Finding the right shoe for your sport not only gives you a competitive advantage, it also makes it easier on your foot. A wide variety of shoe styles are available, and to choose the right style you need to know what your specific needs are. There are definitive advantages and disadvantages to using tennis shoes and cleats, and choosing the right one for your sport or activity is important.
Tennis Shoes
Tennis shoes earned their name when Converse created a line of shoe for tennis star Jack Purcell in the 1930s, according to TrailEnd.org. The term is often used to apply to other athletic shoes that aren't necessarily used for tennis, but most shoes that are sold specifically for tennis will be marked that way.
Tennis shoes come in a variety of styles, but most have flat, rubber soles with a leather or synthetic upper portion. They are made to be used on flat surfaces, and the leather soles usually have a cross pattern on the them to provide ease of movement when stopping and starting.
Cleats
The history of the cleat dates back to 1526 where they were made for King Henry the VIII for use in early forms of soccer, which is called football in Europe. Early forms of cleats were made with leather and had several metal studs attached to the sole. They are very similar today, but are made of a variety of materials for the studs and the shoes themselves. The studs on the bottom of the cleats give traction and are typically used in sports that are played on a grass field, such as baseball and soccer.
Comparison
The easiest way to think of the difference uses for cleats and tennis shoes is the type of surface. Tennis shoes are used for sports that are played on a hard surface, such as tennis and basketball. Although shoes used for basketball will be slightly different than tennis shoes, they are primarily the same. Cleats are made for use sports where extra traction is desirable and tennis shoes would cause someone to slip. Soccer, baseball, football and softball are all examples of sports where cleats are typically used. One exception is tennis played on grass; a slightly modified tennis shoe is usually used instead of cleats.
Considerations
Choosing the right shoe is important. It's fairly obvious you wouldn't want to wear cleats on a basketball court, but it might be tempting to play soccer with tennis shoes. This might seem harmless, but it can often lead to slipping and sliding, which can cause muscle strains and serious falls. Choose the shoe that will help you avoid injury, as well as give you the competitive advantage.
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