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Tennis is a game that requires constant movement: forward and backward, side-to-side, running, jumping, lunging, and quick pivots. A good tennis shoe will help you comfortably endure the rigors of the game’s quick stops and starts, short sprints and frequent lateral movements while protecting your feet and helping you to perform at your best. With so many choices, knowing what shoe is best for you can be difficult. Taking into account your playing style, the type of court on which you typically play and your foot type are essential to making the proper shoe selection.

You might ask, why can’t I wear my regular running shoes to play tennis? Running shoes on a tennis court are a sprained or broken ankle waiting to happen. Running shoes are built with a thick, soft heel to maximize cushioning for straight-forward, heel-to-toe foot impacts. Runners don’t cut sharply sideways, and the running shoe sole, especially the heel, is much too unstable for the sideways movements of tennis. Athletic shoes protect the feet from the stresses of the sport for which they are designed. So, when playing tennis, wear shoes specially made for the sport of tennis. Tennis shoes provide stability for side-to-side movement. They are heavier and stiffer than running shoes, with flat, durable soles and the toes are supported for stop-and-go action.

Surface, Style of Play and Materials

Which kind of tennis court surface you play on for the majority of your practices and matches will dictate the type of tennis shoe you need. Tennis shoes for hard court play typically offer an extremely durable outsole, a leather or synthetic leather upper for strength and are designed to provide good lateral support and stability for tennis-specific movements. Tennis players that play on hard court surfaces should choose tennis shoes that are durable and resistant to wear to stand up to the wear and tear of playing on concrete. Repeated play on hard courts will wear the tread off the soles of tennis shoes and loss of tread leads to loss of traction and increased slipping. The part of the tennis shoe that covers the toes should have extra protection on the outside as well.

Tennis players that play primarily on soft court surfaces (e.g., clay or grass) should select tennis shoes that are comfortable and provide good traction. Durability is less of a concern when players are on soft surfaces. It is also vital that the tennis shoe have a smooth, flat sole because he knobs and bumps found on the soles of running shoes and cross-trainers can damage clay and grass court surfaces. In fact, most clay court facilities do not allow players to wear such shoes, instead requiring tennis shoes.

Advances in tennis footwear technology have created cushioning systems that are lighter, more comfortable, and better at removing moisture than in previous years. These new cushioning materials include EVA which offers lightweight cushioning but not as much stability and durability as other materials. Polyurethane is a much more dense and durable material used for cushioning and it also increases stability but is heavier. These cushioning materials provide additional padding where it is needed and wick away perspiration.

The material used to create the upper part of the tennis shoe can vary and each has benefits. Canvas stays coolest, breathes best, but offers the least support, particularly for lateral movements. Leather provides the most support and will stay drier in damp conditions. Vinyl can provide good support, and it resists external moisture best, but it tends to get hottest and has the least breathe-ability. Many tennis shoes combine leather or vinyl with a durable mesh that allows cooling air to circulate through the shoe keeping your feet cool and allowing moisture to evaporate. Keeping your feet cooler on the court helps reduce fatigue and keeps you playing better longer. Durability is rarely an issue with tennis shoe uppers because the soles usually wear out long before the uppers do.

Your playing style can also dictate the tennis shoe that is best for you. If you are a serve and volley player who frequently charges the net you need a shoe with a toecap that gives extra protection to the front of your foot. This style of play is rough on shoes, particularly the sole and toe area, so finding a shoe with a sole that is durable enough to meet your particular needs is important. Tennis players often drag their toe while executing shots, especially the serve. It is crucial for right-handed players that the inside toe area of their right tennis shoe have extra protection to prevent premature wear. This area of the tennis shoe is particularly vulnerable because most right-handed players drag their right foot when serving, and often when executing forehand ground strokes. Remember that increased durability often means increased shoe weight, so evaluate your requirements carefully.

If you are a baseline player who plays the back line of the court you will need a shoe with extra lateral support to handle the constant sideways motion. Your tennis shoes will need as much cushioning and shock absorption as possible to keep you comfortable. This is especially true if you play most of your tennis on hard courts.

Fit

The characteristics of your feet and body will determine what type of tennis shoe is most comfortable and effective for you. Body type is an important consideration in tennis shoe selection. For example, larger and heavier players may prefer heavier shoes that provide extra support while smaller players may prefer a lightweight shoe.

It is critical that your footwear be properly matched to the anatomy of your feet and the surface you’re playing on (e.g., grass, clay, concrete). Ill-fitting shoes can lead to blisters, ankle and knee pain and inefficient movement on the court when you play. But when your shoes and feet are in sync, you’ll feel good and play your best on the court. As an athlete you must carefully consider what type of feet you have, because that will determine how much cushioning you will need, and what and where you will need lateral support.

There are three basic foot types, Supinated, Pronated and Ideal. How can you tell what foot type you are? Looking at the wear of your shoes can be a great way to figure out your foot type. If your shoes show a lot of wear along the outside of the heel then you have a Supinated foot. These players tend to wear out shoes more quickly than other players, so an extra durable sole would be an advantage. If your shoes show wear on the inside of the sole and around the ball of the foot then you have a Pronated foot. The Pronated foot is the type most often associated with injury and you should be sure that you select a shoe with lots of support and cushioning. And if your shoe shows equal wear on the inside and outside of the shoe then you are the rare Ideal foot type. In that case you can make your selection based more on the kind of tennis that you play ( e.g., grass, baseline, etc.).

To enhance the fit of your tennis shoe you should select a cushioning sock and be sure to lace up properly. A good lacing system will hold your foot snugly in place and won’t loosen or require frequent re-tying due to repeated side-to-side movement. If you are prone to ankle rollover you should consider a higher cut shoe to give you more support.

When Should You Replace Your Tennis Shoes?

The standard says that you should replace your tennis shoes after 500 miles of wear. Trying to estimate when you may have managed 500 miles in your tennis shoes would be difficult indeed, however there are signs of wear that can be seen in shoes that are failing. If you notice the tread pattern on the outsole has become less distinct with smooth spots emerging, you risk slipping and possible injury on court. Some players may not see much change in their tread wear, however after a year of regular play, a tennis shoe has lost enough of its lateral support and cushioning to justify replacement. Some players drag the toe of their shoe forward as they serve and this causes rapid wear of the tennis shoe. In that case, you will need to replace your shoes more frequently than once a year.

Filed under: U.S. Open

This is when a suspension is not a suspension, a major fine is not a major fine.

It took months to figure this out, how to word it perfectly, but on Monday, the International Tennis Federation did it.

It gave Serena Williams a punishment that wasn’t a punishment.

The $175,000 fine and three-year suspended ban from the U.S. Open and probationary period for her f-bomb laced, threatening tirade at a tiny U.S. Open line judge do sound like big words, don’t they?

They aren’t. Break it down, and Williams will end up paying just $82,500. She recently referred to $50,000 as the furniture budget in her home remodeling.

If she doesn’t have another major outburst, the fine is cut to that number, and the suspension thrown out. She will not miss a tournament. Her debt will be paid.

Look, the fine means nothing to Williams. She won’t feel it. But the ITF can say that it’s a record size.

OK, Serena? Is this OK with you?

I can only imagine ITF officials pleading with her to please, please let them appear to be an actual governing body.

You remember what happened. The line judge called footfault on Williams, who then waved her racquet in the judge’s face and threatened to take the “(f-ing) ball” and shove it down her “(f-ing) throat.”

That led to a point penalty on match point. So the match was over.

Let’s be honest: Race is an issue. It always is with tennis and the Williams sisters. Some people will think Williams was given a record fine because she’s black. Others will think she was given a pass because she’s black.

Some people think she was the bully, some think she was victim of a bad call.

The ITF doesn’t really care what’s right. That was never an issue. The only issue was this: How do you give a penalty that looks big but isn’t?

The point isn’t that she was punished too much or too little, but rather that it was a non-justice based on non-truths, when true leadership was crying out because people’s real feelings were involved about the game, Williams, race, and sportsmanship.

The feelings are so real that some people insist the video evidence proves she never footfaulted. Others demand the video evidence proved she did.

Here’s the truth: There is no camera shot, video or still, that can determine anything.

There are lots of truths missing here, a mess that has made tennis look uglier than ever. Williams’ smokescreen reasons for her tantrum, her “punishment,” the ITF’s naked self-interest, John McEnroe’s irresponsibility.

The ITF let this thing drag on so long that hard feelings only grew. It became a social debate lining up mostly along racial lines.

So the ITF points out that this is the biggest fine ever at a major. Jeff Tarango got about half as much for storming off at Wimbledon and calling a chair ump corrupt. His wife later slapped the judge, too.

Of course, the ITF doesn’t mention that Tarango was also banned from two majors. McEnroe was once suspended for two months.

But McEnroe had been a brat for years, and that could have been a career-achievement punishment. Serena has not behaved bad nearly as often, though she did threaten a player who cheated her at this year’s French Open. In fact, one tennis official told the New York Times, “We’re not talking about a John McEnroe type character here.”

Here was the telling quote, a bit of truth, from ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti a few weeks ago:

“I don’t think (an Australian Open ban) would make much sense, because it would penalize the people handing out the punishment. For the grand slam committee to exclude her from a grand slam doesn’t seem likely.

“A significant financial penalty makes more sense. But it has to be significant enough for the fans.”

They didn’t want to kick her out of a major tournament because that would hurt the tournament. How is that’s a concern to a governing body?

And they wanted a fine big enough to look like justice, not to serve it.

Let’s go back over what really happened, over the truth.

Williams was in the semifinals of the U.S. Open playing Kim Clijsters in a tight match. Williams had been spouting off all year about how she was the real No. 1, not No. 1 ranked Dinara Safina. That had racial overtones. So did the sudden popularity of teenager Melanie Oudin, a white girl from the South, at the Open. How much of her appeal was that she was the great white hope?

So that was the setting. And Clijsters, just back from a 2 1/2-year break, was beating Williams. Williams was two points from losing when she was called for footfault on her second serve.

Did she footfault? Yes. Absolutely.

I was sitting just behind the line judge, several rows back. Other media members were sitting there too. She clearly stepped way out onto the thick baseline.

But that’s not really the point. With several chances, Williams could not bring herself to play the final point. Why?

Because to her, that was less embarrassing than losing to a woman just back from maternity leave.
Williams quit this match, not planning to get thrown out, but knowing at some level that she would.

Meanwhile, McEnroe, still the face of the game in many ways, was on TV ripping the line judge, saying he didn’t see a footfault and that a judge doesn’t make calls like that such in a crucial situation. Juan Martin del Potro, by the way, was called for a footfault in a crucial third-set tiebreaker last week during the ATP Finals.

But whatever, McEnroe, famous for being a jerk to officials, was irresponsibly and unwittingly fueling a racial debate even though there was this truth:

From where he was sitting, he could not have seen whether Williams had actually foot-faulted.

The next day, Williams issued a statement calling it an “unfair line call.” The day after that, with endorsers presumably upset, she issued a real apology.

She went on to win the tour championship, reclaim the No. 1 ranking, appear nude on the cover of ESPN the Magazine, pitch her new book, appear on Leno and every other show.

Did she get away with this? Obviously.

But was justice served? Well, that was never a consideration.

Email me at gregcouch09@aol.com

Tennis Deserves Fault for Serena’s Flawed Justice originally appeared on Tennis FanHouse on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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