Women Tennis Shoes
How to select tennis shoes for performance and injury prevention
Select a Safe Tennis Shoe. Tennis can be a treacherous sport for your feet and ankles. Tens of thousands of people each year worldwide seek medical advice for short term sprains or chronic ailments caused by a lack of care or knowledge in their choice of tennis footwear.
It’s easy to see why some poor choices are made: The term ‘Tennis Shoe’, (particularly in the US), has come to mean any athletic shoe. Playing tennis demands sudden sharp movements in any direction, and requires shoes that support the feet and ankles during these rapid changes in momentum. Other athletic shoes, like running shoes may not have the appropriate structure to prevent excessive lateral movement of the feet within the shoe, and abrasion or sprain injuries may result.
So firstly, make sure you choose a proper tennis shoe. The ATP and WTA Tour websites have lists of the top players and their choice of shoes if you need an idea for a make of tennis shoe to begin with. These shoes are often the manufacturers best model, designed to protect the feet of people who make a living out of tennis, and contain ‘state of the art’ technology to this end. Despite this, they’re normally priced only a little higher than a ‘standard’ tennis shoe.
‘Cross Trainers’ can provide the answer for naturally sporty people who partake in a number of differing activities during any week. These are however a compromise, and people who play tennis three or more times a week should seriously consider buying tennis shoes specific to the sport.
Most of us have feet that do not perform optimally, leading to wear on the inside or outside sole of any footwear we purchase over time. Nearly two thirds of us have a low or flat arch causing over pronation, (excess rotation of the foot inwards), with increased wear on the inner edge of the shoe. About one fifth of people have the opposite – high arch ‘supination’ with consequent wear on the outer sole. Barely one tenth of us have ‘normal’ feet with even wear across the shoe.
If you have low arches, make sure your shoe has extra support fitted in the mid-foot area to counteract the rolling tendency. If you have high arches, choose a shoe with more cushioning in this area to absorb shocks and better stabilize the heel.
When assessing a shoe, don’t be afraid to take a little longer to ensure the fit is perfect. Try on more than one if needed, wear your tennis socks, and test the shoe with sharp movements to mimic play on court. Slightly compress the shoe from heel to toe to ensure that it bends exactly where the ball of the foot lies. Where you might allow a little tightness in a non-sporting shoe, (to wear in), don’t do this with your tennis shoe. Check for perfect fit from toe to heel – gentle support but not too tight.
If you’re buying online, as more people are doing nowadays, most merchants allow easy return if a shoe doesn’t fit.They’re more than happy for multiple returns if needed, because a happy customer is likely to come back to them in future.
An external complication is the type of court surface to be played on. A tennis shoe suitable for playing on grass will not be appropriate for clay and vice versa. The pattern of tread on the sole indicates for which type of court the tennis shoe was designed. The best sole for indoor courts is nearly smooth, whereas a herringbone pattern is common in clay court shoes. A tennis shoe suitable for playing on grass will feature a regular rubber nodule pattern and outdoor hard court shoes combine the clay/grass court designs.
Generally speaking, hard courts present the most threat of injury to your feet as the better traction allows for shorter stopping distances and subject the foot and ankle to greater forces. Clay is the safest as it’s loose surface provides some cushioning and the ability to slide reduces stresses on the feet.
Some ancillary consideration may be given to age, strength, height, style and level of play of the shoe owner. A strong young player with an aggressive game will likely need the greater traction afforded by a shoe with a more defined pattern with greater rigidity. An older woman player with a game geared to slices and drop shots will probably require smoother more flexible women’s tennis court shoes.
Finally, try not to extend the life of your shoe too much. It’s very tempting to treat a well worn shoe like an old friend, but protective capabilities tend to reduce with age, and as with motor vehicles, safety features improve with every passing year.
About the Author
Cheri Britton is dedicated to highlighting all that’s best and new in women’s tennis apparel, ladies tennis shoes and women’s tennis bags and any and everything of interest to a women who wants to look stylish and fashionable on court.
She’s particularly interested in eco and animal friendly tennis clothing and footwear, especially the creations of fashion designer Stella McCartney.
Adidas Adizero Feather Women’s Tennis Shoe – Tennis Express Shoe Guide
|
|
Nike Air Max Breathe Free II Women’s Tennis Shoes, Size 8 US $19.99 |
|
|
Prince MC4 Women’s Tennis Shoes – White / Silver/Black $69.99 |
|
|
Classic Pro Staff New Women’s Ladies S2000 Wilson Leather Tennis shoes 9 Medium $45.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
PUMA Shoes Cell Exert Light weight Running Tennis Shoes Women Size 183978-03 $54.99 |
|
|
Whitmor 6486-1746-WHT Over-The-Door Shoe Rack, White, 36-Pair $27.50 Holds 36 pairs of shoes and provides a nonslip door pad to prevent scratching and hold the unit in place. Durable white resin sides with nonslip coated steel bars. Easy, no tool assembly. 8.00 x 21.36 x 76.50… |
|
|
Disposable Polypropylene Shoe Covers, 100-Pack DSC100 $8.90 The disposable polypropylene shoe covers protect carpets and floors. Fitting shoes up to size 10, these covers are made of polypropylene non woven fabric and will help protect floors and carpets during painting and other construction work. Economical and disposable, this 100-pack includes 50 pairs of blue shoe covers…. |
|
|
Tennis – 24H x 16W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $33.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l… |
|
|
Zalman King’s Red Shoe Diaries: The Teacher $1.99 … |
|
|
I Always Wanted a Shaved Monkey $1.99 … |
|
|
Zalman King’s Red Shoe Diaries Movie #20: Caged Bird $2.99 … |
|
|
Dr. Scholl’s Odor-X Odor Fighting Insoles, 1-Pair Packages (Pack of 4) $16.08 Concentrated layer of ultra-effective activated charcoal absorbs and neutralizes unpleasant odors…. |
|
|
Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Extra Support Insoles, Men’s Size 8 to 14, 1-Pair Package $9.95 Ideal for big & tall men. Wider & longer design fits larger shoes. All-day comfort. Arch Guard provides extra support. You have: foot and leg fatigue. You want: superior comfort all day long. You need: Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Extra Support Insoles. Better Sizing: Wider & long design accommodates larger shoes. Superior Shock Absorption: Durable Massaging Gel heel cushion reduces shock and provid… |
|
|
WSWS – 2-Layer Height Increase Elevator Shoes Insole for Men – 5 cm (approximately 2 inches) Taller + One Free WSWS Shoe Cleaning Cloth $12.95 Confidence means keeping your head up, and nothing keeps it higher than being tall. Coming up short on dates or interviews? Don’t worry: WSWS air-cushion shoe insole will give you a lift. Go ahead; take a stand. The idea of height insoles originated from Asia where they are a phenomenon. |
|
|
The Original Shoe Pouch for Nike + iPod, GRAY $5.97 The Shoe Pouch was designed by Grantwood Technology, LLC to allow runners and walkers to use the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit® or Nike+ SportBand with any type of shoe. When designing the Shoe Pouch, our primary goal was to ensure a snug fit, extensively testing it with reinforced, nylon lace loops, and a Velcro® closure over the insertion slit. These designs maximize the durability of the Shoe Pouch wh… |
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Comments are closed.