Asics Court FF 3 Review and Playtest for 2023

For 2023, Asics has launched two new tennis footwear, the Courtroom FF 3 and Gel Decision 9.

The Courtroom FF line is Novak Djokovic’s shoe of selection, and he’s mentioned to have performed a major collaborative position with Asics when designing this third era.

For the previous few years, Asics have additionally been my tennis shoe of selection, and I’ve rotated between the Gel Decision 8, the Courtroom FF 2, and the Answer Velocity FF 2.

I’m a giant fan of all three. Whereas I feel the Gel Decision 8 have been seemingly the most effective purchase for leisure tennis, the Courtroom FF 2 had a brilliant cozy feeling and have been the footwear I preferred enjoying in most frequently, so I used to be to see if the Courtroom FF 3 had improved on what was already a superb tennis shoe.

I ordered a pair of the Courtroom FF 3 and Gel Res 9 as quickly as they have been accessible. The Courtroom FF 3 price £152.90 and have been the primary to show up and, consequently, the primary I examined on the courtroom.

How does the Courtroom FF 3 play? Is it higher than the Courtroom FF 2? Do you have to swap?

Discover out within the full Asics Courtroom FF 3 overview and playtest.

Concerning the Asics Courtroom FF 3 Line

The brand new Asics Courtroom FF 3 has been three years within the making and was developed in shut collaboration with Novak Djokovic, the person who has been sporting the Courtroom FF 2 or Courtroom FF Novak for the final couple of seasons.

Throughout the growth, Asics introduced at least 9 completely different shoe prototypes, which Djokovic examined at numerous factors within the season earlier than the ultimate manufacturing Courtroom FF 3 was finalised.

When the idea of this mannequin was initially introduced, there have been mentions of fatigue enjoying all through the season. To sort out that we checked out completely different components resembling breathability, help system, but in addition centered on how we will have athletes preserve their prime efficiency all through the match. By making use of this new outsole construction, we have been in a position to decrease the impression on the physique, enabling athletes to remain on prime of their sport. Koji Otobe, Courtroom FF 3 Lead Developer

Asics Courtroom FF 3 Options

GET THE ASICS COURT FF 3

When the most effective participant on this planet has worn a shoe, it’s unattainable to make wholesale modifications to the design or fully overhaul the shoe.

The road didn’t want altering both, because the Courtroom FF 2 was a near-perfect tennis shoe.

Consequently, the shoe’s outsole is the one important change on the brand new Courtroom FF 3.

Asics have launched a three-piece sole which has been launched to supply extra flexibility and luxury than ever earlier than.

In line with Asics lab exams, biomechanical testing on the College of Tsukuba resulted in a 6.8% decrease load on the physique on the level of ground-heel contact than the earlier mannequin, consequently decreasing stress on the physique.

Just like the FF 2, the Courtroom FF 3 options the next:

FLYTEFOAM™ know-how

It supplies light-weight cushioning and impression absorption

Forefoot GEL™ know-how

It improves impression absorption and creates a softer feeling at footstrike

TWISTRUSS™ know-how

Improves quickness and slicing motions

PGUARD™ know-how

It helps enhance sturdiness within the outsole’s toe and heel space

MONO-SOCK™ building

Helps enhance stability

AHARPLUS™ rubber outsole

Improves sturdiness

Asics Courtroom FF 3 vs Asics Courtroom FF 2

Happily, I had a pair of Asics Courtroom FF 2’s in good situation to make comparability a lot simpler.

Total the design may be very comparable, however there are some minor modifications:

Did I miss any variations? Let me know.

As you’ll be able to see, the only real has modified fairly a bit with a barely new sample, and it’s now cut up into three items.

There may be additionally considerably extra cushioning within the heel, and it’s bulkier with extra Flytefoam.

The toe guard on the Courtroom FF 3 has additionally been lowered in each top and thickness. So serial toe draggers will seemingly desire the Courtroom FF 2 for sturdiness as there’s extra mass. I’m not a toe dragger, so I can’t check whether or not that is the case.

Testing Out The Asics Courtroom FF 3 Tennis Footwear

The Gel Decision and Courtroom FF strains have topped my listing of the most effective tennis footwear lately, so I used to be excited to check them.

My first playtest was indoors in freezing situations, and subsequent exams have been achieved in hotter situations on outside and indoor onerous courts.

Asics Courtroom FF 3 Assessment and Playtest

Preliminary Impressions

As quickly as I unboxed the Courtroom FF 3 footwear, I used to be an instantaneous fan of the design, and this explicit color is metal blue and white with some neon inexperienced element. The interior sock lining additionally appears glorious.

After giving them a fast as soon as over and weighing them, the very first thing I did was put on for them an entire day indoors.

Consolation

The booty sock design means the Courtroom FF 3 are fairly tight when getting your foot in, however when you get your foot into the shoe, you are feeling locked in, they usually’re very snug.

Asics declare that the FF 3 is simpler to get on in comparison with the FF 2, and I’d agree, the FF 3 do slip on a bit simpler however not by a lot. The opening is not any wider, however they broaden a bit extra.

I wore them indoors for a day earlier than enjoying, they usually have been snug strolling about. It wasn’t a aid to take them off on the finish of the day as it may be with different footwear.

I additionally suppose the fabric on the higher is softer on the FF 3 in comparison with the FF 2 and is extra breathable, which is an enchancment, particularly for these enjoying in heat climates.

That consolation I felt indoors at dwelling transitioned to the courtroom, and I preferred them from the phrase go.

The FF 3’s felt straightforward to maneuver forwards and backwards in, and I had no issues with any discomfort or awkward emotions when shifting.

When it comes to breaking them in. I’d say there’s a  slight break-in interval, they usually’re a bit stiffer out of the field than the FF 2 (regardless that the higher is softer).

My first hit was on a chilly indoor courtroom when it was minus levels exterior, so the rubber was rock onerous. This gave them a little bit of a stiffer, plastic-type feeling whenever you landed from a cut up step, however on my second hit, in hotter situations, the FF 3 felt rather more supple after the primary 20/half-hour of play.

Stability

My first check of stability was on the ball machine doing the ‘Homicide Ball’ Drill. This can be a 100-ball drill; you get a ball up the center, one into the forehand nook, one other within the center, after which one into the backhand nook. And it repeats till the basket is empty.

Firstly, I often hit all forehands, operating across the backhand nook ball, however after some time, it turns into unattainable.

You might be altering route and pushing off with this drill, so a steady shoe is vital, and the Courtroom FF 3 was nice.

I felt tremendous safe within the shoe, and it felt rock stable. In addition they felt nice by means of the shot; as soon as I used to be able to hit the ball, the FF 3 gave me a really steady base, and I felt like I might hit the ball powerfully.

For the second drill, I put the machine on random mode; right here, you’ll incessantly be wrong-footed, so there may be extra probability of rolling within the shoe, however once more, the FF 3 felt tremendous steady.

In a daily match, play and baseline play in opposition to an opponent, my expertise from the ball machine session was mirrored. The shoe is a good all-rounder and feels good regardless of the place you’re on the courtroom.

Are you sprinting as much as a brief ball? You get an excellent push-off from the Flytefoam, and I felt quick within the shoe. Are you hitting a defensive forehand and having to get well to the center as rapidly as doable? The FF 3 has rock-solid traction, and that sock design makes the foot really feel very steady.

Sturdiness

Asics footwear all the time carry out properly for sturdiness because the AHAR rubber is a few of the greatest in the marketplace, and the FF 3 will carry out equally properly because the FF 2.

Whereas they received’t be marketed as an ultra-durable shoe and there’s no six-month outsole assure, they’ll greater than maintain their very own in opposition to some other ‘all spherical’ tennis shoe in the marketplace.

I haven’t racked up sufficient play time in them but to say something definitive, however I’ll examine them to the FF 2 as soon as I’ve the identical quantity of hours in them.

Traction

The brand new Courtroom FF 3’s have much less tread as a result of sole being cut up into three, however there’s no lack of traction.

You may have grip in all the fitting locations, and I had no points with traction on indoor and outside onerous courts.

Asics say the cut up heel permits every part to maneuver independently, enabling you to cease and swap instructions extra rapidly. 

It’s troublesome to check that declare for mere mortals as we’re speaking about small margins. And I’m not a participant who slides a lot on onerous courts, however the footwear felt nice when altering route.

That preliminary push-off to get shifting within the different route feels a bit springier within the Courtroom FF 3 when in comparison with the FF 2, which is probably going as a result of enhance in foam thickness across the interior heel space.

Weight

My Courtroom FF 3 have been a UK Measurement 10, EU 44 or US 10.5 and weighed 452g. That is 19g (+4.3%) heavier than the Courtroom FF 2 of the identical dimension. 

That is solely a slight enhance, however I can really feel the FF 3 is heavier when holding them facet by facet.

Nevertheless, it’s actually not noticeable when enjoying; the FF 3 feels springier whenever you land, which supplies the notion of it being lighter, regardless that it’s not.

Totally different Between Courtroom FF 3 and Courtroom FF 3 Novak

In case you are searching for the Courtroom FF 3 footwear, you’ll probably see two footwear: the usual Courtroom FF 3 and the Courtroom FF 3 Novak.

These footwear are almost similar, however the Novak mannequin has a barely narrower match particular to his style. They usually even have his emblem on.

Asics didn’t make the Courtroom FF3 line totally a signature mannequin for Djokovic to make sure the model has a shoe that advantages as many individuals as doable. That approach, customers can select between the FF3 and the FF3 Novak. With so many manufacturers creating customized footwear not accessible at retail for prime athletes, the Courtroom FF3 Novak is similar model that he’s sporting on the courtroom.Gary Raucher, Asics govt vice chairman

So not like most gear that the professionals endorse however don’t put on (e.g. Nadal doesn’t put on the shoe he endorses), Djokovic does put on the Courtroom FF 3 Novak, so for those who purchase these, you’re getting the tennis shoe that the most effective participant on this planet additionally makes use of.

Will it make you play like him? No, however it might’t damage to put on high-quality footwear for those who’re enjoying tennis at an honest degree.

Which do you have to select? In case you have slender toes and like a good match, the FF 3 Novak might go well with you.

Although the Novak footwear have that great-looking blue and orange colourway, I feel the usual Courtroom FF 3 will work higher for many gamers they usually’re those I’d decide.

Last Verdict

The Asics Courtroom FF 3 is one other nice shoe within the FF line and will probably be a massively fashionable vendor.

It’s an excellent all-rounder and can go well with most enjoying kinds, particularly aggressive movers who need a good mix of velocity and stability.

That booty sock design provides you a really cosy feeling; they really feel a contact bouncier than the FF 2 and tick all of the bins for what I, and most of the people, search for in a tennis shoe.

Are the Courtroom FF 3 higher than the FF 2? I’d say no; there are just a few delicate variations, however I don’t suppose there’s a enormous distinction to say one is healthier than the opposite. 

The Courtroom FF 3 is extra a continuation of the FF 2, so for those who liked the Asics Courtroom FF 2, then I feel you’ll additionally love the Courtroom FF 3.

When you hated the FF 2, I don’t suppose there’s sufficient distinction so that you can rapidly begin liking the FF 3.

Having mentioned that, the lacing system is healthier on the FF 3, the heel is spongier, and they’re ever so barely simpler to get on, so that may sway some folks.

I’d have an interest to listen to different opinions if anybody has grow to be a fan of the FF 3 after not liking the earlier iteration. Let me know within the feedback if that’s you.

The Courtroom FF 2’s will slowly be phased out, so for those who can decide them up within the sale vs the total price ticket of the FF 3, that might be my first advice.

However if in case you have the money to splash, the Courtroom FF 3 is a wonderful piece of footwear and simply probably the greatest tennis footwear in the marketplace.

The Courtroom FF 3 footwear can be found in males’s and ladies’s sizes.

Execs

Cons

Have you ever used the Asics Courtroom FF3 footwear? What do you consider them? Or do you’ve got a query about them? Let me know within the feedback.