What To Look For
Like many sports, the socks that you wear when playing tennis can largely change how comfortable you are when you are moving around on the court. Longer socks that rise above the ankles are typically preferred by tennis players because of the large amount of friction that can be created by the lateral motion involved in a tennis match. Additionally, many tennis players like to wear thicker socks to prevent the development of "turf toe," an injury created by the repeated jamming of the toe into the front of the shoe.
Common Pitfalls
Many tennis players frequently make the mistake of buying low-cut socks. Although playing tennis can frequently get very hot and wearing low-rising socks can often be a good solution to the high heats coming off of the court asphalt, blisters and sores will frequently result from wearing these types of socks. You might notice, in fact, that professional tennis players on TV rarely wear low rising socks for exactly thsi reason.
Where To Buy
You can buy socks designed specifically for tennis at any of your local tennis pro shops or sporting goods stores like Sports Authority or Big 5, or you can shop online at sites like Zappos.com or Tennis-Warehouse.com. However, any athletic sock will typically serve the same purpose as a professional tennis sock for $5 or $10 less, despite what tennis brands like Penn and Wilson might advertise.
Cost
Professional grade tennis socks designed by tennis brands like Penn or Wilson can cost anywhere from $2 to $5 a pair, and are usually sold in packages of 6 or 12 pairs. If you are looking for a cheaper solution, you might consider buying your socks at stores like Target and Walmart, which typically sell generic off-brand athletic socks for $1 to $3 a pair. Though you don't get the name brand confidence that you get when buying Wilson or Penn products, generic athletic socks are designed with the same considerations in mind.
Insider Tips
If you are considering investing in a name brand pair of tennis socks, you may consider looking for a pair with moisture-absorbing fiber as well. Adidas' Climalite or Nike's Dri-Fit socks are both specifically designed to keep sweaty feet dry during the course of a match, and usually are featured in most or all of their athletic socks. Although these brands can be a little more expensive, it is a worthy investment if you have problems keeping your feet dry during the course of a match.
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