Your best tennis shoe is one that provides the ultimate amount of comfort and support. There are three essential factors to consider when selecting a tennis shoe that’s right for your game:
- Foot-type
- Playing style
- Court surface
Learn about foot-type and playing surface here.
Based on the type of court you play on determines the type of outsole you need. Each court has different traction and durability requirements.
Clay Court
Clay court-specific shoes feature a full herringbone tread pattern. It’s characterized by a sharp, deep zigzag pattern along the entire outsole. As you run around the court, and flex the shoe, the herringbone tread allows the clay to fall out between the grooves to maintain traction and minimize unwanted sliding. Some shoes feature a modified herringbone, which contains a rounded, more shallower zigzag pattern. The deeper and sharper the grooves are, the better the shoe is on clay. However, a modified version allows for multi-court use.
Since outsole durability is not as big of an issue on a clay court (as it is on a hard court) clay-court shoes will often have thinner outsoles, resulting in a slightly lighter, more flexible shoe.
For a list of recommended clay court shoes, please click here: Clay Court Shoes
Hard Court
If you are primarily playing on a hard court you should look for a shoe with a higher level of cushioning. Due to the unforgiving nature of the court surface, there is greater force placed on the joints and more impact-absorption is needed.
You will also need to look for a tread with maximum surface area. Unlike clay shoes, you will want a shorter and shallower outsole with less grooves. By maximizing the rubber contact with the court, you will prevent unwanted court sliding.
For a list of recommended hard court shoes, please click here: Hard Court Shoes
Both Clay and Hard Courts
If you play on both clay and hard court surfaces, we recommend buying two different shoes. However, if that is not possible there are shoes that have outsoles designed for multiple court surfaces. For example, some shoes feature a combination sole (half herringbone) or a modified herringbone tread (as previously mentioned).
Note: intentional court sliding and accidental court slipping are very different. Tennis shoes are designed to prevent the latter. If your playing style includes the former, we recommend going for a shoe with a six month outsole warranty.
For a list of recommended shoes that are optimized for hard and clay courts, please click here: Hard & Clay Court Shoes
Bottom Line:
You need to consider three factors when deciding on the best tennis shoe for your game: foot-type, playing style and court surface. By selecting the correct footwear for court surface you will find the best shoe for the court’s traction and durability requirements. Ultimately, this will lead you to a shoe that provides the best comfort and support.
