Tennis shoes are an important part of a player’s tennis gear. Without the right pair of shoes, a player would have a hard time. The first time they were used was in the 1800s. ThePlimsoll was the name of the first tennis shoe.

These shoes had a rubber sole and a canvas upper. They were made to play tennis or croquet. Since then, we’ve come a long way, and there have been a lot of improvements to shoes.

Big brands like Nike and Adidas have gotten into the game and made a big difference. They have specialised in this area and made more progress. To play tennis well, you need to have the right shoes. When shoes don’t fit right, they can cause blisters, ankle pain, and even knee pain. 

On top of that, when choosing tennis shoes, you need to take special care if suffering from foot ailments such as bunions. That’s why professional players wear different kinds of shoes on clay, hard, and grass surfaces. Here is how to go about it.

Learn about your feet

You can go to a podiatrist or check at home to find out what size your feet are. For example, if your wet footprint is in the shape of a crescent and your arch doesn’t show up much or at all, you have a supinated foot. There are different kinds of feet, so it’s important to know what kind you have.

Knowing how shoes are put together

After you know what kind of foot you have, try to understand how shoes are put together. Try on a few different pairs and make sure that the upper feels good on the top of your foot. Also, make sure your shoes have a strong toe cap, especially if you tend to drag your toe when you serve. 

Aside from that, if you tend to hit your forehand from an open stance, pay attention to the extra material along the middle of the upper.

Now for the inside of the shoe. When you buy shoes, make sure that the part where your foot rests, the insole, is comfortable and has padding. If you’re an aggressive player who beats up your shoes a lot, you’ll need to buy a new pair of shoes soon because the midsole will wear out quickly.

When you play on clay or a hard court, the outsole affects how well you can grip the ground. Players who play on hard surfaces should look for shoes with different designs on the outsoles. This will give them the best grip on the court.

How heavy the shoes are?

Players usually look for shoes that are light on their feet, but that’s not always the case because they have extra cushioning and long-lasting outsoles that make the shoes heavier. Compared to running shoes, these shoes are heavy. 

A player should have two pairs of shoes—one pair should be heavy, and the other pair should be lighter. The heavier pair of shoes should be worn during practise, while the lighter pair should be worn during games so that the player feels more comfortable and lighter on their feet.

The surface of a shoe is another way to tell them apart. There are three surfaces:

Grass court

Grass courts are easier on the body and joints than hard and clay courts. When it comes to grass courts, there may not be a lot of options, but there are a few that work. Since this surface is fast, a player should look for a shoe made for grass.

On the bottom of a grass court shoe, there are “nubs” or “pimples” that help you get a good grip on the slippery surface. Even though the bottom is bumpy, it doesn’t hurt the court and keeps the player comfortable while they move quickly on this smooth surface. The grass court shoes can only be worn on grass. They can’t be used on any other surface.

Clay court

The outsole of the clay court shoes has a full herringbone pattern so that clay doesn’t stick to the shoe. This will also make it easier to run, slide, and change directions. The herringbone pattern makes it easier to slide, so a player can get back from a shot and slide perfectly.

It also makes it easier to move forward or backward. If you play more on a clay court, that’s another reason why you should have shoes that are made for clay. The upper of these shoes is knit more tightly, which gives them more stability and keeps the clay aqua off the sole.

Hard court

The hard court is the most common surface, and it is just as hard on the outsoles as any other surface. A player should look for shoes with outsoles that last a long time. The pattern on these shoes is called “herringbone,” and it gives the player more grip on the court. 

Shoes for hard courts have enough cushioning and a midsole that helps the player transfer energy with every step. In general, the top of these shoes is tough, which will help them stay in good shape and last longer. Players who drag their toes while playing can do a lot of damage to their shoes by making that area bigger and stronger.