TENNIS.com - Gear - 2009 TENNIS Shoe Guide

By Dr. David G. Sharnoff, D.P.M.

2009 TENNIS Shoe Guide Nothing beats finding the perfect pair of tennis shoes. The fit is just right, the cushioning and support are ample, and you feel like you could play in them all day. They’re the type of shoes you want to fill your closet with before the manufacturer changes the model. There’s no guarantee you’ll find a shoe like that in this guide, but the nine reviewed here are all excellent options.

Aggressive hard-courters are bound to be attracted to the Nike Air Max Courtballistec 1.3, which provides great shock absorption and lateral stability. Players who spend long, hot days on a clay court will find the Wilson Tour Spin, which is extremely light, ventilated and feels great on your foot right out of the box, to their liking. And if you’re looking for something innovative, the K-Swiss Defier miSoul Tech comes with two different insoles—a highly cushioned one for long workouts, and a lighter option for more responsiveness during matches.

Besides these, you’ll find many other new choices that have a lot to offer. Whether they emphasize keeping your foot cool, absorbing impact, or holding you steady on sharp cuts, you’ll be able to kick-start your game. And if you manage to find that special pair, stock up.

MATCH YOUR FOOT TYPE TO YOUR SHOE
When buying shoes, it’s important to take the shape of your feet into consideration. Shoes that fit poorly can hinder your movement, or even lead to injuries. So before you pick out your next pair, learn about your foot type.

Supinated feet have a high arch. People with this foot type will have shoes that show wear on the outside of the heel and forefoot while the inner portions seem barely worn. Supinators tend to have a wide forefoot and need to look for a shoe that provides extra room in the toe box. They also require a shoe with extra cushioning to compensate for their high arches and the fact that their feet tend to be inflexible when they hit the ground.

Pronated feet are the opposite of supinated feet. On a pronator’s shoes, the outside of the heel may show some rubbing, but it’s the inside of the forefoot area that is worn down the most. Pronators tend to have flat feet and need a shoe with extra support on the medial (big toe) side to help keep their feet from rolling inward.

Neutral feet are the most efficient and biomechanically versatile type. Players with neutral feet can wear almost any shoe they want.

HOW WE TEST
The dozens of weartesters consulted in these reviews range from former touring pros to recreational players. We instructed them to rate each shoe with numeric scores from 1 (poor) to 10 (outstanding) in six categories: stability, cushioning, arch support, weight, ventilation and break-in time. We averaged their numbers to determine a figure for overall satisfaction (out of 10). TENNIS’ shoe expert, Dr. David G. Sharnoff, D.P.M., also graded each model on the same criteria. Sharnoff’s approach is based on the technical components that make the shoes stand out as pieces of equipment, rather than whether he enjoyed wearing a particular model. We averaged the overall satisfaction numbers of the weartesters and Sharnoff to come up with a final combined score (out of 10).

*Shoe weights are for a men's size 9 and a women's size 7.