ASICS Indoor Court Shoes - Are They Good For Badminton? I had 1 problem 😬

Summary

In this review, the Asics Court Control FF3, Blast FF3, and Blade FF3 indoor court shoes are tested for badminton performance. The Court Control FF3 offers stability and excellent cushioning, while the Blast FF3 focuses on flexibility and comfort with its mono-sock design. The Blade FF3 is the lightest and most flexible but offers less cushioning. Despite their strengths, all three models face a common issue: poor grip on dusty courts. While they perform well on clean surfaces, their outsoles struggle on dirtier courts, highlighting a key area for improvement. Overall, the shoes are high-quality but could benefit from better grip design.

Takeaways

• 😀 The A6 Court Control FF3, Blast FF3, and Blade FF models are high-quality indoor court shoes designed for different needs in sports like badminton, volleyball, and squash.
• 😀 The Court Control FF3 is designed for stability, comfort, and support, offering a secure fit and extra padding, but may feel tight for players with wider feet.
• 😀 The Blast FF3 features a mono-sock design around the heel, which wraps around the foot for a snug fit, although it can feel tight and cause slight sliding on the insole.
• 😀 The Blade FF is the lightest model, offering flexibility and comfort with a soft upper, but lacks some of the cushioning seen in the Court Control and Blast models.
• 😀 The Blade FF incorporates a 'twist-trust' design around the arch for better support during fast directional changes, but it offers more space on top of the foot compared to the other models.
• 😀 All three shoes were praised for their premium construction, with the Court Control FF3 and Blast FF3 being high-end models and the Blade FF being a slightly lower tier.
• 😀 In terms of weight, the Court Control FF3 weighs 676g per pair, the Blast FF3 weighs 682g, and the Blade FF weighs 566g, making the Blade the lightest.
• 😀 While all three shoes performed well in clean courts, the reviewer faced issues with traction in dustier environments, particularly on the Court Control and Blast models.
• 😀 The grip on the A6 shoes was notably less effective on dusty courts compared to other models like YX Power Cushion 65, highlighting a significant design flaw in their outsoles.
• 😀 Despite the traction issues in dusty conditions, the A6 shoes were still considered comfortable, supportive, and well-made, with a strong recommendation for a design update to improve grip in varied court environments.

Q & A

What is the main issue the reviewer faced with the A6 court shoes?

The main issue the reviewer faced was the grip on dusty courts. Despite cleaning the shoes and using a damp cloth, the shoes struggled to maintain traction in these conditions, especially compared to other models like the YX Power Cushion 65.

How does the Court Control FF3 differ from the other two A6 models in terms of design?

The Court Control FF3 is designed for stability and comfort, offering more padding around the ankle and a tighter fit around the front of the shoe. It feels like a 'do-it-all' shoe, providing support for players who want security and confidence on the court.

What is the unique feature of the Blast FF3's design?

The Blast FF3 incorporates a mono sock design around the heel area, which wraps around the foot with a single piece of material. This design provides extra support and stability, though some players may find it uncomfortable.

What did the reviewer think of the Blade FF3 compared to the other two models?

The Blade FF3 felt lighter and more flexible, with a softer upper for greater comfort. It has less cushioning than the Court Control FF3 and Blast FF3, but it still provided enough comfort for jumping around. It was also described as more basic in design due to its lower price point.

How did the weight of the three A6 models compare to other high-end badminton shoes?

The Court Control FF3 weighed 676g per pair, the Blast FF3 weighed 682g per pair, and the Blade FF3 was the lightest at 566g per pair. The Blade FF3 was lighter than other top-end models like the YX AOS Z and Leaning Blast SE.

What is the significance of the bulge found on the side of the Court Control and Blast FF3 shoes?

The bulge on the side of the Court Control and Blast FF3 shoes, located just below the pinky toe, is designed to provide extra stability and support during lunges and transitions on court, promoting smoother movements.

Why does the reviewer emphasize checking shoe fit before purchasing the A6 models?

The reviewer highlights the importance of checking shoe fit because the Court Control FF3 fits tightly around the front, which may be uncomfortable for players with wider feet or thicker socks. The Blast FF3 is also tighter at the top, while the Blade FF3 provides more space on top.

What is the reviewer’s opinion on the cushioning of the Blade FF3 compared to other models?

The reviewer felt that the Blade FF3 had thinner cushioning compared to the Court Control FF3 and Blast FF3. Although it was the lightest model, the lighter weight came at the cost of reduced padding.

How did the shoes perform in different court conditions, according to the reviewer?

In dedicated, clean courts, all three A6 shoes performed well with good grip. However, in dustier, multi-purpose halls, the grip was noticeably reduced, which became a major issue for the reviewer, especially when compared to the YX Power Cushion 65.

What recommendations does the reviewer give to A6 regarding the design of their shoes?

The reviewer recommends improving the outsole design for better traction on dusty courts, as this was the primary issue they encountered. A better outsole would also benefit athletes in other indoor sports who rely on court shoes for stability and grip.