If you are a beginner in tennis, then tennis shoes will be the last thing you would think about. You might think of wearing your regular running shoes and focus on finding the right tennis racquet more.
But that is not the case. As someone who has been playing tennis for years, I can assure you one thing, using the right tennis shoe can have a substantial effect on your performance. Unlike your running shoes, tennis shoes are built differently and have certain specialized characteristics.
They are lightweight and deliver more stability. Since tennis is a game that requires rigorous sideways movements, rather than forward movement, as in running. Hence, tennis shoes should be able to provide support to the player’s foot to execute sideways movements smoothly.
Now, once you have decided to get a tennis shoe for yourself, the problem is how can you get the best tennis shoes?
The answer to this question depends on several factors. These include durability, material, cushioning effect, weight, design, grip, and many more.
The wide range of options in the market makes it quite difficult to find the right tennis shoe. In this article, we will discuss some prominent tennis shoe brands and what makes them distinct from others.
Top Tennis Shoe Brands in 2021
1. Nike
Nike is one of the youngest tennis shoe brands, established in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. It was initially known as Blue Ribbon Sports.
Even though it is the youngest shoe brand, it is well-known for its high-quality products at an affordable price. Many pro players like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams prefer to wear Nike tennis shoes while playing. Moreover, Roger Federer was a Nike athlete for more than 20 years. In 2018, he signed a ten-year contract with Uniqlo. However, continues to wear Nike shoes while playing.
The main reason for the high popularity of Nike shoes is their durability. The material used is quite comfortable and provides support to the player’s foot. Also, most of the shoes are lightweight and come in a wide range of colors and designs.
Some of the popular Nike shoes are:
- Air Zoom Vapor – For men and women
- Air Zoom Cage – For men and women
- Air Zoom Zero – For men and women
- Flare – For Women
- Air Zoom Prestige – For men and women
2. Adidas
Just like Nike, Adidas also holds major dominance over the tennis shoe market. It was founded in the 1920s by the Dassler Brothers’, Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. Adidas was formerly called the Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory and used to manufacture shoes from their mother’s home.
In 1949, the two brothers split, giving rise to two major brands in the shoe industry that are Adidas by Adolf Dassler and Puma by Rudolf Dassler.
One of the main reasons why players prefer Adidas over other brands is their consideration of customer satisfaction. Adidas has always customized its products according to the preferences of the players.
One of the best-selling tennis shoes of Adidas is the Y-3 Series. It was like a turning point for the Adidas brand. It involves boost technology that uses TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane to protect from shock and bad vibrations.
Some of the best tennis shoes from Adidas are:
- Stycon – For men and women
- SoleCourt Boost – For men and women
- Adizero Ubersonic – For men and women
- Stella Barricade Boost – Women
- SoleMatch Bounce – For men and women
3. Asics
Asics is another great tennis shoe brand, however, not as popular as Nike and Adidas. It was established in 1949 and used to develop shoes for several sports like Basketball, Baseball, and Running shoes.
Due to their premium material and comfortable cushioning, Asics shoes are one the best tennis shoes in the market. It is the first choice for several great players such as David Goffin, Alex De Minaur, and most notably Novak Djokovic.
Moreover, the shoes are pretty lightweight and suitable for both men and women. They come with impressive durability and traction and allow you to smoothly move wherever you want. These are the perfect choice for players who want an optimum combination of speed and comfort and also helps you to deliver maximum playability.
Some of the best Asics tennis shoes are:
- Court FF – For men and women
- Gel Resolution – For men and women
- Solution Speed FF – For men and women
- Court Speed – For women
- Gel Challenger – For men and women
- Gel Game – For men and women
4. K-Swiss
K-Swiss was established by Swiss brothers, Art and Ernie Brunner in 1966. Although not as much popular as Nike, Adidas, or Asics, the premium products of K-Swiss speak for themselves. It is an iconic tennis shoe brand and is well respected among players.
Some of the famous athletes that prefer Swiss shoes are Anna Kournikova, the Bryan Brothers, Sam Querrey, and, more recently, Ajla Tomljanovic and Cameron Norrie.
The main reason for the popularity of K-Swiss is its affordable prices. You can get worthy shoe options for the court without going out of budget. Moreover, the shoes are stylish and pretty comfortable.
Some of the top K-Swiss tennis shoes are:
- Aero Kit – For men and women
- Hyper Court Supreme – For men and women
- Hyper Court Express – For men and women
- Aero Court – For men and women
5. New Balance
New Balance was established in 1906 by William J. Riley in Boston, MA. Initially, New Balance used to manufacture orthopedic footwear and arch supports. In 1938, New Balance launched its first running shoe. Then it started manufacturing athletic shoes for various sports like baseball, basketball, and more.
Today, tennis shoes are the primary focus of the brand. Athletes like Milos Raonic, the brand’s first true ambassador, Heather Watson, Danielle Collins, Nicole Gibbs, and more recently Cori Gauff prefer New Balance tennis shoes.
New Balance tennis shoes are pretty comfortable and allow you to easily execute the rigorous sideways movement.
Some of the great tennis shoes from New Balance are:
- Fresh Foam Lav – For men and women
- FuelCell 1996 – For men and women
- WC 806 – For men and women
- 1296 – For men and women
Wrapping it Up
These were some of the prominent tennis shoe brands that are known to produce high-quality products. However, when you are looking for the right tennis shoe, your main focus needs to be on comfort. These brands were just to narrow down your research for getting the best tennis shoe.
