6 Best Tennis Shoes in 2024

Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker on
6 Best Tennis Shoes in 2024
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Disclaimer: This guide will be covering athletic tennis shoes that are used for playing on the court. If you are after a pair of casual sneakers, see our selection of tennis-inspired kicks.

When you are just starting out, all tennis shoes appear the same. However, the way they feel and perform on the court can vary greatly. We have tested tennis shoes from different brands to help you find the one that works best for you.

Some tennis shoes are made for nimble players, others have more cushioning or stability for the most aggressive playing styles. When in doubt, just go with the top picks we selected in various categories.

How we test tennis shoes

At RunRepeat, we do not let a tennis shoe release pass unnoticed. We are proud experts in scrutinizing each model deliberately. To deliver you a downright honest view and observation:

  • We buy all the tennis shoes that we are going to test using our own funds. We do not accept sponsorships or any form of assistance from anyone, especially the brands.
  • We wear each tennis shoe in games of tennis and pickleball. While on our feet, we try to gauge and assess how the shoes perform on clay courts and hard courts, as well as how they generally respond to sudden stops and quick movements.
  • Then we take the shoe to our lab and perform over 30 different tests and measurements that indicate parameters such as stack height, midsole softness, flexibility, and many more.

 

Best tennis shoes overall

ASICS Court FF 3
84
Great!

What makes it the best?

The king of all tennis shoes is the ASICS Court FF 3 and its game-optimizing features serve as a testament to its superiority. This shoe has no issue facing frequent wear because of its reliable construction. And on the game proper, it proves to be energy-saving every landing and supportive on every position shift.

 

In our lab, we measured its midsole’s softness. With a 31.5 HA value displayed on our durometer, this shoe’s midsole falls within the average, granting us supreme responsiveness and extra stability on the court. Although we subjected Court FF 3 to a lot of games, the outsole remained intact. As it turned out, our durometer detected the outsole hardness at 85.3 HC, which is close to the 87.3 HC average. When we applied our Dremel to the outsole, a 0.4 mm dent was derived, which has 0.1 mm less depth than the average.

Our caliper recorded heel and forefoot stack heights of 28.8 mm and 20.6 mm. While the amount of cushioning is average, with a 6.3% lesser difference than their averages, we didn’t feel the need for more since the dual-density foam and the incorporated gel inserts took care of the impact protection and smooth propulsions.

We found the ASICS Court FF 3 snug. With our caliper, we realized that the 101.8 mm width across the widest part of its toebox is just standard among tennis shoes. If you require more room for your toes, we advise getting the pair in a larger size or opting for other wide-fitting tennis shoes.

Pros

  • Top-notch abrasion resistance
  • Excellent impact protection in the heel
  • Responsive and propelling cushioning
  • Unmatched foot containment
  • Exceptionally stable platform
  • Fantastic grip and sliding
  • Very comfortable in-shoe feel

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Not for wide feet
  • High price
Full review of ASICS Court FF 3

Best lightweight tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro is the best lightweight tennis shoe because it’s the most burden-relieving and strain-easing shoe we’ve ever used playing. Its crowning glory is its incredible lightness doesn’t leave any repercussions on the shoe’s stability and performance on the court.

We felt the agility rushing through our feet and legs, on account of the weightlessness of this shoe. We noted a weight of 12.10 oz (343g) in our lab, but on foot, it gave the impression that we were shoeless. Despite its lightweight sensation, Vapor Pro didn’t compromise our steadiness in this shoe. We confirmed this using our caliper, which registered a midsole width of 113.5 mm in the forefoot and 84.8 mm in the heel. This ensured our secure footing during side-to-side shifts.

Keeping our feet and ankles contained is the snug fit of Vapor Pro. We checked this in our lab using our caliper and we measured the broadest part of the toebox to be 98.2 mm, which is indeed foot-hugging.

While the fit is supportive, we discovered that the upper isn’t integrated with any safeguarding elements. Looking into its upper through our microscope, we verified that there are no protective overlays. If this is a deal-breaker for you, we suggest seeking more protective upper tennis shoes.

Pros

  • Extremely light
  • Breathable upper
  • Responsive cushioning
  • Stable platform
  • Glove-like fit
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Grippy outsole

Cons

  • Constricting plastic wall
  • Lacks durability
  • Break-in needed
Full review of NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro

Best tennis shoes for speed

What makes it the best?

We believe that the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 is truly one of the best options you can get for dashing all over the court. Ultralight and sleek, it disappeared on our feet during the playtest. The shoe made us feel connected with the court and nimble on our toes. Not to mention that it felt incredibly responsive to every micro-adjustment of our feet. A true winner among speed-oriented tennis shoes!

Pros

  • One of the lightest tennis shoes on the market
  • Fantastic wear resistance and durability
  • Exceptionally breathable for a tennis shoe
  • Grounded platform with a great court feel
  • Shank adds propulsion and facilitates speed
  • Rockered heel makes transitions faster and smoother
  • Solid stability for a speed-oriented shoe
  • Perfect grip with enough give

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Not very stable for baseline players
Full review of Asics Solution Speed FF 3

Tennis shoes with the best durability

What makes it the best?

Establishing superiority in durability among all the other tennis shoes we’ve tested, ASICS Gel Resolution 9 has utterly fascinated us. We discovered that this tennis shoe is the perfect pair for engaging fiercely on the court because apart from its first-rate quality, it is energy-efficient, protective, and extremely grippy!

We exposed this shoe to our Dremel tool and the result led us to believe that it would last us a long time. The upper acquired no scathes or damage, getting a 5/5 in durability. Meanwhile, the outsole only obtained a subtle groove of 0.4 mm, which is just like the average. Plus, on the court, even if we skid and halt abruptly, the outsole kept its integrity. Speaking of quick movements, we also felt safe playing in Gel Resolution 9 without uncontrollably sliding because of its notable traction. At a hardness of 85.5 HC, the outsole sits around the average and ensures grip and endurance.

Moreover, we love that our feet are guarded from any impact caused by our forceful motions. This is all thanks to the effective shock absorption brought by the heel and forefoot stack heights of 32.5 mm and 21.6 mm which only exhibited a 5.5% and 4.3% greater difference from their averages, respectively. Unfortunately, when it comes to weight, Gel Resolution 9 bears slight heaviness at 13.86 oz (393g), surpassing other tennis pairs' weight by 5.6%. If you prioritize a weightless feel in your tennis shoes, we suggest investing in other lightweight pairs.

Pros

  • Immensely stable and supportive
  • Highly secure foothold
  • Unbeatable durability
  • Amazing impact protection and responsiveness
  • Incredible in-shoe comfort
  • Provides arch support
  • Excellent grip but can slide as well

Cons

  • Slightly heavy
  • A little break-in needed
Full review of ASICS Gel Resolution 9

Best tennis shoes for beginners

What makes it the best?

The tennis shoe that we 100% vouch is perfect for beginners is the ASICS Gel Challenger 14. This does not intimidate the tennis newcomers but it certainly makes all the difference when inside the court. What makes it much more enticing to novices is its affordable price of $100, which is 24% cheaper than most tennis shoes. 

Another thing that makes the Gel Challenger 14 ideal for beginners is the absence of a heavy weight. It came in at 12.49 oz (354g), which is the typical weight of tennis shoes. We felt agile and free from fatigue, thanks to its lightness. 

Moving our feet also felt natural because of Gel Challenger 14’s lack of stiffness. The reading that our digital force gauge acquired upon bending the shoe at 90 degrees was 23.2N, which means that it conforms smoothly to bending. It also means that it is 33% more flexible than average.

We discovered that the quality of Gel Challenger 14 is less than stellar. With our Dremel, we found that the toebox doesn’t withstand the tool’s abrasiveness very well, while the heel padding fared even worse, getting 3/5 and 1/5 durability scores, respectively. Due to this, we suggest searching for other robust tennis pairs if this is one of your primary requirements.

Pros

  • Excellent stability and arch support
  • Super hard-wearing outsole
  • Grip of a top-tier tennis shoe
  • Light for a stability-oriented shoe
  • Lots of impact protection
  • Plush and cushy in-shoe feel
  • More flexible than average

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Upper is not so abrasion-resistant
Full review of Asics Gel Challenger 14

Best budget tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

We determined the finest cost-effective tennis shoe among all the shoes we have tried and it is the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2. It might be 20.2% more competitively priced than the average tennis shoe but it offers boundless worth on the court, from immense support for vigorous footwork to tremendous comfort!

We are utterly dazzled by the support and protection that the Hypercourt Express 2 offers. We are safely contained in this shoe during our lateral maneuvers. Upon shifting our weights side to side, all we could say was that the stability was remarkable. We further tested this by manually twisting the shoe, which we concluded by giving it a 4/5 rating in torsional rigidity. This granted us dynamic movements in the court with a superb level of confidence. 

While generally, softer outsoles have better traction, we found that the shoe’s 91 HC hard outsole, 5.9% firmer than the average, gripped fantastically during our games. This allowed bold stops and advances inside the court.

However, we found that this shoe is wide-fitting, which is something that we believe might not be advantageous for players with slim feet. The widest part of the toebox spans 104.1 mm, 3.1 mm broader than most tennis pairs. If you have narrow feet and would prefer a skintight hug from a shoe, we recommend checking out other wide options.

Pros

  • Light and nimble on the feet
  • Mind-blowing durability for the price
  • Well-balanced soft cushioning
  • Wide and stable platform for a speed shoe
  • Excellent grip and give
  • Amazing in-shoe comfort
  • Ideal for wide feet

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Not for narrow feet
Full review of K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2

How to choose tennis shoes

To achieve the best experience on the court, your tennis footwear must match the following:

  • your court type (hard or clay)
  • your playing style (agile or aggressive)

Above else, tennis shoes are categorized by the type of court they are intended for. The most common ones today are hard-court and clay-court tennis shoes. You might as well come across tennis shoes marked as "AC," of "all court." As the name suggests, these are suitable for both.

The brands most often release the same model in both hard-court and clay variations.

Hard court tennis shoes

Hard Court
Court characteristics
  • made of concrete or asphalt, covered with an acrylic top
  • tough, faster game, higher traction, harder on the body and shoes
Outsole

a multi-directional tread pattern allows for both grip and sliding; has the most durable outsole lugs

hard-court-tennis-shoe.JPG

Clay court tennis shoes

Clay Court
Court characteristics
  • made of crushed brick, stone, or shale
  • soft, slower game, less traction (can get slippery), easier on the body and shoes
Outsole

a full herringbone lug pattern allows sliding and doesn’t collect dust from the court

clay-court-tennis-shoe.jpg

Good to know

It is not recommended to use hard-court shoes on clay and vice versa. While it may not be a big problem for a game or two, for regular use, it is better to wear a court-specific or an all-court trainer.

  • Clay-court shoes on the hard court: high grip makes it difficult to slide on the court, which can be hard on the ankles and joints; the outsole wears out faster.
  • Hard-court shoes on clay: do not have the needed amount of grip; easily get clogged with clay dirt.

ASICS Court FF 3 Outsole durability

Tennis shoes based on playing styles

All tennis shoes can be roughly segmented into two categories based on the primary benefits they offer: speed and stability. Which one to choose depends on the type of player you are and your preferences for the shoe feel.

Speed-oriented tennis shoes

Speed.png

Best for agile, aggressive players who slide often

  • lighter than average: 10 oz (283g) - 12.5 oz (354g)
  • sleeker uppers with fewer overlays
  • stiffer midsoles for propulsion
  • less cushioning (25 mm - 30 mm of heel stack)

ASICS Solution Speed FF 2 flex

Stability-oriented tennis shoes

Stability.png

Best for baseline players who prefer solid and supportive shoes

  • heavier than average: 12.5 oz (355g) - 14.5 oz (411g)
  • feature supportive elements (often TPU shanks)
  • more abundant cushioning (29 mm - 33 mm)
  • thicker and sturdier upper overlays

ASICS Gel Resolution 9 review

In our lab, we measure over 30 parameters that help us determine whether a given tennis shoe belongs to the speedier bunch or the more stability-oriented category. We assess torsional rigidity, heel counter stiffness, and midsole width in particular.

Speed shoes are more pliable with an average score of 3 out of 5 on our stiffness scale.

Stability shoes are very rigid with an average score of 4 out of 5 on our stiffness scale.

Make sure you get the durability you need

Aggressive lateral movements, forceful slides, and toe dragging all put a serious toll on tennis footwear. So much so, that professional players blow through their pairs within weeks!

To put each tennis shoe through its paces, we convert hours of on-court playtesting into a series of demanding lab tests.

We apply a Dremel with a sandpaper tip to the most abrasion-prone areas of a tennis shoe: the toebox, the heel padding, and the outsole.

ASICS Court FF 3 Toebox durability

Based on the level of damage, we assess the shoe's toebox and heel padding durability on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most hard-wearing. Here is the list of tennis shoes that scored the best:

As for the outsole, we use a tread gauge to measure the depth of the dent created by 22 seconds of Dremel drilling. Shoes with the shallowest dents promise to have better outsole longevity:

More premium tennis shoes also come with a 6-month durability warranty. It is a one-time replacement guarantee that applies to tennis shoes that have sustained considerable outsole damage within 6 months from the day of purchase.

ASICS Court FF 3 lab test

Finding the best fit in tennis shoes

The shoe’s ability to hold your foot securely defines the level of grip, stability, and sure-footedness on the court.

ASICS Gel Resolution 9 fit

When you try on a pair of tennis shoes, check for the following signs of the right fit:

Heel: should be locked inside the heel counter and not slipping out.

Midfoot: the hold must be firm. Your foot should feel a brace-like containment as it is crucial for side-to-side stability on the court.

Forefoot: a little extra space in front of your longest toe, around 1-1.5 cm (½ inch). It allows for some wiggle room throughout the movement and accommodates foot swelling during longer games.

The fit should not be constricting on the ball of the foot, either. If you need more space, consider Wide or Extra Wide tennis shoes.

ASICS Gel Resolution 9 Toebox width at the widest part

We measure each shoe's toebox with a caliper in both the widest part and around the big toe.

ASICS Gel Resolution 9 Toebox width at the big toe

Even in the same size, different tennis shoes can vary in their toebox room. Here are the measurements we took for ten different models in a men's US size 9:

Can you wear sneakers as tennis shoes?

No, God, please, no.

We do not recommend wearing casual sneakers for tennis. Not just because they lack proper abrasion resistance but, more importantly, because they can lead to injuries due to lack of proper foot support!

Toe dragging is a very common movement in tennis. Which of these two shoes would you trust more as you slide in and out of the shot?

Adidas Barricade Clay 13 toe drag guard

The only type of sports footwear that is closest to tennis shoes is basketball shoes. However, they are not ideal either for several reasons listed below.

Reasons not to use other shoes for tennis

Sneakers and Running shoes

NOT recommended because they:

  • lack outsole durability for the wear-and-tear on the court
  • tread patterns are not sufficient for gripping and sliding
  • do not offer the same level of lateral support
  • have no protection from toe dragging

Basketball shoes

can be used because these shoes:

  • can be okay on hard courts
  • designed to support sudden stops, changes of direction, and lateral movements
  • low-top models will not hinder ankle movement

NOT recommended because they:

  • lack outsole durability and wear out faster from all the sliding and toe dragging
  • get slippery on clay courts, collect dirt easily
  • the higher ankle collars will constrain most tennis footwork techniques
  • may be too heavy and bulky for tennis

A Nike LeBron basketball shoe in action

Author
Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker
Brenton is an Australian with 20 years of experience coaching WTA and ATP professional tennis players, whom have won a total of 10 international professional Tournaments. Brenton holds a Degree in Sports Coaching and was the former Head Tennis Coach at the Japanese Government Sports Science Institute. Brenton was also a former Manager & Head Coach of Australia’s Governing Sporting Body, Tennis Australia, and has been a Dunlop International Advisory Board Member since 2010. Additionally, Brenton was the Head of Player development for World No 7 and two-time Grand Slam Champion Johan Kriek.