The Different Types of Tennis Shoes You Need to Know About
Tennis shoes are perfect for physical activity because they are soft, flexible, and comfortable. They also cushion high impacts, preventing knee and leg injuries. However, it is essential to choose the right type of tennis shoes for the activity you will be doing.
Tennis shoes come in many different varieties. There are shoes for various purposes, like running or walking. Some make you faster, and others help you walk better.
There are a wide variety of tennis shoes available nowadays, and this article will go through each of them.
What is Tennis Shoe?
Tennis shoes, also known as sneakers, are great for physical activity and sports. They are also popular for being worn casually.
It is known that shoes with soft rubber soles were popular in the UK during the 1870s. These shoes are called “plimsolls.” They were used as casual footwear to walk on the beach. They were cool, soft, and breathable. They also dried quickly if they got wet.
Later, people began to use tennis and cricket shoes for other activities. Because of this, the term “tennis shoe” became popular.
The term “tennis shoe” is usually used in North America and Australia, but some people use “sneaker.” Thanks to advertising agent Nelson McKinney, this term became popular early in the twentieth century. He called these shoes “sneakers” because they were quieter than casual shoes.
However, some historical records show that people already knew “tennis shoes” as “sneakers.” For example, an 1887 article in the Boston Journal said that young people at that time called shoes with soft rubber soles sneakers. That’s because you could sneak up on someone when you used them.
Product Name | Product Image | Store |
|---|---|---|
Clay Court Shoes | ||
Grass Court Shoes | ||
Carpet Court Shoes | ||
Lightweight Shoes |
Different Types of Tennis Shoes
All Court Shoes
All court shoes can adapt to all types of surfaces. They are durable and have a deep friction pattern to provide maximum grip. Additionally, all court shoes have a herringbone style tread. The zig-zag pattern prevents the build-up of clay and other debris in the outsole.
Not all court shoes work as well as you might expect. For example, they can work perfectly well on clay. However, they may have problems on the grass. So it’s a good idea to do some performance tests before deciding whether to use them.
Some international competitions, like Wimbledon, have rules about the design of shoes. In some cases, all court shoes aren’t accepted because they might damage the court surface.
Clay Court Shoes
Clay court tennis shoes have a loose surface that makes it hard for tennis players to move quickly. The clay dust also collects in the notches of their shoes, making it hard for them to grip the ground and prevent them from falling.
The outsole should have a herringbone style tread, so the clay doesn’t build up. The zig-zag pattern helps the dust release when the sole bends or flexes.
Clay court shoes need a sealed upper to prevent clay dust from getting in. This is done by having a wide tongue and a tightly knit upper.
Clay court shoes should be a color that hides stains well. Tennis shoes usually get dirty easily, so it is essential to pick a color that helps to hide the dirt. For example, brown tennis shoes may be your best choice. If you choose a light color, you’ll have to clean your shoes after each use. So, white shoes aren’t an option.
Grass Court Shoes
It is crucial to have a good grip on your shoes when playing on grass courts. This will help you stay safe and avoid accidents. Look for shoes with a deep and complex traction pattern. Shoes with small pimples on their surface are ideal for playing on grass courts.
Grass courts need shoes that will give you stability. The midsole should be firm but still, cushion your foot from impacts. However, there aren’t many grass court tennis shoes available in stores because competitions on grass courts are not as common as they used to be.
Some professional tennis players contact manufacturers to get grass-court shoes made specifically for that surface. All court shoes may also work on this surface, but they might not be as effective.
Carpet Court Shoes
Carpet courts are the safest type of court because they provide a stable anti-slip surface. This allows tennis players to move around with confidence. In this case, the outsole’s grip isn’t as important as it is on other surfaces, so any friction pattern may work just fine. However, it is not desirable for the midsole to be too hard, as in the case of a clay court shoe.
The midsole should be cushioned to absorb high impacts. As you can move faster on a carpet court, the impacts will be higher when you stop on your feet. That’s why the midsole needs to be soft, thick, and stable.
Lightweight Shoes
They’re also called Matchday shoes. They’re lighter and more responsive than regular tennis shoes, which allows the tennis player to move much faster with little effort. Lightweight tennis shoes eliminate as much weight as possible by using lightweight materials and replacing part of the sole with compressed air.
In addition, a lightweight tennis shoe is usually reinforced in areas that experience more impact, for example, around the tips and heels of your feet.
Durability Shoes
Professional tennis players often spend many hours training to perfect their techniques. During this time, their shoes wear out quickly. Durability shoes are perfect for this situation because they have a thicker and more durable sole. This allows the shoes to withstand long hours of use without being damaged.
Tennis players need shoes that can absorb impacts well. This is very important because they are often injured during long training sessions.
Hybrid Shoes
Hybrid shoes are a good choice for people who need light and durable shoes. These shoes are perfect for people who have to play in competitions that last five sets. In these cases, the wear on the shoes is greater, so you need a more resistant sole.
However, the tennis player should also move quickly to respond to the opponent’s attacks.
Conclusion
Different types of tennis shoes work better on different surfaces. Choosing the right shoe will help you move faster on the court and reach the ball more easily. This will improve your performance and increase your chances of winning.
When buying tennis shoes, think about what you need from them. Consider stability, comfort level, and outsole design. Then, choose a model that has all of the features you want.
Read more: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TENNIS SHOE
Frequently Asked Questions about Types of Tennis Shoes
The Nike Air Force 1 sneaker was the most popular in 2022. eBay analyzed 32 tennis shoe brands of sneakers over the past four years and found that this sneaker was the most searched for.
If you are playing on a hard court, you will need more durable shoes. This is because a hard court surface is tough on shoes. Hardcourt shoes are designed to be more resilient and have a more supportive upper.
Tennis shoes are often more durable than running shoes. This is because players put a lot of stress on their shoes with constant stops, starts, and slides on the court. Tennis shoes are also built for different surfaces, including hard courts, clay courts, and grass courts.
Pickleball is a sport that requires lots of lateral movement and lunging forward and back. Your traditional running or athletic shoe is not built for this type of movement and won’t have the support required to stabilize your foot.
If you feel more comfortable playing tennis in running shoes, you should play in running shoes. It is important to wear the shoe that makes you feel most comfortable and helps you play your best tennis.
The converse is an American shoe company that makes sneakers, skating shoes, and other lifestyle footwear. It was founded in 1908, and it has been a subsidiary of Nike since 2003.
