Best Women’s Tennis Sneakers For Clay, Hardcourt, and Grass Courts

Did you know that tennis sneaker choice depends entirely on tennis court surface? It’s true. Particular tennis sneakers are only allowed on specific courts. Keep reading to find out more!

Overview:

• Health Benefits of Playing Tennis
• Favorite Tennis Essentials
• Tennis is for all ages
• Four Tennis Court Types
• Best Tennis Sneakers for Clay Courts
• TIPS on finding your ideal tennis sneaker
• Best Tennis Sneakers for Hard Courts
• Best Tennis Sneakers for Grass Courts
• Sneakers for Carpet Courts
• Shop Tennis Essentials

This blog post will discuss Tennis sneaker options, the health benefits of playing tennis, and tips for buying tennis sneakers. First up are the health and social benefits of playing tennis.

Health Benefits of Playing Tennis

Tennis is one of my favorite sports. If you haven’t played before, consider trying it! Tennis players have incredible fit bodies. It’s also a fun social sport that’s great for making friends, meeting new people, and even job networking. Tennis can be a romantic and competitive sport to play with a significant other. For example, couples who ‘play tennis together stay together’ –look at Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf (famous tennis champs). They have two teenage children and have been playing tennis together since the late 1990s.

Health benefits cont.

Before discussing tennis sneakers, I must mention the many health benefits of playing tennis. While playing, you use many back and forth movements which helps build muscle tone, especially in your legs. These muscle movements help strengthen your bones. Bone strengthening prevents things like osteoporosis and low bone density as we age.

The rapid fast movements and endurance cardio that occurs while you play (that out-of-breath feeling when running after the ball) also decreases cardiovascular issues and diabetes risks. Tennis is also a highly competitive sport. When playing, you’re required to make quick decisions by placing a tennis ball where your opponent is not. These rapid responses generate nerve connections in your brain, which are essential for optimal brain function. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link at no extra cost to you. Shoe suggestions do not replace an examination by a licensed podiatric physician. See Terms.)

Favorite Tennis Essentials: to shop select images below photo

In addition to health benefits, regular tennis playing will boost your feel-good hormones and ease stress. It’s the perfect sport to play after an exam or after work. Your mind will be so focused on the game that your stress will disappear!

Tennis: for all ages and athletic abilities

All ages and skill levels can play tennis. Unlike sports such as cheerleading or gymnastics, which require strenuous flexibility, you can play tennis throughout your lifetime. In comparison to skiing or golf, this sport doesn’t require expensive equipment. Unlike a costly ski lift ticket or a golf club membership, free tennis courts are aplenty! Here’s a link to access free public tennis courts in your town or city. There is also meetup.com which can help connect you to other tennis players in your area based on skill level.

Besides a tennis court and a game partner, the equipment required to play are sneakers, a racquet, and a three-pack of $5 tennis balls. Now that I’ve swayed you on all the costs and health benefits of playing, let’s discuss tennis sneaker choices before you hit the courts.

Tennis Sneaker Choices vs. Court Types

Even if you are a beginner or an avid player at your local tennis club, sneaker choices are essential when it comes to playing your best game. Your sneaker choice is dependent on the type of surface you plan to play on. Different types of court surfaces require different types of sneakers. Let’s dive into the different court types, and then I’ll list some examples of tennis sneakers and why I like each one.

There are four types of tennis court surfaces: Clay courts, Hard Courts, Grass Courts, and Carpet Courts. I will explain each type of court then suggest sneakers for every kind of court. 

Best Sneakers for Clay Courts: a Backstory

A personal backstory:The first time I attempted to play tennis in Central Park, I wasn’t allowed on the courts. Imagine showing up with your tennis gear, waiting with your tennis partner, and not being allowed to play! Unbeknownst to me, I wasn’t wearing the correct sneakers for clay courts (so embarrassing for a shoe-loving podiatrist!). Now I know WHY you need unique sneakers to play on clay courts: Clay courts contain crushed shale, stone, or brick. They are costly to maintain. The grooves on the bottom of a regular sneaker or cross-trainers disrupt the clay’s smooth surface, potentially destroying the delicate courts. Hopefully, this blog post saves you from my past mistake! Next, I will discuss a few of my favorite clay court tennis sneakers.

Best Tennis Sneakers for Clay Courts

• Adidas Women’s Gamecourt Training Tennis Shoes
  • Adidas is one of my go-to brands for running and cross-training. The sneakers contain abrasion-resistant toe protection. In addition to being a medium-weight sneaker, they have EVA cloud foam protection during play. Lightweight with Cloudfoam technology, they also offer daylong foot and ankle support. These sneakers cost $64.99 are available in white. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

• Nike Court Lite 2 Tennis Shoes
  • I like my Nike Court Lite Tennis Shoes because they are lightweight, have excellent arch support, and come in medium or wide widths. The combination of leather and mesh holds their shape, too, unlike cloth sneakers. They also contain an added layer to protect your toes. Bonus: they are super easy to clean and keep white. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

• Prince Women’s T22 Tennis Shoes
  • This Prince sneaker is one of the best clay-court sneakers for ankle support. The design helps support the ankle from rolling in or out when running for the tennis ball. If you suffer from bunions or hammertoes, this sneaker is also ideal for you. This is because the shoes are a bit roomier in the toe box than other tennis clay court models. In addition, the sneaker contains thick support in the heel for ideal shock absorption during play. This high-quality tennis sneaker costs $89. What’s not to love about it? CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

Two more clay court options

• ASICS Women’s GEL-Dedicate 5 Tennis Shoes
  • ASICS gel sneakers offer a very supportive arch and reasonable control on clay tennis courts. The sneakers have a breathable mesh upper with a comfortable fabric lining. ASICS sneakers consist of forefoot GEL cushioning which helps with shock absorption while running for a tennis ball. ASICS, in my opinion, has excellent arch support. Therefore, I recommend this sneaker for tennis players who suffer from plantar fasciitis. This GEL-dedicate, perfect for beginners, is currently priced at $69.95. Such a good deal! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

• Mizuno Wave All court Tennis Sneaker
  • This sneaker is both a clay court shoe and a hard court shoe. Most importantly, it’s lightweight with good ankle support. It’s available in size 6 though 11 and costs $72.99. The sneaker is unique because the company offers a six-month outsole warranty. To explain further, when the shoe becomes slippery and loses its grip, the manufacturer will replace it for free! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

Tips on finding your ideal brand of tennis sneakers.

First tip: An essential quality to look for in a tennis sneaker is motion control. Tennis requires back and forth foot movements, similar to the actions in basketball. Without quality sneaker control, your game can suffer, or worse; you can get injured. To avoid injury, look for sneakers with adequate mid-foot control and try not to wear sneakers made of all mesh or fabric.

Second tip: If you plan on learning tennis, invest in clay court sneakers. These will be useful for future tennis club invites. In addition, clay court sneakers are the most versatile of all tennis sneakers. Plus, there’s an advantage with playing on clay courts: the tennis ball bounces slower and is easier to return. For these reasons, I highly advise beginners to play on clay courts. Expert players, for example, also love clay courts; the famous French Open is on clay courts.

Third tip: If you run or workout at the gym in a basic running sneaker, you may want to branch out from your usual ‘goto’ sneaker brand. For example, I run in Adidas and ASICS, but I play tennis in Nike. Moreover, I feel that Nike offers superior control while playing tennis. I don’t enjoy running or working out in Nike. In addition, Some tennis racquet companies have their line of sneakers, i.e., Prince. Prince specializes in sneakers for tennis court movements such as serves and volleys. Next, let’s discuss hard court tennis sneakers.

Tennis Sneakers for Hard Courts: an overview

Hard courts are more common than clay courts because they are less expensive to maintain. However, this makes hard courts more accessible. They naturally consist of rigid materials. The rigidity of the hardcourt allows more bounce to a tennis ball. Traditionally, the cover of a hard court is acrylic, similar to the courts used in the Australian Open. The hardcourt category also includes a basic blacktop tennis court that you may have played on during your middle school gym class.

For this type of court, I suggest either traditional tennis sneakers or cross-training sneakers. Allow me to explain. Tennis requires rapid back and forth movements, and therefore cross-trainers are designed for this type of stop and go foot motion. Wearing a traditional runner sneaker for tennis will not work because running sneakers are best for forwarding motion. Alternatively, tennis requires a lot of stop-and-go action. So the bottom line is: you might suck at playing tennis in running sneakers, but in cross-trainers, you’re a total pro, just like Serena!

Best Sneakers for Hard Courts

• New Balance Women’s 696 V4 Hard Court Tennis Shoe
  • New Balance sneakers contain a superior sneaker foam that is excellent for shock absorption. This sneaker will certainly help cushion your joints during play and will be ideal for foot arthritis. While providing excellent traction, you’ll be sure not to miss any shots wearing these! This sneaker also promises long-lasting durability for wear. If you’re bored of the traditional “tennis whites,” this sneaker is available in a variety of fun colors as well. This hard court sneaker costs $64.95. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

• Serena Williams Favorite: Nike Flare 2 Hard Court
  • The Queen of tennis loves wearing this sleek Nike hard court sneaker. I admire her excellent taste in sneaker design; the metallic mesh is gorgeous! This sneaker specializes in speed on hard courts for more aggressive and competitive play. Nike Flare sneaker, priced at $167.20, was designed for a more advanced tennis player. Unfortunately, this is not the shoe for you if you suffer from ankle arthritis or chronic ankle sprains. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

Two more hard court options

• Nike Womens Air Zoom Vapor X Hc Hard Court Tennis Shoe
  • This Nike Tennis Sneaker has a padded collar which provides additional comfort. The toe area contains added protection from built-up rubber reinforcement. In addition, it’s considered a low-profile and lightweight sneaker. Your feet will not tire or drag in these on the courts! The sneaker is available on Amazon for $137.45. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

• Wilson RUSH PRO 3.0 Tennis Shoes Women
  • This sneaker works well for high arched feet because it limits supination during running. It also helps control pivot motions while playing. Most importantly, the TPU heel counter provides stability and arch support necessary for tennis movements. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP.

Tennis Sneakers for Grass Courts

Grass tennis courts consist of (you guessed it!) – GRASS with hard-packed soil. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the opportunity to play on a grass court. Grass courts are incredibly rare in the US and are more expensive than Clay courts to maintain. Their prevalence is in the UK and Europe. For example, Wimbledon games occur on grass courts. Moreover, in the past, the US Open was held on grass until the 1970s. It’s now on hard court.

Unfortunately, grass courts are rare, but grass surfaces are the healthiest type of courts for our bodies to play on from a medical perspective. Allow me to explain: exercising and playing impact sports on grass allow optimal natural ground reaction forces on our joints. For example, this is why some Olympic runners train barefoot on grass and natural dirt surfaces. These surfaces may decrease long-term injuries. For more information on grass surface barefoot running, here’s a research link.

Lightweight minimalistic cross-trainers are the best sneaker choice for playing on grass courts. See choices below:

• Adidas Women’s Adizero Defiant Bounce 2 Tennis Shoes CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP

• Adidas Women’s CourtJam Bounce Tennis Shoes CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO SHOP

Tennis Sneakers for Carpet Courts

The last court category is carpet courts. They fall into the category of any make-shift tennis court with a removable surface with a rubber backing. Not many tournaments play on carpet courts. From my research, carpet courts are used mainly in Asia. All-terrain tennis court shoes work just fine for this category.

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Hope this guide on the different types of tennis shoes is useful to you!

Do you have a favorite tennis shoe suggestion? Please leave a comment below!