What To Look For
When choosing the most supportive tennis shoe for you, it's important to analyze the type of support that you need. Many tennis players find that poorly designed tennis shoes lack the arch support necessary to create a stable platform for them to move around in. However, other tennis players with wide feet find that it can be more important for a pair of tennis shoes to be designed with wide toe space to make the shoe comfortable. Still others find the shoe's ankle support more important. Choosing your shoe is very much about knowing your own needs.
Common Pitfalls
Many tennis players have difficulty finding a balance between foot support and lightness. Typically, in order for a designer to develop a shoe that is well supported in the arch, toe or ankle, it becomes necessary to add a lot of extra weight to the shoe, which lighter shoes shave off by holding off on these supportive details. Many running shoes, for example, are designed with little or no cushion in the insole in order to keep the weight of the shoe to a minimum. Choosing the right shoe is about finding a balance between support and weight.
Where To Buy
The best place to begin your search for the right tennis shoe is at your local tennis pro shop, because you will likely find the widest selection of shoes here. However, you will also find that these pro shops sell their shoes at a much higher cost than most online warehouses, such as Zappos.com or TennisWarehouse.com. You might consider finding the shoe that you are most comfortable with at a pro shop, then buying the shoe online later for much cheaper.
Cost
Typically, a good pair of tennis shoes will cost anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on the quality of the product and whether or not you purchase an off-season product. Off-season tennis shoes are usually just as effective as in-season products, but purchased at a much cheaper price. However, these off-season purchases do not come with factory warranties, which can come in handy if you tend to wear through your shoes quickly.
Insider Tips
When trying on tennis shoes, make sure to find a size that fits you as snugly as possible without being uncomfortable. Due to the nature of tennis play, tennis players' toes are constantly being jammed into the front of the shoe, and can cause an injury known as "turf toe" if your shoes don't fit correctly.
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