| is all about balance. You have to strike a balance | | | | and it's the least technical part of the operation. Most |
| between power and control on your shots. You have | | | | tennis shoes these days have removable insoles, |
| to maintain good balance when you swing. It's critical | | | | allowing you to replace a worn-out insole with an |
| that your footwear be properly matched to the | | | | over-the-counter one that provides extra cushioning, or |
| anatomy of your feet and the surface you play on. | | | | to fit a custom orthotic. |
| Poor-fitting shoes can lead to blisters, ankle and knee | | | | Midsole: |
| pain, and loss of movement on the court. Because | | | | The midsole is the section that lies between the shoe |
| tennis is a game of non-stop movement, the best | | | | bottom and the insole. It's generally made from ethyl |
| tennis shoes on your feet can be your most reliable | | | | vinyl acetate (EVA) foam or polyurethane (PU) and in |
| teammate. | | | | many cases is supplemented by air or gel inserts. The |
| What's Your Foot Type? | | | | midsole effectively supplies a shoe's cushioning. It can |
| The first step in finding the right shoe is to figure out | | | | often be tough to tell when the midsole breaks down |
| what type of foot you have. There are three basic | | | | and ceases to perform, but as a rule of thumb, a two- |
| foot types — pronated, supinated, and neutral. A | | | | or three-day-a-week player will wear out a midsole in |
| simple “wet footprint” test can tell you which foot | | | | five to six months. Frequent players and people who |
| type you have. If you see a crescent-shaped footprint | | | | are extremely aggressive on the court will go through |
| with little or no impression made by your arch, you | | | | midsoles more quickly due to the pounding they give |
| have a supinated foot. Supinators tend to wear out the | | | | their shoes. If your shoes don't feel as cushioned as |
| outside part of the sole (the lateral side) before the | | | | they did when they were new, the midsole may be |
| medial (big toe) side. Supinators also tend to have wide | | | | shot. You should consider buying a new pair. |
| feet and need to look for a shoe that provides extra | | | | Outsole: |
| room in the forefoot and toe box (e.g. New Balance | | | | This is where the rubber meets the road. The outsole's |
| Tennis shoes.) Or they may need a shoe with extra | | | | design affects the traction you'll get on hard and clay |
| cushioning to compensate for their high arches (e.g. | | | | courts. Herringbone designs that form a tight, wave-like |
| Nike and Asics Tennis shoes.) If your foot leaves a | | | | pattern perform best on clay, while outsoles with the |
| wet mark on the floor that's completely filled in, arch | | | | most variation in the design (a little herringbone here, a |
| and all, you have a pronated foot. Pronators often | | | | wider groove there) give you the best traction on hard |
| have flat feet, and the medial portion of their shoe | | | | courts. An outsole should also be durable enough to |
| bottom wears down before the lateral part. People | | | | stand up to your style of game. If you play often or |
| with this foot type often need extra support from their | | | | wear out shoes quickly, look for heavy-duty outsoles |
| shoes so a mid-cut model or a shoe with extra stability | | | | and try to get a pair with an outsole warranty. |
| on the medial side is usually a wise choice (e.g. Prince | | | | Heavy or Light? |
| and K-Swiss Tennis shoes.) If you're one of the few | | | | How heavy should a pair of tennis shoes be? Well, |
| people who leave a wet footprint with a moderate | | | | light is nice, but heavy has its advantages, too. |
| amount of arch, you have a neutral foot. Consider | | | | The lighter your shoes, the faster you can zip around |
| yourself lucky-this is the most efficient and | | | | the court. So why are tennis shoes almost always |
| biomechanically versatile foot type. Players with neutral | | | | heavier than running shoes? The stop-and-start |
| feet can play tennis in almost any shoe. Some of the | | | | demands of tennis require that shoes have ample |
| most popular choices are Adidas Barricade, Nike Air | | | | cushioning, extra support, and more durable outsoles, all |
| Max Breathe Cage, Asics Gel Resolution, and Babolat | | | | of which add weight. |
| Tennis Shoes. | | | | In an effort to lighten up their shoes, manufacturers |
| Understand the Design | | | | often use an hourglass-shaped outsole design for |
| The next step is understanding the shoe's design so | | | | some models. But this may move the shoe's flex point |
| you can pick the one that will perform best for you. | | | | toward the middle of the shoe, near your arch, rather |
| There are four parts of a shoe you need to consider: | | | | than at the ball of the foot, where your foot naturally |
| Upper: | | | | bends. (To test a shoe's flex point, hold it firmly around |
| The top portion of the shoe, or the upper, is usually | | | | the heel in one hand and press the palm of your other |
| made of leather, synthetic leather, or a combination of | | | | hand against the sole at the toe end. Notice where the |
| materials. If you need extra support, look for lacing | | | | shoe bends. If it's back toward the arch, you could |
| systems that thread into reinforcements going down | | | | have problems with support and stability.) |
| the sides of the shoe; they'll provide added stability. | | | | Only you can decide how much weight you're willing to |
| When you try a shoe on, be sure the upper is | | | | live with in the name of increased stability and durability. |
| comfortable against the top of your foot and is not too | | | | Consider owning two pairs of tennis shoes: a lighter |
| tight. If you drag your toe when you serve, look for a | | | | game-day shoe and a heavier training shoe (this |
| durable toecap. | | | | technique has been used by distance runners for |
| Insole: | | | | years). |
| This is the portion of the shoe that your foot rests on, | | | | |