Fila Mondo Forza

innoVAShaun

innoVAShaun

G.O.A.T.
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innoVAShaun

innoVAShaun

G.O.A.T.
fila.newsmarket.com

FILA MONDO FORZA

(FILA Luxembourg S.a.r.L. - August 22, 2023) – In the midst of celebrating 50 years in tennis in 2023, FILA announced today the launch of the Mondo Forza, a new performance tennis shoe developed...
fila.newsmarket.com fila.newsmarket.com

(FILA Luxembourg S.a.r.L. - August 22, 2023) – In the midst of celebrating 50 years in tennis in 2023, FILA announced today the launch of the Mondo Forza, a new performance tennis shoe developed by the FILA Futura Innovation Team. Built with the aggressive baseliner in mind, the Mondo Forza strikes the perfect balance of flexibility, support and style, relying on data and research, proprietary technology, and the brand’s rich history in the sport to connect with the modern-day athlete.

FILA sought a sleek, minimalist design for the Mondo Forza, as many tennis shoes have increasingly featured overbuilt components that have not contributed to overall on-court performance. By honing the shoe to focus solely on the demands of the modern game, FILA created a compelling product that is not only elegant but exceptional for today’s athletes.

One of the key elements that was developed was a split-surface outsole that maximizes traction and transition, two vital components to playing an attacking style of tennis. The outside of the sole provides significant surface contact to optimize transition back into play, while the inside of the sole features a wave-bone pattern that gives players traction in multiple directions allowing players to stop on command and stay in even the toughest of rallies.

The Mondo Forza is a tennis shoe with exceptional comfort, cushioning and energy return provided by a blend of natural and recycled materials. A proprietary, wood-based midstance plate provides stability and responsiveness, giving aggressive athletes a competitive advantage on court. The shoe also offers a sock-like fit for easy entry and exit for the foot, with a lightweight and stable upper wrapping around the foot to provide unparalleled comfort and support for the most grueling of matches. This combination creates a seamless fit right out of the box, eliminating break-in time to allow players to immediately hit the court at full speed.

“The Mondo Forza is meticulously crafted from the ground up,” said Luca Bertolino, Global Brand Director at FILA. “In honor of our 50th year in tennis, we wanted a design that was focused on the modern player, and dedicated to helping players achieve even greater performance. We know that this shoe is true to our brand’s Italian heritage and is going to be an exceptional performer for everyone.”

The Mondo Forza will be available in two initial colorways for men and for women, retailing for $160. The shoe is now available at FILA.com, the FILA retail store on-site at the U.S. Open, and select tennis specialty retailers nationwide including Tennis Warehouse, etc.

About FILA

FILA has a long and distinguished history in the world of tennis that includes endorsements of ATP and WTA Tour athletes, tennis tournaments and organizations. FILA is a sponsor of the BNP Paribas Open, the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, National Bank Open & Omnium Banque Nationale, the Western & Southern Open, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the Argentina Open, the Cordoba Open, the Rio Open, the Rakuten Japan Open, the China Open and the Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship. In addition to event partnerships, FILA is an official supplier to Tennis Canada, the Argentine Tennis Association (AAT), Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), Van der Meer Tennis and John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.
FILA® is now a leading sport and leisure footwear and apparel brand that is distributed worldwide. FILA has achieved world-class recognition in tennis by marketing high-design and style content products that are endorsed by professional athletes from around the world.
 
d-quik

d-quik

Hall of Fame
They say the outsole helps the transition between shots but doesn't explain how though... :(
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
d-quik said:
They say the outsole helps the transition between shots but doesn't explain how though... :(
Click to expand...

Assume this is where the "racing" inspired design they reference in some of the intro articles I've seen plays in. That outside half of the outsole that looks relatively smooth seems to be taking from the design of race tires. By being smooth, they are increasing the contact patch between outsole rubber and the ground. This maximizes grip and should allow for more control during quick changes of direction & lateral shifts. Looks like it works in tandem with the other half's sole design that's more focused on stopping and grip in all directions. That's me taking a stab at the "how" behind the design and these look intriguing enough that I'll probably give them a go soon.

Biggest question for me is the longevity of their sugar cane derived midsole. That stuff has become prevalent in trendy, sustainable design shoes like AllBirds but I haven't seen it used in a heavy use sport shoe before.
 
d-quik

d-quik

Hall of Fame
the_faceless_player said:
Assume this is where the "racing" inspired design they reference in some of the intro articles I've seen plays in. That outside half of the outsole that looks relatively smooth seems to be taking from the design of race tires. By being smooth, they are increasing the contact patch between outsole rubber and the ground. This maximizes grip and should allow for more control during quick changes of direction & lateral shifts. Looks like it works in tandem with the other half's sole design that's more focused on stopping and grip in all directions. That's me taking a stab at the "how" behind the design and these look intriguing enough that I'll probably give them a go soon.

Biggest question for me is the longevity of their sugar cane derived midsole. That stuff has become prevalent in trendy, sustainable design shoes like AllBirds but I haven't seen it used in a heavy use sport shoe before.
Click to expand...
good speculation. my question is, assuming your guess is correct, what is the disadvantage of the smooth outsole? It definitely increases the surface area which is in contact so why doesn't everyone use it? there has to be some disadvantage right?
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
d-quik said:
good speculation. my question is, assuming your guess is correct, what is the disadvantage of the smooth outsole? It definitely increases the surface area which is in contact so why doesn't everyone use it? there has to be some disadvantage right?
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Fair point. One risk is obviously for rec players who may play in less desirable conditions. If the courts are damp or worn, the smoother outsole may lose grip and be more prone to slipping. This is why street cars don't come with slick tires, they have to be more capable of driving in varied conditions. Depending on how the shoe actually plays on court and the balance of maintaining traction vs. allowing you to slide, I could see it either working for someone's movement style or not, with maybe not a lot of in between. At least it's still rubber and not a smooth piece of plastic like what Wilson tried with the Glide. That basically was a leg mangling waiting to happen for average players.
 
d-quik

d-quik

Hall of Fame
the_faceless_player said:
Had 15% off with a retailer who had them in stock so I pulled the trigger. Should get them by this weekend. Never worn Filas of any kind before so this will be uncharted territory for me.
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Do you have any kind of scale that would give a reading regarding the weight?
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
d-quik said:
DAMN! I like it. crazy. There obviously is no rumor of any outsole warranty though right? And you also tried the SpeedServe Energized right?
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1 retailer has it listed with a 6mo sole warranty but nobody else does. Fila's own page has no description of any kind other than the product #. I guess I'll see if a warranty card shows up in the box. I've never used a Fila shoe of any kind before.
 
D

drivophd

Rookie
Looks like a mid-2000’s basketball shoe to me, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. The dimples, the rounded edges… as a Fila fan, it pains me to say this ain’t it.
 
innoVAShaun

innoVAShaun

G.O.A.T.
P

PistolPete23

Hall of Fame
Great looking shoes. You can tell the design team put more thought and effort into this silhouette than the other “generic” offerings from Fila. This shoe is Fila and Italian; they’re not trying to be like any other shoe o the market. Wooden shank, leather paneling on the side? Beautiful!
 
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PistolPete23

Hall of Fame
the_faceless_player said:
Fair point. One risk is obviously for rec players who may play in less desirable conditions. If the courts are damp or worn, the smoother outsole may lose grip and be more prone to slipping. This is why street cars don't come with slick tires, they have to be more capable of driving in varied conditions. Depending on how the shoe actually plays on court and the balance of maintaining traction vs. allowing you to slide, I could see it either working for someone's movement style or not, with maybe not a lot of in between. At least it's still rubber and not a smooth piece of plastic like what Wilson tried with the Glide. That basically was a leg mangling waiting to happen for average players.
Click to expand...
Just an educated guess: The lateral side of the outsole looks completely smooth, but the faint vertical lines are actually vertical cuts 1-2 mm into the rubber to allow for some degree of flexibility and just the right amount of traction.
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
airchallenge2 said:
The Hill 2? Yes, it's good and with a great story. It's even on the cover of a major rap album (even though I am not into rap or hip-hop.)
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is this as good as most of the light weight super performance shoes like Asics FF2 or adidas barricades or ubersonic 4s?
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
d-quik said:
What other models is the toebox width comparable to in the same size?
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I'd describe it as in between B.Icon 2 and Enforce Tour. A bit more roomy than the Diadora but a little more snug than the Mizuno for me. It also has a more flexible upper in the toe box which gives it a bit more room and comfort compared to the Diadora IMO. My size 10 weighed in at 14.93oz
 
d-quik

d-quik

Hall of Fame
the_faceless_player said:
I'd describe it as in between B.Icon 2 and Enforce Tour. A bit more roomy than the Diadora but a little more snug than the Mizuno for me. It also has a more flexible upper in the toe box which gives it a bit more room and comfort compared to the Diadora IMO. My size 10 weighed in at 14.93oz
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Did you say before that the B.Icon 2 was wider (in the toebox) as the Finale, or was it the other way around?
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
d-quik said:
Did you say before that the B.Icon 2 was wider (in the toebox) as the Finale, or was it the other way around?
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I don't remember bc they're pretty similar for me. Finale has a stiffer upper than the Icon and Forza is more flexible than both. Honestly, I probably won't get into the minutiae of toe box comparisons again in this thread. I know within about 5 min if a shoe is going to work for my foot or not and don't really worry about it after that.
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
I'll obviously continue to log court time in these but I think Fila may have a sleeper of a hit. Some high level thoughts after my initial run with them for some 5.0 singles:

Pros
  • Zero break in. These things are so comfy right out of the box. Flexible in all the right places yet supportive feeling on court. Shoe fit comfortably snug, meaning my foot felt secure but not cramped or suffocated
  • Court feel is outstanding. These feel great on court. Any time a shoe fades away and I forget I'm even wearing it during play, it's a big plus
  • Heel lockdown & ankle support is solid. Their "Recaro" fit provides a lot of padding around the ankle and the the heel locks down with plenty of lace to do a runner's loop for extra security if you want it.
  • Cushioning. Plenty of impact protection in the heel and the forefoot has just enough to not feel like you're being left completely unprotected.
  • I like the half tongue, half sock liner design. The tongue is stitched in until about halfway up and then is a regular detached style. Easy to slip on but the tongue also stays in place really well during play
  • Lacing system is easy to adjust and tighten where you like
  • Breathability was good. I played on a very humid indoor court and my feet were noticeably less soaked afterward than my recent sessions in B.Icon 2 or Enforce Tour
Question Marks (not necessarily for me but I think they will matter for some people)
  • It's definitely a Medium width shoe IMO. People looking for a lot of width may not find what they want
  • The arch support is definitely noticeable. First thing I felt when I put it on compared to any other shoe I've used recently.
  • Not a max cushion shoe in the forefoot. It's not going to be a GP Turbo or those types of shoes in that regard. Compares favorably to a Vapor/Uber, etc though.
  • Shoe makes the most bizarre sound on court I've ever heard. Can't even really describe it. Sounds like a cross between scratching a vinyl record, rubbing satin sheets together and an RC car accelerating :-D
I came away impressed last night. These things feel quick, supportive and really do offer outstanding control when changing direction. I still have uncertainty over how long the sugarcane midsole and basically "pre worn" outsole pattern will last. But if those things are even average, I'll be picking up more of these. To me, these are pretty much what I would have designed a Zoom Zero 2 to be. I loved the original ZZ but the GP Turbo replacement was very different. The Filas played very similar to the ZZ for me but with upgrades in some of the key areas I would have wanted changed.
 
P

PistolPete23

Hall of Fame
the_faceless_player said:
I'll obviously continue to log court time in these but I think Fila may have a sleeper of a hit. Some high level thoughts after my initial run with them for some 5.0 singles:

Pros
  • Zero break in. These things are so comfy right out of the box. Flexible in all the right places yet supportive feeling on court. Shoe fit comfortably snug, meaning my foot felt secure but not cramped or suffocated
  • Court feel is outstanding. These feel great on court. Any time a shoe fades away and I forget I'm even wearing it during play, it's a big plus
  • Heel lockdown & ankle support is solid. Their "Recaro" fit provides a lot of padding around the ankle and the the heel locks down with plenty of lace to do a runner's loop for extra security if you want it.
  • Cushioning. Plenty of impact protection in the heel and the forefoot has just enough to not feel like you're being left completely unprotected.
  • I like the half tongue, half sock liner design. The tongue is stitched in until about halfway up and then is a regular detached style. Easy to slip on but the tongue also stays in place really well during play
  • Lacing system is easy to adjust and tighten where you like
  • Breathability was good. I played on a very humid indoor court and my feet were noticeably less soaked afterward than my recent sessions in B.Icon 2 or Enforce Tour
Question Marks (not necessarily for me but I think they will matter for some people)
  • It's definitely a Medium width shoe IMO. People looking for a lot of width may not find what they want
  • The arch support is definitely noticeable. First thing I felt when I put it on compared to any other shoe I've used recently.
  • Not a max cushion shoe in the forefoot. It's not going to be a GP Turbo or those types of shoes in that regard. Compares favorably to a Vapor/Uber, etc though.
  • Shoe makes the most bizarre sound on court I've ever heard. Can't even really describe it. Sounds like a cross between scratching a vinyl record, rubbing satin sheets together and an RC car accelerating :-D
I came away impressed last night. These things feel quick, supportive and really do offer outstanding control when changing direction. I still have uncertainty over how long the sugarcane midsole and basically "pre worn" outsole pattern will last. But if those things are even average, I'll be picking up more of these. To me, these are pretty much what I would have designed a Zoom Zero 2 to be. I loved the original ZZ but the GP Turbo replacement was very different. The Filas played very similar to the ZZ for me but with upgrades in some of the key areas I would have wanted changed.
Click to expand...

Glad they're a medium fit and not super wide like their other silhouettes! Michelle also mentions this in TW's intro of the shoe.
 
P

PistolPete23

Hall of Fame
Nostradamus said:
There is Wood underneath ?? LOL. won't that make it super heavy ?
Click to expand...

Not a lot of ppl talk about this, but static weight of shoes is like static weight of racquets. It doesn’t tell the whole story about how heavy it feels on foot. Case in point - ASICS Court FF3 is heavier than the Gel Res 9, but anyone who’s worn it will tell you they feel light on foot.
 
T

the_faceless_player

Hall of Fame
PistolPete23 said:
Not a lot of ppl talk about this, but static weight of shoes is like static weight of racquets. It doesn’t tell the whole story about how heavy it feels on foot. Case in point - ASICS Court FF3 is heavier than the Gel Res 9, but anyone who’s worn it will tell you they feel light on foot.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. The Forza feels lighter on foot to me than my Enforce Tour or B. Icon 2. I don't wear a whole lot of outright "speed" shoes anymore bc I'm getting too old to get away with zero forefoot cushioning so I can't directly compare something like a Vapor/Uber. I was definitely grinding last night and never once did I feel like the weight of the shoe was a problem or even noticeable.
 
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