Playing Tennis Part 1 - Finding the Right Shoes

Tennis players need to have speed, good coordination, endurance, and be quick on their feet. All of this can be affected by the shoes on your feet. When you think of equipment associated with the sport of tennis you probably think about the ball, the racket, and the need for a properly sized court and net. However, so many people forget about the footwear.

Shoes should always be considered as one of the most important forms of equipment associated with almost every sport. Tennis players should wear tennis specific shoes in order to keep their feet healthy and happy. Dr. Tejas Pandya has come up with a few tips to help guide you in the right direction.

• Look for flexibility. Proper tennis shoes should be able to maneuver the excessive movements associated with the sport. Tennis involves a wide range of movements. From side-to-side steps, to the fast runs and the intense jumps, your shoes should be flexible enough to manage these quick and varying movements.

• Support the sides of your feet. The movements involved in a tennis match can often cause you to lean to the sides of your feet. For this reason, your shoes should have extra lateral support in order to reduce your risk of injury.

• Know your court. Tennis courts can be made of a variety of different materials. Your tennis match may take place on concrete, grass, or clay, and each holds a different set of requirements on the amount of support and cushioning you need from your shoes. Determine what kind of court you will be playing on and then choose your footwear accordingly.

• Be sport specific. A lot of tennis players are under the assumption that they can get by just fine with regular running shoes. However, Dr. Pandya urges you to wear tennis specific footwear. Running shoes are designed for different movements, and not those associated with the sport of tennis.  Therefore running shoes cannot properly protect your feet during a match.

Discovering the right shoe for your personal needs can be difficult due to the increasingly large variety available to you. The exact shape of your foot, your natural stride, and your posture can have a huge effect of the shoes your feet require. If you desire any additional help on finding the right tennis shoe, or would like to be fitted for a custom molded orthotic, contact our office at (518) 273-0053 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tejas Pandya.

References:

http://www.tennisexpress.com/info/buying-the-right-tennis-shoes.cfm
http://www.livestrong.com/article/211024-the-best-tennis-shoes-with-foot-support/

Related articles

• Your Guide to Running Shoes in 3 Easy Steps
• Do not run in tennis shoes!
• How to Choose the Best Tennis Shoes for Women