There are a ton of tennis shoes on the market right now, which can make it quite difficult finding a pair that suits you well. Before you go out shopping for shoes, it’s imperative that you take the time to figure out the needs of your feet. How much traction, stability, cushioning, support, or ventilation do you need? Those are some important questions to keep in mind, among others. So, we’ve included some tips on picking tennis shoes below, and you can also read through our guide on how to choose tennis shoes here. But if you already have a good idea of what you want, don’t let us stand in your way. Continue reading for our recommendations of the best tennis shoes out now. You’re sure to find something that will fit your needs.
Tips for Picking Tennis Shoes
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Best Tennis Shoes for Men 2018
Best Tennis Shoes for Men - Speed vs Stability
Tennis shoes built for speed tend to be very minimalist. The more lightweight, the quicker you’ll be able to move around the court. This is crucial if you like to play by the net, as volleys require lightning quick turns and pivots. Some things you should prioritize are lateral support to keep your ankles in check, lightweight cushioning and midsole to help absorb impact, and a toe guard for added durability and explosive take offs. Oh, and let’s not forget, a durable outsole that provides optimal traction. You don’t want to be slipping and sliding as you run at mach speed, do you? And for those with feet that sweat easily, look into breathable uppers so you can stay comfortable out there.
For those of you who aren’t looking for speed, you’ll inevitably find tennis shoes that offer stability. This is especially important for baseline players as lots of side-to-side movements puts more strain on your ankles. What you’ll want to look for in stability-focused shoes are superb lateral support, a tougher and more stable midfoot, flatter and wider outsoles, and comfortable cushioning. You’ll also want to fit your tennis shoes correctly width-wise so that your feet aren’t moving around while wearing your shoes.
Our choices for the best tennis shoes for men include the Adidas Barricade 2018 Boost, Asics Gel Court FF, Asics Gel-Resolution 7, Babolat Propulse Fury, Babolat Jet Mach II, Head Revolt Pro 2.5, New Balance 806, NikeCourt Air Zoom Prestige, and the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5.
Best Tennis Shoes for Women 2018
Best Tennis Shoes for Women - Speed vs Stability
There are a couple of things you should look for in tennis shoes built for speed. Probably the most important is that they are lightweight so you can turn and pivot more quickly. So if you’re more of a serve and volley type of player, you’ll want shoes designed with agility in mind. Other key elements to look for are lateral support to avoid ankle injuries, lightweight cushioning and midsole to dampen impacts, a long-lasting outsole that provides lots of traction, and a durable toe guard which lets you accelerate and decelerate with ease. You’ll also want breathable uppers to keep your shoes from flooding like a swamp.
Speed isn’t everything though. In fact, some tennis players favor stability over it. This is especially true for players who like to stand by the baseline, who need great stability to perform powerful shots. It’s also essential in order to avoid ankle injuries as lots of side-to-side movements increases the chances of it. So, if you’re looking for tennis shoes built for stability, you’ll want to look for excellent lateral support, a tougher and more stable midfoot, a flatter and wider outsole, and copious amounts of cushioning to keep you comfy.
Our choices for the best tennis shoes for women include the Adidas Barricade 2018 Boost, Adidas Barricade Classic Bounce, Asics Gel-Resolution 7, Babolat Propulse Blast, Head Sprint Pro 2.0, New Balance 806, NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor X, NikeCourt Lite, and the Wilson Rush Pro 2.5.
Best Tennis Shoes for Clay
Best Tennis Shoe Brands
| Adidas | ASICS | Babolat | Head |
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| Nike | New Balance | Wilson | Yonex |
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