The fastest shoe in the Asics tennis lineup remains squarely focused on speed, but with a heightened stability and increased level of cushioning. As Asics launches the Solution Speed FF 4 tennis shoe on Jan. 15, the Japanese brand does so with a complete underfoot update.
“With the [Solution Speed] four, we focused on delivering advanced cushioned speed,” Yuhi Tanigaki, product manager for tennis footwear, tells me, “combining lightweight comfort with instant acceleration and superior traction.”
New for the Solution Speed FF 4 is a refined Speedtruss in the midsole for quicker propulsion and an updated cushioning compound with a bio-based Flytefoam for improved comfort and responsive cushioning. Tanigaki says Asics also improved the precision outsole, added Asics Grip technology in the toe and redesigned the lacing system.
“These are all about giving our athletes confidence in their footwear to focus on their game,” he says, adding they worked closely with Swiss star Belinda Bencic and a host of athletes to get invaluable insight. “Belinda emphasized the need for more cushioning to reduce impact in intense rallies,” Tanigaki says. “That led to an improved midsole compound with energy return and cushioning.”
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Flytefoam is common in Asics running shoes and the bio-based version used in the Solution Speed FF 4 is the same that was in the previous iteration, but with a tweaked density to soften the feel on the court, all without losing stability. “Belinda definitely gave us the insight, especially on the midsole,” Tanigaki says.
In tandem, Tanigaki says they worked closely with the Asics Institute of Sport Science lab to update the proprietary Speedtruss, increasing the rigidity in the midfoot for more lateral stability. The update changes where the shoe bends, making it easier to bend in the forefoot for maximum propulsion moving forward while retaining lateral security. “All the players who wear the Solution Speed tend to use the court freely,” Tanigaki says about the all-court design of the shoe versus the baseline-focused Asics Gel-Resolution lineup. “They go to the net more often.”
The outsole now contains a patch of Asics Grip, a unique rubber compound popular in Asics trail running and racing models, that has a sticky grip for increased traction. Tanigaki says the grip makes it easier to make that first move. The compound was placed only in a section under the big toe because it lacks the durability of the special tennis-specific rubber compound used on the balance of the outsole. Also, Asics Grip is so sticky it would limit sliding if placed elsewhere. “We had to make sure we limited the area of the usage, so we put it only in that one place,” Tanigaki says. “It is really important when you are trying to gain the force from the ground.”
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The Solution Speed FF 3 featured a major update from the two, switching from a PU upper to mesh. “One thing I thought was missing,” Tanigaki says about designing for the four, was enough stability to keep athletes moving. “I wanted the next one to also be strong.”
The mesh stays in place for the four but now features a TPEE fiber meant to mix durability with breathability. It is the same material used in the Asics Meta Speed Paris running shoe, offering more durability and breathability than a typical poly mesh, but with lightweight properties, Tanigaki says.
To improve durability, especially for the top players frequently sliding, Asics designed a new lacing system that features loops for the laces, so they don’t touch the ground. The top two eyelets now include PU covers to eliminate lace snapping and help create a consistent fit.
The Solution Speed FF 4 is Tanigaki’s first tennis shoe design from start to finish and he’s excited with the result, having dreamt of working on tennis shoes for years. For the update, he says they wanted to have a streamlined shape and give a sense of speed, but still with a light, yet strong, aesthetic. “Compared to the previous version, we wanted this model to be even faster, but also stronger,” he says. “The goal was to visually express speed in a way that feels light, yet strong.”
By creating a shoe so fast it would glitch, designers took that idea into the Asics Tiger Stripe on both sides, giving a “glitched feeling to it.” Overall, Tanigaki says the entire silhouette is more aerodynamic and refined.
“The result is a shoe that looks as fast as its performance and is strong enough it can move freely,” Tanigaki says. “Less distraction during play equals peace of mind and that equals better focus and confidence.”