To the uninitiated, there's nothing special about tennis shoes. At first glance, they look like ordinary gym shoes or basketball shoes, perhaps a bit different from running shoes. But further examination reveals that tennis shoes are significantly different than any other kind of sporting footwear. They are designed for stops, starts, quick bursts and lateral movements. Durability is a significant issue in the purchase of tennis shoes because they are forced to endure a ton of stress and a horrible beating. Durability often means using a stronger and heavier shoe, and that can increase fatigue as the competition continues. The sudden movements in tennis mean that the foot endures significant physical stress and cushioning material is needed to protect it. Polyurethane is a dense and durable conditioning material that protects the foot but is quite heavy. A new material called EVA offers lightweight conditioning, but is not quite as durable.
What to Look for
Comfort and stability are the biggest factor in purchasing tennis shoes. Many players can tell horror stories about using substandard tennis shoes during a 2 to 3 hour session and the resulting injuries. The first factor is fit. In the toe area, allow a thumbnail's worth of space between the end of the big toe and the end of the shoe. The width of the shoe is also important and proper width is determined by a secure fit that does not allow slippage and the upper does not move. The heel should be able to move, but not to a point where it slips out of position. Another significant factor is the type of foot. Flat feet--also called overpronated--tend to wear out tennis shoes on the inside of the forefoot area. If a foot has a very high arch -- also called supinated -- tennis shoes wear out from the outside. Neutral feet -- some arch but not pronounced -- tend to wear evenly. Taking foot type into account is a very important purchasing factor.
Common Pitfalls
Many beginning or occasional players make the mistake of wearing standard gym shoes while playing tennis. These are not designed for quick starting, stopping and changing directions. At best, a player wearing gym shoes will have sore, worn out feet while playing tennis. At worst, painful blisters and other foot injures will develop. The protection that tennis shoes offer--particularly when playing on hard surfaces--is significant. However, when the shoe starts to wear out, it needs to be replaced quickly. Trying to get one more match or even one more tournament out of shoes that have seen better days is to be avoided at all costs.
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