MEN
Price: $95
Weight: 14.6 oz.
Sizes: 7–12, 13, 14, 15
Ideal Foot Types: Neutral and supinated

SALES PITCH:
Everything about the Alfa is designed to give you the most comfortable and accomodating ride possible.

OUR TAKE:
Sometimes Fila shoes favor fashion over function. The men’s Alfa (the women’s model wasn’t available for review) breaks tradition, as its substance matches its style. The Alfa has excellent cushioning in the heel and forefoot that doesn’t weigh the shoe down. Weartesters found that the soft leather upper provided a comfortablefit right out of the box, although it could have been more breathable. But the lining has Dri-Lex material to wick away moisture and keep your foot dry. Stability could be amped up around the heel, but that’s a quibble in an otherwise nice step forward for Fila.

Fila Alfa Scores

Price: $340
Head Size: 115 sq. in.
Length: 27.8 in.
Weight: 9.8 oz.
Balance: 1 2/5 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal Swing: Short

Sales Pitch: A new, dense carbon material in this oversize frame makes it powerful and stable with limited vibration.

Compare To: N/A

How It Tested: The technology in the Delta Core 1 revolves around giving the user maximal pop with minimal fuss. The racquet’s carbon molecules are in triangular-shaped

arrangements that strengthen the frame, providing more backbone and power. Plus, according to Völkl, which manufactures Boris Becker racquets, it acts as a vibration

dampener. The braces at 3 and 9 o’clock (called Doublerails) are supposed to help the racquet resist twisting at contact. Playtesters did fi nd feedback to be muted, but it wasn’t anything

extraordinary. Power is plentiful, but you have to be able to maneuver the frame to harness it. Because it has nearly an extra inch in length and is head heavy, some testers found it a challenge to handle, particularly at the baseline. As one 3.0 club tournament player put it, “My swing was too slow, so volleys were my only success.” Those who could get the head moving found easy power and a soft response.

Bottom Line: A little cumbersome (and quite expensive), but otherwise a powerful and comfortable frame for club doubles.

Price: $200
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.9 oz.
Flexibility: Stiff
Balance: ½ in. head light
Ideal Swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.5-5.0

Sales Pitch: A power-oriented frame for aggressive all-courters who like to hit with lots of pace and topspin.
Compare To: Volkl DNX 8

How It Tested: It’s got some heft, but it’s still very maneuverable. There’s plenty of power, but not so much that it can’t be controlled. Sound familiar? The Powerbridge 8 is one of those ever popular ‘tweener racquets that’s not quite a true advanced player’s frame, yet still has enough performance characteristics to appeal to accomplished competitors. Volkl has long used it’s DNX material (strong carbon fibers) in different parts of their racquets and for the first time it’s being put at the 6 o’clock position – the Powerbridge – on the racquet face. The goal is to strengthen that part of the frame for an overall increase in stability and power. Playtesters found plenty of both in the Powerbridge 8, with good jump on their shots when they found the sweet spot, and a solid response at contact. Although some complained the frame felt a little too stiff. At just under 11 ounces and with a head light balance, it’s fairly easy to handle at net and generate good swing speed at the baseline. The 16×18 string pattern allows for ample spin, which some testers said was necessary to control the racquet’s power.

Bottom Line: Not as comfortable as we would have liked, but provides big power for free swingers looking for some extra juice.

MEN
PRICE $120
WEIGHT 16.1 oz.
SIZES 61/2–15, 16
IDEAL FOOT TYPES Neutral, supinated, and pronated

WOMEN
PRICE $120
WEIGHT 14.5 oz.
SIZES 5–11
IDEAL FOOT TYPES Neutral, supinated, and pronated

FIRST TAKE:
The Barricade debuted back in 2000 as Adidas’ premier hard-court shoe for hard-core players. The fourth installment, worn by Justine Henin- Hardenne, Marat Safin, and many other pros, is another positive step forward.

HOW IT TESTED:
The Barricade IV may take some time to break in—a few playtesters said they needed a couple of outings before it felt good—but it’s worth the wait. The shoe offers excellent stability, with thermoplastic urethane around the heel and a lacing system that lets you pull the laces through rubber support pieces for a snug fit. The shoe also has improved ventilation, and the cushioning is great. On the downside, it’s a bit heavy and the fit in the forefoot is narrow.

BOTTOM LINE:
The Barricade is still the standard in stability.

Price: $220
Head Size: 100 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 10.3 oz.
Balance: 3/10 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal Swing: Medium to long
NTRP: 3.0–4.5

Sales Pitch: Good stability and handling for competitive players or juniors in need of a lighter racquet.

Compare To: N/A

How It Tested: Racquets with the “Team” designation have come to mean lighter-weight, user-friendly versions of more advanced frames. Sometimes it works, but often they play like poor imitations. Thankfully the Speedport Black Team is a worthy addition to the Speedport Black family. It’s about an ounce lighter than the standard Black, but it’s more head heavy, so it doesn’t feel flimsy. That also gives it some juice off the ground, which is where the racquet received its highest marks. Volleys got good reviews, but sometimes the head-heavy balance caused faulty handling. The large, rectangular string holes, known as Speedports, cut down on wind drag and give the Black Team that familiar O3 whoosh sound and dampened feel. The racquet also comes with the Speedport Tuning System, string-hole inserts (grommets, basically) that can be placed in the ports if you prefer a more traditional, crisp response. The frame is available in a “zero” grip size for players who prefer a tiny handle or have small hands.

Bottom line: If you’re looking to cut weight from your player frame or aren’t quite ready to step up to one, the Black Team provides a soft landing spot.