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.

Guides

Best cushioned tennis shoes
Best cushioned tennis shoes

Regardless of the surface, you like to play on, we highly recommend investing in well-cushioned tennis shoes. They provide more bounce, comfort, and impact protection allowing you to perform more and[…]

Best lightweight tennis shoes
Best lightweight tennis shoes

Step up your game with any of these best-rated lightweight tennis shoes. We are a team of experts who scrutinised airy shoes and put together an impressive list of the best kicks that weigh less than[…]

Best cheap tennis shoes
Best cheap tennis shoes

Playing tennis doesn't have to be super expensive. Thanks to cheap tennis shoes that are ready to keep up with our pace. Cheap doesn't always mean haphazard. You'd be surprised that some cheap tennis[…]

Best hard court tennis shoes
Best hard court tennis shoes

Picking the right high-performance tennis shoes designed to take the abrasiveness of concrete can be daunting. So, to get the load off your back, we did the playtest for you and analysed every nitty-g[…]

Best ASICS tennis shoes
Best ASICS tennis shoes

Whether you're a diehard Novak Djokovic fan or an avid supporter of the Gel Resolution line, ASICS has grown in you as the authority in tennis shoes. And if you're a first-time wearer, you must be cur[…]

Best Adidas tennis shoes
Best Adidas tennis shoes

We wear-tested and lab-tested Adidas tennis shoes to extract the top-tiered ones worth adding to your tennis shoe racks. We spent over a week scrutinising the performance value of every pair of the Th[…]

Best Nike tennis shoes
Best Nike tennis shoes

Is it your first time to try Nike tennis shoes or you are about to park your old pair but uncertain which Swoosh to grab? We hope our highly recommended listings will help you in deciding which one to[…]

Best tennis shoes
Best tennis shoes

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 trainers, see our selection of tennis-inspired kicks. When you a[…]

Lab tests and in-depth reviews

New Balance FuelCell 996 v6
58
Bad!

One of New Balance's top offerings for tennis, we found the 996 v6 a solid performance shoe. Stable and propulsive, it accommodates fast and shifty movements all over the court. And it's a must to con[…]

New Balance 796 v4
76
Good!

The New Balance 796 v4 is an entry-level tennis shoe that simply gets the job done. We found that it ticks all the right boxes to make a racquet sports session enjoyable for most beginner and recreati[…]

NikeCourt Vapor Lite 2
77
Good!

Having thoroughly tested the Nike Vapour Lite 2, we found it to be one of the best tennis shoes under $100! It ticks all of the boxes that a beginner player needs to feel confident on the court. And i[…]

New Balance Coco CG2
76
Good!

The New Balance Coco CG 2 gave us some of the most explosive on-court experiences! With its snappy carbon plate, bouncy FuelCell foam, and many supportive features, the shoe immediately felt like our[…]

Reebok Nano Court
87
Great!

What seemed like a vibrant entrance into the tennis shoe market, turned out to be a work in progress. We were ready to fall in love with the Reebok Nano Court but the reality kicked in as our lab test[…]

On The ROGER Pro 2
68
Decent!

The On Roger Pro 2 is an eye-catcher for sure. But we were even more thrilled when this sleek silhouette made us feel lightning-fast on the court! We felt confident when cornering, making explosive sp[…]

NikeCourt Vapor Pro 2
84
Good!

A total revamp of the previous version, we found that the Nike Vapour Pro 2 takes the Vapour series away from super light and speedy shoes and makes a turn towards versatility. The Pro 2 carries an ex[…]

Babolat Jet Mach 3
91
Superb!

Do not let big brand names overshadow such an exceptional tennis shoe as the Babolat Jet Mach 3. As one of the lightest and most agile models in our roster, it truly impressed us as a speed-oriented s[…]

Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6
88
Great!

We found the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6 to be a very fun and nimble tennis shoe. Being lighter than average didn't make it any less stable or cushioned, based on our playtests and lab measurements. We[…]

Adidas Barricade 13
89
Great!

The Barricade 13 is a reimagined version of Adidas' premium stability shoe. Still dedicated to offering the highest level of stability, we found that this iteration got lighter, nimbler, and in many w[…]

Wilson Rush Pro 4.0
85
Good!

The Wilson Rush Pro 4.0 is not a shoe for narrow feet or players who prefer a very snug, one-to-one fit on their tennis shoes. With that off the table, we can recommend this moderately priced Wilson m[…]

NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor 11
91
Superb!

The NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapour 11 surprised us as a more substantial and stable member of the Vapour family. This edition sacrificed lightness for added lateral support but it e-Vapour-ated all our wor[…]

Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1
81
Good!

A mix of bouncy cushioning and planted stability becomes possible in Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1. The shoe's amazing energy return kept us in awe the entire session. Even though it is a heavy boy, it doe[…]

Nike GP Challenge Pro
89
Great!

As the more affordable version of the Nike Challenge 1, the Challenge Pro has a similarly stable and supportive design. Even though it makes small compromises here and there to keep the price down, we[…]

Asics Solution Speed FF 3
90
Great!

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 sho[…]

New Balance 796 v3
80
Good!

Yep, this one is light and cheap, but we urge you to not dismiss it yet when you are after that “steady-as-she-goes” support and stability because guess what? New Balance 796 v3 got those![…]

Adidas Barricade Clay
78
Good!

Adidas brings back the unspeakable stability of the Barricades in this refreshed design of the Barricade Clay. With very few tennis shoes living up to the same level of surefootedness, it continues to[…]

Adidas Barricade 13 Clay
80
Good!

If you are after a range-topping clay court shoe that embodies stability, we will recommend the Adidas Barricade 13 Clay above many other options. Part of the brand's premium series, it continues to a[…]

ASICS Gel Resolution 9 Clay
92
Superb!

You can't go wrong when you're getting the best, right? We were ecstatic about the comfort and performance offered by the ASICS Gel Resolution 9 Clay. It is truly one of the top-class tennis shoes you[…]

K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme
90
Great!

Optimised for speed and aggressive movements on the court, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Supreme felt like one with our feet. Whether we were taking off for a shot, stopping on a sixpence, or making a rapid[…]

Asics Gel Dedicate 8
79
Good!

If you are just trying your hand at tennis and aren't ready to invest in proper footwear, we can wholeheartedly recommend the ASICS Gel Dedicate 8. Even though it won't give you the ultimate experienc[…]

Asics Gel Challenger 14
80
Good!

We discovered that with the ASICS Gel Challenger 14, you can get the benefits of a more expensive tennis shoe for only $100! The primary advantage being its fantastic stability for forceful lateral mo[…]

Adidas Solematch Control
90
Great!

Dreaming of building up your confidence in swiftly switching directions in court while being shielded from foot discomfort? Your fantasy is a reality with Adidas Solematch Control! With a rubber mater[…]

Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4.1
82
Good!

A shoe that feels like one with the foot, we believe that the Adidas Ubersonic 4.1 is a successful edition of the brand's popular speed-oriented series. It stays light on foot without sacrificing stab[…]

New Balance FuelCell 996 v5
81
Good!

The New Balance FuelCell 996 v5 is a tennis shoe that steers the nimble 996 line in an unexpected direction. In one fell swoop, it ties up loose ends between comfort and stability without letting go o[…]

K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2
86
Great!

K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 deserves our admiration because of its comfortable, well-cushioned, and lightweight design. This tennis shoe pampered our feet straight from the box and it's the kind of s[…]

Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour
91
Superb!

Mizuno may not be the very first brand you think of when looking for a pair of tennis shoes. But if you give the Wave Enforce Tour a try, we promise that you will be pleasantly surprised. This pair ke[…]

ASICS Solution Speed FF 2
86
Great!

As a speed-oriented shoe, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2 has met our expectations of lightness and agility. But, boy, did it surprise us with stability and cushioning as well! We applaud ASICS for find[…]

ASICS Court FF 3
85
Good!

Marketed as ASICS' most advanced tennis shoe yet, we can attest that the Court FF 3 lives up to that claim! As our playtests and lab results show, it is a highly stable, locked-in shoe that is perfect[…]

ASICS Gel Resolution 9
91
Superb!

Putting forward a supreme level of stability and cushioning, we believe that ASICS Gel Resolution 9 is one of the pacesetters of today’s tennis game. With its ultimately durable construction, th[…]

ASICS Court FF 2
88
Great!

During our on-court testing, we proved that the ASICS Court FF 2 is a high-performance option for aggressive players like Novak Djokovic who want to step their game up a notch. We found that this dyna[…]

NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro
88
Great!

We discovered that Vapour Pro is a treat for quick players eyeing a speedy shoe in a multi-layered supportive build. It takes on the best features of the Vapour X without adding an ounce to its weight[…]