The only real change is the sole adapted to the red stuff with that classic herringbone design rather than the mixed pattern usually seen on hardcourt shoes. Most of these models have clay court versions that perform the same. You then have some lesser-known and, in some cases, cheaper brands that produce excellent quality products, like Lotto, Mizuno, K-Swiss, Babolat and Yonex.Īll the shoes I have tested are all court versions, as I play more often on hardcourts.

On the other end, you have the Ubersonic, which is super light and comfortable but not as stable or durable.Īsics do a phenomenal job of being very good in almost all aspects performance-wise and are comfortable, which is why they are my tennis shoes of choice. With Adidas, you historically had the Barricade line, which is heavy, super stable, supportive, and very durable, but this also made the model relatively uncomfortable. My picks below are in the main biased towards durability.įinally, before we get going, here are some general observations about the mainstream brands it is reasonably well-accepted that Nike shoes, for the most part, tend to be very comfortable and slick looking but suffer when it comes to durability. With many are often willing to forego a little bit of comfort in exchange for not having to get their wallet out at more regular intervals. Most club players don’t have the luxury of an endorsement deal, and from questions, I receive via email, durability tends to be the leading thing players are looking for. While they are similar looking, they are quite different in performance.

speed (or lightweight).Īn excellent example is the Gel Resolution line, designed to be a durable all-rounder compared to the Solution Speed FF, a lightweight shoe. durability, at the expense of another, e.g. They usually have various product lines that offer all those things in equal amounts as an ‘all-around’ shoe.Īlong with specific models that focus more on one area, e.g. So let’s begin!Īll tennis shoe manufacturers are producing shoes that offer those characteristics. So while I haven’t tried every shoe from every manufacturer (I’m slowly working on it), I’ve tried most of the best sellers and a mix of lightweight ‘speed’ orientated shoes and heavier, more durable ones.Īs a result, this guide will help you find a tennis shoe that provides a good comfort level and agility and won’t fall to pieces after two weeks. Proper tennis shoes are designed to stand up to significant wear and tear, allowing for a lot of stopping & starting, pivots, slides and lateral movement.Īll the shoes I’ve picked below provide extra lateral support, robust materials, plenty of cushioning, decent levels of shock absorption, and reinforced soles/toe guards.Īs someone with quite wide feet and a tendency to stub my toe when playing, I’ve tried quite a few different shoes over the years from Nike, Asics, Babolat and Prince in the quest for the perfect shoe, so I’ve been able to test (and continue to do so) a lot of what is on offer. While many recreational players will play in running trainers, you’ll soon realise how quickly they get worn down if you start to play with any frequency. However, it would be best if you also thought about your foot type (everyone walks and runs a little differently, and different shoes can aid performance/prevent injury), the surface you play on most frequently, your playing style, the size/shape of your foot and finally your budget. Most players tend to have their brand allegiances and colour choice.

Just like choosing the best tennis racquet, when it comes to finding the right tennis shoes, quite a few factors come into play.

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