Those of you who have played tennis at some point or another know by now just how physically-demanding the sport can be. Those of you who practice it regularly will also know how important it is to always employ the right gear. From racquets and armbands to socks and shoes, the difference between using quality gear or not is incommensurable. The right gear can not only help you avoid injuries and fatigue but it can also boost your performance to an impressive standard. In this respect, no other piece of equipment is as important as the footwear, at least not when it comes to stamina, agility, and responsiveness.
With this in mind, let us point out that the market has quite a lot to offer in terms of tennis shoes and they’re not all built to the same standards. In fact, the market has been flooded in recent years with cheap knock-offs that are not only unsafe to wear due to their flimsy construction but also quite uncomfortable and prone to making you sweat. For this reason, you should perhaps take the time to learn as much as you can about what makes a good tennis shoe and what characteristics to look for when buying a pair. To save you the trouble, we put together a list of the ten best tennis shoes money can buy.
Best Tennis Shoes – Reviews
10Prince Men’s T22
Professional craftsmanship is synonymous with the Prince T22, a tennis shoe made of a premium-grade synthetic, breathable upper for added foot comfort and breathability. The first thing you notice about this shoe is that it has a well-cushioned sock liner and a very supportive TPU-shank, delivering extra support, stability, and comfort. At the same time, a quality rubber outsole provides reliable traction and durability, while an integrated unique RASH toe-cap reduces abrasion and injury risk. Furthermore, the shoe also benefits from a Shock Eraser midsole that offers incredible impact absorption.
9HEAD Men’s Sprint Pro
With a design that meets the highest possible standards, the HEAD Sprint Pro is a tough, stable, yet flexible, lightweight tennis shoe for every man who desires a competitive on-court experience. The stylish design has innovative features for greater movement freedom, support, and comfort. Its Head Energy Frame delivers the support, lightweight low-profile EVA midsole ensuring foot stability, and a mesh lining for breathability and better moisture management.
8adidas Performance Men’s CC Rally Comp
Chief among the highlights of this high-performance tennis shoe from Adidas is its Climacool Technology that offers 360-degree cooling for the entire foot. With it, you also enjoy optimum breathability thanks to its mono-mesh upper design that also integrates internal web skeleton to add to stability and comfort. At the same time, an ADIPRENE+ is integrated at the forefoot for efficient propulsion along with an ADITUFF around the toe zone for abrasion resistance. Men’s CC Rally Comp also features a high traction durable, flexible rubber outsole and EVA-midsole for high-response forefoot propulsion.
7ASICS Men’s Gel-Dedicate 5
The Men’s GEL-Dedicate 5 from ASICS is an impressive tennis shoe by any metrics. It boasts a great Forefoot GEL padding and Truss-tic system integrated at its mid-foot, offering a special blend of support and comfort. For traction and adherence, it has a durable high-quality rubber outsole. A flexible, comfortable upper adds to the support and comfort, making this shoe ideal for back-to-back players who need continued high performance and decent ankle protection.
6K-SWISS Men’s Bigshot Light
Men’s Bigshot Light by K-SWISS is a tennis shoe you can bet on for a greater on-court experience. Its upper boasts top-quality leather construction integrating a Flow-Cool system to ensure better sweat management, breathability for enduring comfort. Furthermore, its flexible yet durable rubber outsole delivers on speed and traction both excellently, as its multi-directional design adds to its quite remarkable full-speed stability.
5ASICS Men’s Gel-Challenger 10
Designed for men, the Gel-Challenger 10 is a model you can’t get it wrong with. For instance, its innovative forefoot and rearfoot Gel cushioning ensure you get upped support, protection, and comfort. Not only that but a Truss-tic integrated lateral propulsion technology offers motion stability, as the upper is designed for an ideal, comfortable fit. Moreover, the shoe also boasts a leather mid-foot brace for extra support.
4NIKE Men’s Vapor Court
Improved for greater performance, this tennis shoe offers the comfort and convenience a tennis player needs. Its design is optimized to provide the best in stability and support no matter how heated the game gets. It enjoys a construction that involves high-quality leather and a synthetic upper that is flexible, comfortable, and supportive. Its premium midsole offers convenient support for more stable movement while the quality rubber outsole with herringbone pattern ensures a durability and traction you can rely on.
3ASICS Men’s GEL-Resolution 6
Designed by ASICS, the incredibly popular GEL-Resolution 6 tennis shoe is simply put, one of the very best in terms of protection and flexibility. Among its quality highlights are an advanced PGuard toe protector plus expertly incorporated AHAR technology on the outsole, ensuring greater durability, on-court stability, and foot protection. Moreover, the upper features Flexion Fit technology, delivering optimized fit comfort and support. We should also point out that it is a lightweight model and thus great for speed.
2New Balance Men’s mc806
Another top-rated model, the New Balance Men’s mc806 tennis shoe is made of high-quality leather & synthetic materials for added comfort. It is a reliable option with a comfortable, light and ergonomic design for superior agility in motion. It also has a reinforced yet breathable toe box, unique lace-up and side panel upper for superior comfort, fit and support further ensured by an integrated C-CAP midsole. On a related note, it should also be said that it benefits from an ABZORB padding that delivers extra support and comfort while the quality rubber outsole is both durable and stable to the highest standards.
1ASICS Men’s GEL-Solution Speed 2
ASICS GEL-Solution Speed 2 is a man’s great tennis shoe unique for its lightweight yet very reliable design. It features a full-foot ventilation that recommends it as the perfect choice for summer matches. At the same time, the top-quality synthetic mesh upper allows for a convenient fit, a feature you will find to be just as effective regardless of your foot size. We should also point out that its rubber outsole ensures great stability while a foam midsole gives you the best possible support and foot comfort. Better still, this tennis shoe integrates a Flexion-Fit upper plus a PGuard toe-protector for extra safety and support.
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Tennis Shoes Guide
For a competitive edge, you need a quality pair of tennis shoes, but how hard is it to get this right? First of all, go up a half size from what you are used to as there needs to be room to reach and slide around the court.
After this, it is down to the shoe to support you and help you get around, turning fast and cushioning the impact of every step. Not all tennis shoes are going to give you what you need so to make sure you get this right, you have to know what to look for. The following tennis shoes guide will help you make an informed decision so you can ace this purchase first time.
What To Look For In Tennis Shoes
Grip
The sole is going to be what helps you stop suddenly, and make quick turns of direction when your competitor is pushing you around the court. To give you a fighting chance of returning the ball a quality rubber sole will help. They are usually made to be non-slip but will vary depending on what surface you play on.
The grooves and patterns on the sole will help so make sure the brand you look at has put some thought into the grip before you buy.
Comfort
Because so much of tennis is about movement and less about striking than you might think, you need to find a tennis shoe you can rely on. The last thing you want is to have your performance hindered by something that should be making tennis seem fun and effortless. The better products will have a comfortable insole with adequate padding to make you light on your feet.
The collar should have a good amount of padding, as should the tongue to make every twist and turn seamless.
Breathability
Tennis isn’t the sort of game you play in the rain but things can get pretty damp at the feet if you buy low-quality tennis shoes. You want to find a product that is made from breathable materials features a layer or area of meshing so the feet can breathe. On top of this, moisture-wicking materials will mean that sweat runs off the show instead of becoming a problem that can lead to discomfort and rubbing.
Durability
Tennis shoes have a certain lifespan but this doesn’t mean you should have to change them every other month. For the casual player, a quality pair of tennis shoes should last around six months or even longer.
You geta round 500 miles out of them before their performance starts to decrease.
Stability
A quality outsole will protect the foot and take some of the impacts of fast turns, keeping everything in place. This helps to prevent injuries that are common in low-quality tennis shoes or trainers that are not specifically designed for tennis. An outsole that protects the foot should be able to withstand soome punishment when rushing to the net.
Midsole
The midsole is what helps to spring you back into action when stepping and will give you a layer of comfort when wearing your tennis shoes. Often, the midsole will have extra layers of cushioning and some brands add specialist technology into this area to give you a boost.
Weight
Whilst it is important for your foot to have the right amount of protection on the court, you also want to make sure the materials do not weigh you down. When speed is important, the weight of your tennis shoe can be vital. Some products do this better than others without compromising the durability and overall quality of the shoe.
Style
In terms of priorities, this is probably higher than it should be for most people. After you have found the right pair of tennis shoes in terms of performance, you can usually match the color and style to your chosen outfit, or find something neutral to wear with different gear.
Because most of the big brands have made their tennis shoes available in loads of colors, this shouldn’t be a problem for even the most style-conscious of doubles partners.
Toe Guard
This is where a lot of the impact is placed in your tennis shoe so you will notice the protection is increased in this area. A lot of what makes tennis shoes more durable centers around this area because without it, they will not be fit for purpose for long.
Tennis Shoes and Squeaking
Depending on the surface, you might notice your tennis shoes squeak a lot. This can’t always be stopped as you will know from watching the pros but there are some things you can do to lessen the noise.
By sprinkling a little baby powder on the insole and always wear comfortable socks that are tailor-made for the rigors of tennis to keep the area dry. You might find that this stops over time as the shoes are worn in but always remember to wash and dry your tennis shoes regularly.
Tennis Shoes and Shock Absorption
Because so much of tennis is high impact on the foot and ankle, your tennis shoe of choice needs to go the extra mile when it comes to shock absorption.
It is part of what makes them so springy and each brand does this differently. They should have developed their own technology to increase the shock absorption of their product and most of them like to talk up the effectiveness so you can’t miss it.
All-Court vs Clay Court Tennis Shoes
When buying tennis shoes, one of the first things you need to consider if the playing surface. If you usually stick to playing indoors or on hard surfaces then an all-court tennis shoe will give you adequate support.
Clay court shoes are made different and will give you more traction for going back and forth whilst the upper is usually made different to prevent any clay from getting into the shoe.
