the Fusion Rev 3s."

Weight - Score: 4.2

The Fusion Rev 3s never had our team feeling weighed down or sluggish when moving around the court. Julie said, "These shoes were heavy enough for me to feel secure, but not so heavy that they slowed me down on court. They provided enough material for me to feel supported without compromising the weight, and I felt connected to the shoes."

These are not the lightest shoes Tiffani has ever played in, but she thought the weight was just right. She continued, "The cushioning in the heel is great, and the support and stability are there for aggressive movements on the court. I wouldn't want to give up any of those aspects to get the shoes any lighter. Yonex got the weight right with these Fusion Rev 3s."

"These Fusion Rev 3s weren't too heavy for me," said Michelle. "They were heavy enough that they were stable, supportive and cushioned, but they never felt bulky or slow. I always felt quick in them."

Brittany didn't look at the weight of these shoes until after the playtest. She said, "From just how they felt on court, I thought they were weighing below the average tennis shoes. And I was right! They are lightweight, and I felt quick moving around the court. No complaints from me here!"

Overall - Score: 4.1