Tennis Shoes: A Buyer’s Guide
While the term ?tennis shoes? is commonly used in reference to athletic shoes of any type, you should not wear running shoes, walking shoes, or cross-trainers when playing tennis. These types of shoes do not provide the correct support and can increase the risk of foot and ankle injuries. In addition, such shoes can also damage the tennis court surface.
There are several criteria tennis players should consider when selecting tennis shoes. First, the court surface you primarily play on will dictate the type of tennis shoe you need. Second, the characteristics of your feet and body will determine what type of tennis shoe is most comfortable and effective. Finally, as with any type of shoe, different people value certain shoe attributes and qualities more than others.
Tennis players that play on hard court surfaces should choose tennis shoes that are durable and resistant to wear. Repeated play on hard (i.e. concrete) courts will wear the tread off the soles of tennis shoes. Loss of tread leads to loss of traction and increased slipping. In addition, the part of the tennis shoe that covers the big toes should have extra protection on the outside. 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 groundstrokes.
Tennis players that play primarily on soft court surfaces (i.e. clay) should select tennis shoes that are comfortable and provide good traction. Durability is less of a concern. It is also vital that the tennis shoe have a smooth, flat sole. The knobs and bumps found on the soles of running shoes and cross-trainers can damage clay court surfaces. In fact, most clay court facilities do not allow players to wear such shoes, instead requiring appropriate tennis shoes. Read more
Many Types Of Tennis Courts: Which Surface Is The Best For You?
You just moved to a new city to start a new job and you are now learning about the area. Where to shop, how to get around, and where the best exercise places are-but, you play tennis and need to find a tennis court that is reasonably close and that has time available to schedule playing time. Larger cities have many placed to play tennis including private clubs, public parks, and recreation centers.
Tennis courts come in one size and one shape, but they do have vastly different surfaces. Each different surface can directly affect the way you play your game and how well you do. Everyone has their favorite surface to play on and you are probably no exception.
There are several different surfaces that can be put on a tennis court. The two most common types of surfaces used around the world are clay and hard courts.
The clay can vary in color from sands, to red, to green or gray depending upon where it is built and the supplies available in that region. The clay courts are nice and soft on the feet, but it does need to be swept and watered on a regular basis to keep the clay from blowing away. Many private clubs have an automatic sprinkling system that go on every night after closing to water it down. Then, the clay also has time to dry before the court is opened to its members the next day. Read more