Footwear
Balance is key when it comes to tennis and you need to make sure that your shoes fit you and the surface you are playing on. A bad fit leads to blisters, ankle and knee pain and loss of manoeuvrability on the court. Things to consider when buying your shoes are:
• Foot type - 3 basic foot types (a podiatrist can give you an more accurate type):
- Supinated Foot: cresent-shaped footprint with little or no impression by the arch, will wear the outside part of the bottom of the shoe before the big toe side, tend to have wide feet so need more room in the forefoot and toe box, also needs extra cushioning for the high arches
- Pronated foot: footprinted that is completely filled in, flat feet, big toe part of the sole will wear down first, need extra support so mid-cut or extra stability on the big toe side is good
- Neutral foot: moderate amount of arch, most efficient and versatile foot type, can use almost any shoe
• Design - there are four parts to the shoe to consider:
- Upper: the top part of the shoe usually made of leather/synthetic leather or a combination. For extra support look of r laces that thread into reinforcements on the sides of the shoe. Make sure the upper is comfortable against the top of your foot and not too tight, if you drag your toe look for a durable toecap.
- Insole: what your foot rests on in the shoe, if you wear orthotics check to see if the insole is removable
- Midsole: between the shoe sole and the insole and supplies the shoe’s cushioning, generally made from EVA foam or polyurethane but could be air or gel inserts. A midsole will wear out, if used 2-3 days a week, in 5-6 months, people who play more often will wear the shoe out quicker.
- Outsole: the sole or bottom of the shoe, it affects the traction you’ll get on court. For clay courts Herringbone designs (tight, wave-like patterns) work best, designs with a lot of variation (herringbone and some wider grove) are best for hard courts. If you play often look for heavy-duty based soles.
• Heavy or light - each has its advantages: the lighter your shoes the faster you can move, to lighten shoes manufactures often use an hourglass-shaped sole design which moves the flex toward the middle of the shoe rather than on the ball of your foot where it naturally bends. You’re the only one that can decide the weight you need, the heavier the shoe the better the stability and durability. You could own one of each, the lighter for games, and the heavier for training.