Among the much-needed equipment for winning a game of tennis is good, court-specific tennis shoes. Whether the hard court, grass court or clay court, the best tennis shoe brands are fighting it out to deliver the perfect tennis shoe models in terms of features, comfort, and durability. Tennis connoisseurs are in a fix when it comes to buying the one perfect pair they wish to own. What with being spoiled for choices with a myriad of competent options to choose from.
Tennis shoes for hard court surface can be identified easily. Some distinct and useful features set them apart from regular tennis shoes. Made to face the abrasive hard court surfaces, these tennis shoes are made stronger. In fact, comprising highly durable components, hard court tennis shoes are often considered stiff. These shoes have patterned rubber outsoles for optimum traction. At the same time, they need some extra cushioning to guard the knees and ankles from shock as players jump and dive on the hard court.
A player’s choice of such tennis shoes can be further narrowed down based on medical/health issues, particularly surgeries, flat feet, nerve issues, knee and joint problems, etc. Under such conditions, you need to check out important factors like the toe-box, heel and toe guards, arch support, midfoot cushioning and so on.
With literally a pool of choices in hand, how do players zero in on their final choice of hard court shoes?
For your quick reference, we have listed our pick of the nine best tennis hard court shoes. All of them are unique and best in their own right. Select one of these to play on hard court surface.
9 Best Shoes to play Tennis on Hard Court
1. New Balance Women’s 696 V4 Tennis Shoe
Conforming with the hard court shoe requirements, it has a full-length NDurance outsole for superior traction.
2. Nike Women’s Tennis Air Zoom Vapor Cage 4
Its distinctive feature is its Zoom air unit at the forefoot adding a springy sensation with every stride.
3. New Balance Women’s FuelCell 996 V4 Tennis Shoe for Hard Court
Its FuelCell midsole brings optimum cushioning with Hypoknit upper for flexibility and support.
4. Babolat Mens Propulse Rage Cushioned Supportive All Court Tennis Shoes
These tennis shoes for men have distinctive qualities that make them suitable for almost all court surfaces.
5. ASICS Women’s Gel-Dedicate 6 Tennis Shoes
ASICS’ Gel cushioning technology in the forefoot provides enough cushioning to guard your feet and ankles during aggressive shots at hard courts.
6. Wilson Women’s KAOS 3.0 SFT Tennis Shoes
The KAOS 3.0 is equipped with forefoot and lateral reinforcements. What’s more, Df2 brings a cushioned court feel to your feet.
7. adidas Men’s Adizero Club Tennis Shoe
Adidas etches out the most innovative and competent shoes ever, accumulating the best sports science expertise ever.
8. K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express Tennis Shoe
K-Swiss’ durable rubber Aosta 7.0 outsole suits the abrasive hard court surfaces the best.
9. HEAD Men’s Sprint Pro 3.0 Tennis Shoe
The features that set it apart are the TPU heel cap and the 3D foot shaft for optimum tractional rigidity, so essential for hard court surfaces. What’s more, its hybrid profile can easily suit clay and grass courts as well.
Features of Hard Court Tennis Shoes
These tennis shoes are sturdier compared to clay court and grass court shoes. They are made to shield your legs and feet from the harshness of the hard court surfaces. They bring better grip, making sure you do not fall and hurt yourself during matches. It can be really painful if you do. Go for properly cushioned tennis shoes for hard courts that have herringbone-patterned outsoles. You can rest assured of the traction such hard court tennis shoes promise. The midsole cushioning along with heel and toe guards protect your knees and ankles from unwanted shocks during play. Made from the most durable materials around, these tennis shoes are long lasting as well.
They can easily survive 3 to 6 months of continuous usage. Added bonus is that these tennis shoes can be safely used on clay and grass courts as well. Having non-marking rubber outsoles, rest assured they do not leave impressions on the clay court surfaces!
Wearing Clay Court Tennis Shoes on Hard Courts
Anyone can wear clay court shoes for hard court matches if they wish to, but it can prove to be a bit risky. Basic features of clay court tennis shoes are different from those of hard court ones. They can be harmful for your legs, as they lack sufficient traction. Also, they are lighter and not sufficiently durable. From continuous usage on hard courts, chances are they wear themselves out soon. In case you are a newcomer to the game, it’s better to begin with hard court shoes that have lesser traction.
Can you use Grass court shoes to play on hard courts?
Grass court shoes are usually soft and slippery. Unlike hard court shoes, they do not have thick outsoles and midsole cushioning as they are not made to face the abrasive court surfaces. It is better not to wear them for hard court matches.
Tennis shoes with medium traction on hard court
The best choice of hard court tennis shoes having medium traction are K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express Tennis Shoe and ASICS Women’s Gel-Dedicate 6 Tennis Shoes. Given tennis shoes for hard court are stiff, you might find it difficult to slide if you are not quite used to wearing little stiff tennis shoes. What if you hurt your knees in the process? So, you can start out with clay court tennis shoes for initial practice sessions.
Summing Up
The most important takeaway for our readers is not to compromise on their tennis shoes, be it any court. While hard court shoes are suitable for all court surfaces, it isn’t true the other way round. So, buy your tennis shoes with care. And make sure you do them enough justice. Feel free to share your views and doubts with us. We will surely try and address them for our readers. Don’t settle for anything but the best!
