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The 10 Very All-time Women's Tennis Shoes

Photograph-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

Whether you lot're a circular-robin veteran or gearing up for your beginning beginner drill, having the right tennis shoes is a necessity. Tennis requires a huge range of movement: running backward, lunging, sidestepping, and even sliding (for Francesca Schiavone wannabes), which is why running shoes and other nonspecific sneakers won't cut it on the court. Proper footwear will give you support for 360 degrees of motility and fifty-fifty a mental heave, which author Emilia Monell can attest to. As Monell, who trained at IMG University under Nick Bollettieri and played for Columbia Academy'southward varsity team, explains, "My coaches always said I had more than energy the first solar day I got new shoes."

There are besides external factors to take into account, such as the surface: Are you fractional to dirt courts or hard courts? Do you lot toggle between surfaces based on the flavour? With then many considerations, it tin can exist difficult to determine which tennis shoes are ideal for your playing mode and your anxiety (perchance you're one of the many who suffer from plantar fasciitis), so I spoke to a host of lawn tennis experts, including tennis-shop buyers, college coaches, and club directors near their top women'south tennis-shoe picks. If you already accept an idea of what you lot desire, skip directly to the type of shoe you're looking for in our tabular array of contents below. Otherwise, read on for ten options that volition suit all types of players, from serve-and-volleyers to baseline loyalists.

All-time overall | Best (less expensive) overall | Almost comfy | Best for plantar fasciitis | Best for sliding | Best for narrow feet | Best for wide feet | Best for older players | Most responsive | Virtually durable

Durability: Tennis training involves then many repetitive movements that y'all'll probable notice you damage your gear in the same places time and time over again. I burned through many pairs of lawn tennis shoes as captain of my loftier-schoolhouse squad, and I always wore a hole in the toe of my correct shoe considering I dragged my foot when I served. Mike Layton, owner and CEO of Westside Tennis in Santa Monica, California, explains that tennis shoes need to withstand a specific type of pivoting and offset-stop wear and tear, then they "are more solid around the whole perimeter of the shoe." While this construction may seem clunky at commencement, the majority is necessary for the shoe to last a reasonable corporeality of time. Monell recommends a test to see if yous need to replace your pair: "Place the two ends of 1 shoe between your easily and apply force per unit area — if the shoe caves in on itself, information technology'southward lost support, and it's fourth dimension to get new ones." Depending on how often you play, your shoes will dethrone at varying rates. Monell offers a full general guideline of a three-month shoe lifespan for players training at a competitive level. In comparing, recreational players can stay with ane pair for a year.

Support: It'due south not uncommon to see players (like Serena Williams) on courtroom with tape around their ankles. Lawn tennis is a joint-heavy sport that involves tons of lateral motion and frequent changes in direction, and then the structure and support of a tennis shoe are designed to handle this demanding sort of action. Co-ordinate to Layton, tennis shoes "are typically a trivial bit heavier than running shoes" and "have better lateral support on the inside and outside of the shoe" to protect the ankle, so y'all don't strain or twist it when you're moving side to side. For players who are newer to the sport, this tin exist an adjustment, says Karen Moriarty, co-owner of the Lawn tennis Professionals — Sportech in Rye Brook. "You might exist shocked when you put a lawn tennis shoe on and recall, Oh my God, these feel and so much stiffer than my running or walking shoes," she says.

Fit: Woody Schneider, co-owner of NYC Racquet Sports, says the best shoe is "the one that fits your foot the best." The term explosive is often used to describe the movement in lawn tennis matches, and y'all'll experience that explosiveness in a bad way if your shoes aren't the right fit. A broad toe bed is necessary for stability, but you lot don't desire and then much room that your toes are jamming and bruising. Equally gross as the image is, in that location were multiple times when my large toenail cracked and (bloodily) fell off because my shoes were a little too big and my human foot kept smashing the forepart during separate stops. The fit of the shoe will depend on your feet (wide, narrow, injuries, etc.), so I've done my best to articulate which type of foot the shoes cater to in each entry below. If you can, attempt the shoes on in person first to meet if they're a good fit, or if you're shopping online, make sure the store has a good return policy.

Asics Gel Resolution 8 Women's Tennis Shoes

Enhanced durability | Heavy support | Versatile fit

The Asics Gel Resolution came highly recommended past 4 of our experts and is a rubber bet if you're not sure where to get started. Layton has worn the Resolution for years and says, "It hits all of the requirements for a good tennis shoe, including good lateral support and stability. I've had foot issues in the by but not with these." He adds that they are durable and very comfortable. "I recollect you would fit a majority of people with this shoe regardless of skill level," he says. Claire Ann Pollard, caput omnibus of Northwestern Academy's women's tennis squad, calls the Asics Gel Resolution her favorite, and Moriarty says they are consistently a top option for her customers.

[Editor's Annotation: Marker Mason, owner of Stonemason's Tennis in New York City, noted that supply-chain bug have afflicted tennis shoes tremendously. Many factories have been in COVID lockdown much longer than expected, and delays in shipping have led to a shortage of available sizes and models. Mason says the Asics should exist available in March, simply there will likely be delays until April or May for other brands that are not currently offering a broad range of sizes.]

NikeCourt Air Max Volley

Moderate durability | Flexible back up | Narrow fit

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better shoe for a amend value than the NikeCourt Air Max Volley at under $100. Monell, who trained alongside Sloane Stephens and Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig, says this Nike pair was "really keen for narrow feet — I always felt like the other brands were just too wide for me." Tennis shoes oft have a wider toe bed, which tin can brand information technology difficult for women with narrow feet to find a secure fit. This pair also has a "good balance of lightness and support," according to Monell, who says her ankles felt more supported than with other shoes she had trained in.

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Lav V2

Maximum immovability | Heavy support | Wide fit

Harry Tong, host of Lawn tennis Spin on YouTube and a heir-apparent at California Tennis Club, says this New Residuum pair is "the softest, most cushiony, about bouncy shoe yous can have in tennis." He compares the cushion level to the springy, super-popular Adidas Ultraboost and describes the fit every bit "a soft, comfy ski kick." "You want tennis shoes to concur on to you and exist tight around the whole human foot," Tong says. "Because of all the stop-and-get, y'all tin't have likewise much move in the shoe, or else you will get blisters and a black toe." Greg Pearson, owner of Tiki Tennis in Islamorada, Florida, says of all the brands he has tried, "New Residuum is the most comfy." This shoe is particularly durable because it comes outfitted with a toe-drag tip (to preclude excessive wear on the toe) and New Balance'south NDurance rubber outsole, which has a half dozen-month limited-warranty guarantee.

Babolat Women's Tennis SFX 3 All Court

Enhanced durability | Maximum support | Slightly wide fit

If you accept plantar fasciitis, the nearly of import qualities to look for in a tennis shoe are extra cushioning in the heel, thick soles, and extra padding to reduce stupor. This Babolat shoe checks all three boxes considering it is designed with thermoplastic rubber and a tube compression system beneath the heel for exceptional daze absorption. Schneider says this shoe has a "wow factor" because information technology offers "almost as much comfort equally you're going to detect in a tennis shoe" that yet has enough stability to be functional. Mason calls this the "best-fitting tennis shoe" in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sense — i.e., a wide range of players with dissimilar foot types (narrow, wide, loftier arched) have said this model fits perfectly. Schneider adds that these shoes are cut slightly on the wider side, which is neat if plantar fasciitis requires you lot to fit custom orthotics, extra-cushioned socks, or inserts. Anthony Evrard, founder and CEO of lawn tennis gild and schoolhouse Courtroom 16 in New York, says Babolat shoes are especially durable and long lasting because the outsoles are fabricated from Michelin safety.

NikeCourt React Vapor NXT

Enhanced durability | Sliding support | Standard fit

The Nike Zoom Vapor X was dear by many, and its upgrade is non to be ignored. The React Vapor NXT has "great Achilles and lateral support," according to Mason. And unlike other Nike models, this one isn't notably narrow. Near the arch, soft foam works in tandem with a firmer foam forth the exterior of your foot to assist you push off during fast movements. Information technology's a great shoe for players who like to slide because the modified-herringbone outsole provides but the right amount of grip so you feel stable only free to slide. The durability factor is nowadays because the shoe combines both durable rubber and tough plastic in high-wear areas, such as the inner side of the human foot, to ensure they don't wear down when you skid across hard or clay surfaces.

NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro

Moderate immovability | Flexible back up | Narrow fit

Phil Parrish, tennis director of the Longfellow Health Club in Wayland, Massachusetts, recommends this pair for people who have trouble finding a snug fit in other brands since Nikes tend to run narrow in general. This model is designed with reinforced mesh for extra support, and the outer mesh has a thin, flexible overlay for added durability. Mason notes that in comparison with the NXT model described above, this pair is "also lightweight but slightly narrower." There is no rubber in low-wear areas, making this shoe fifty-fifty more streamlined. Dana Mason (a heir-apparent at Mason's Lawn tennis) adds that this is a swell shoe for clay, on which you can get away with a lighter, less cushioned shoe because the surface is more forgiving. This shoe is also sliding friendly because the medial heart-stays closest to your toes are covered for added immovability.

K-Swiss Women's Hypercourt Express 2

Enhanced durability | Heavy support | Wide fit

This is a great shoe for players with wider feet, according to Tong and Parrish, while Moriarty and Dana Mason both say this is ane of the most popular shoes with their customers. Mason says in the standard women's B width (D is a women's broad, which translates to a men's regular), "information technology'due south going to be a wider shoe all over," and so it may exist a proficient choice if your foot is slightly wider than average but not broad plenty to need a D-width shoe. (If you do stop up needing something wider, she recommends the New Rest 1006, featured below.) "It's really nice on a hard court because of the durable sole," Mason says, though it is a great all-courtroom shoe. The Chiliad-Swiss Hypercourt Limited is also known for a minimal break-in menstruation cheers to its Durawrap Flex engineering, which offers back up without stiffness.

New Balance 1006

Enhanced durability | Extra-cushioned support | Extra-wide fit

It'due south often the case that older players are looking for a broad tennis shoe that is lightweight and extremely cushioned. If this set of criteria sounds familiar to you, the New Residue 1006 is a great choice. It has extra-plush cushioning and offers tremendous support for players with foot issues. Dana Mason notes that this model comes in a D width and that its light weight makes it popular amid the older set. This shoe is especially light because it's designed with the New Balance REVlite foam compound, which weighs 30 percent less than standard foams yet maintains the same level of cushioning and stability. This is a great option for more than mature players because actress-cushioned shoes are oftentimes actress-heavy and can impede mobility, merely with this New Balance model, you get the best of both worlds.

Asics Solution Speed FF 2

Moderate immovability | Flexible support | Standard fit

When returning serve, it helps to take responsive shoes and then you lot can react as rapidly every bit possible. Dana Stonemason'southward choice for the most responsive shoe is the Asics Solution Speed FF 2, which is lighter and more flexible than the Asics Resolution (our best overall option). The FF two has a little scrap less cushioning, which is ideal for players who like to experience fast on the court. Mason says information technology's her personal favorite (and the one she wears) considering it's so lightweight and has a roomy toe box; information technology'due south likewise her peak pick for dirt courts.

Adidas Barricade

Maximum durability | Intense support | Standard fit

When I think back to playing juniors and going to lawn tennis military camp, I remember every other kid (boys and girls both) wearing the Adidas Barricade. The current version of the Battlement is worn past Greek player Maria Sakkari, and the shoe has come a long style from its first iteration in 2000. The dazzler of the current model is the lock-in construction of the lacing, which molds the tongue to your foot to create maximum stability and makes for a not bad fit regardless of pes blazon. Equally its proper noun suggests, the Barricade is a remarkably tough shoe that is on the heavier side and designed to last. To meet how your shoes are holding upwardly, Monell recommends oft checking the treads: "If you've got wear and tear around the heels, y'all're not on the balls of your feet enough during play. You should have the majority of your article of clothing and tear around the brawl of the foot if you're keeping up with proper footwork."

• Anthony Evrard, founder and CEO of tennis guild and schoolhouse Court 16
• Mike Layton, owner and CEO of Westside Tennis
• Dana Mason, heir-apparent at Mason's Tennis
• Marking Mason, owner of Mason'south Tennis
• Emilia Monell, author and sometime junior and college player
• Karen Moriarty, co-possessor of the Tennis Professionals — Sportech
• Phil Parrish, tennis manager of the Longfellow Sports Club
• Greg Pearson, owner of Tiki Tennis
• Claire Ann Pollard, head charabanc of Northwestern University's women's tennis squad
• Woody Schneider, co-possessor of NYC Racquet Sports
• Harry Tong, host of Lawn tennis Spin and a buyer at California Lawn tennis Society

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The 10 Very All-time Women's Tennis Shoes