7 Best Cheap Tennis Shoes in 2023

Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker on
7 Best Cheap Tennis Shoes in 2023
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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 shoes are equipped for match days. 

We tagged all tennis shoes costing $110 and below as cheap finds. We placed these pairs, around 50 in total, into a two-week ground test to know which of them would excel against the rest. Whether you're a budget-conscious beginner, a recreational player, or a tennis pro, you'll easily find the most affordable footgear that we have investigated here. We also have a suggestion for highly supportive and ultra-shock-absorbing but inexpensive ones from our list. 

 

Best cheap tennis shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The ASICS Solution Swift FF is a tennis shoe that brings out the fun in tennis. With little weight to restrict freedom of movement and enough comfort and stability to care for players’ feet, the shoe feels truly at home on-court. At a friendly price, it’s a versatile pick that kicks around in style for casual tennis, other racquet sports, and even day-to-day use.

Pros

  • Well-padded interior
  • Sleek and elegant looks
  • Reasonable price
  • Speedy maneuvering
  • Enough stability
  • No break-in time
  • Functional in other sports and activities

Cons

  • Narrow fit
  • Low outsole durability
  • Low footbed comfort
Full review of ASICS Solution Swift FF

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Hot Pink (1041A298002)
Steel Blue/Hazard Green (1041A298401)
Black/Misty Pine (1041A298001)
White/Electric Blue (1041A298102)
WHITE/BLACK (1041A298100)
Restful Teal/White (1041A298402)
White/Antique Red (1041A298103)

Best cheap lightweight tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

If stability is a game, then Adidas CourtJam Control is definitely acing it! According to a wearer, this shoe promotes “stable foot control,” and other players couldn’t deny it. Even in the absence of plenty of cushioning, CourtJam Control still manages to pull through with its other winning attributes that make it, as one said, “all in all, a choice of champions!”

Pros

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Great stability and flexibility
  • Overall supportive
  • Lightweight
  • Great for speedy motions
  • Gives movement freedom
  • Very solid grip

Cons

  • Needs breaking in
  • Doesn’t last
Full review of Adidas CourtJam Control

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Negbás Ftwbla Negbás (GW2554)
Blue / Grey (ID1536)
White (ID1543)
Black (ID1535)
Team Navy Blue 2 Ftwr White Ftwr White (HQ8808)
Ftwr White Core Black Better Scarlet (HQ8469)
Ftwr White Core Black Ftwr Whi (GW2984)
Tonmen Azupul Ftwbla (GY4002)
Tinazu Rafazu Ftwbla (GW2985)

Cheap tennis shoes with the best cushioning

What makes it the best?

Starring at this Adidas Defiant Speed is the Bounce midsole, which is the cardinal contributor of long-standing pleasure and underfoot support to tennis players. It is like the shoe’s airy construction merged with its firm and nice outsole to yield that “perfect feel” that wearers don’t get tired of. Apart from the essentials-on-the-court features, this shoe also floors with its offered colorways that make the players even more spirited to smash.

Pros

  • Great arch support
  • All-day comfort
  • Trusted by coaches
  • Lightweight feel
  • Durable
  • Superb traction
  • Doesn’t cost a lot
  • Stunning color combinations

Cons

  • Needs breaking in
  • Lacks lateral support
Full review of Adidas Defiant Speed

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White/White/Preloved Blue (HQ8451)
Core Black/White/Lucid Lemon (ID1505)
White/White/Team Navy Blue (HQ8458)
Black/White/Grey (ID1507)
Light Aqua Off White Bright Royal (ID1506)
Core Black Blue Dawn Lucid Fuchsia (HQ8457)
Blue Fusion/White/Lucid Blue (HQ8455)

Cheap tennis shoes with the best durability

What makes it the best?

Yep, this one is light but don’t dismiss it yet when you are after that “steady-as-she-goes” support and stability, because guess what? New Balance 796 v3 got those! What’s good about this is it’s firm even in the absence of a shank, giving way to flexibility. Accessibility-wise in terms of budget? This one, thankfully, doesn’t make the buyers scratch their heads because it is available at an inexpensive value.

Pros

  • Provides support
  • Gives excellent stability
  • Allows trouble-free movement changes
  • Zero break-in
  • Super lightweight
  • Superb indoor and outdoor court traction
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • Unexpected tight fit
  • Skimped on padding and cushioning
Full review of New Balance 796 v3

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Magnet/Black/Vibrant Pink (CH796B3)
Nb White/Castlerock/Vibrant Violet (CH796W3)
Heritage Blue/Brighton Grey/White (CH796E3)

Most affordable tennis shoes

What makes it the most affordable?

The Gel Dedicate 7 is a budget-friendly model from ASICS which is perfect for beginner and recreational players. The shoe takes on the hard courts with stability as its major strength. Surefooted shifting side-to-side is definite in this shoe. In addition, it is also super grippy.

Pros

  • Excellent stability
  • Amazing grip
  • Affordably priced
  • Lightweight
  • Well-fitting
  • Supportive upper
  • Roomy toebox
  • Good court feel

Cons

  • Short laces
  • Lacks durability
  • Firm cushioning
  • Not so breathable
Full review of ASICS Gel Dedicate 7

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White Hot Pink (1041A223104)
Steel Blue/White (1041A223401)
Black/Island Blue (1041A223004)
White Black (1041A223100)
Black/White (1041A223001)
WHITE/LIGHT INDIGO (1041A223102)
Black Gunmetal (1041A223003)
WHITE/ELECTRIC BLUE (1041A223103)

Cheap tennis shoes with the best stability

What makes it the best?

ASICS Gel Game 9 has got game with its reinforcing construction that keeps the ankles in place no matter how zippy the twists and turns are. It might not have the widest toebox out there but for the fans, Gel Game 9 absolutely made up with performance. Plus, uncontrolled sliding is never an issue with this champ since it has a magnificent outsole that clings to the floor remarkably!

Pros

  • Fantastic side-to-side stability
  • Perfect for narrow feet
  • Great ankle support
  • Excellent traction
  • Lightweight and flexible
  • Anti-cuts and blisters
  • Very comfortable to play in

Cons

  • Disappointing quality
  • Necessitates break-in period
Full review of ASICS Gel Game 9

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White Black (1041A337100)
White/Steel Blue (1041A337101)
Black/Hot Pink (1041A337001)
Antique Red/White (1041A337600)
White/Restful Teal (1041A337102)
Thunfischblau Sonne Pfirsich (1041A396960)

Cheap tennis shoes with the best energy return

What makes it the best?

The NikeCourt Zoom Pro is a tennis shoe that screams agility. It provides players with a tireless and responsive run around the court, while also allowing them to slide into shots with accuracy. One may argue that it may need some reining in, but others have found use cases where this shoe shines.

Pros

  • Good lockdown
  • Effective traction for sliding
  • Closes vertical gaps quickly
  • Can be worn off the court
  • Comes at a low price
  • Provides arch support
  • Breathable even during hot days

Cons

  • Little lateral support
  • Upper breaks easily
Full review of NikeCourt Zoom Pro

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black White (DH0618010)
Obsidian Mist/Black-Mint Foam (DH0618410)
White Black (DH0618100)

Comparison of the 7 best cheap tennis shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

How we test tennis shoes

  • Buying the shoes is the first step. When we say we buy the shoes, we really invest in them using our own funds. We do not rely on anyone as we want to remain nonpartisan.
  • We do multiple playtests on each pair of shoes for a minimum of 4 hours a day for two weeks, mindful of vital parameters like stability, cushioning, traction, durability, flexibility, fit, weight, and so on.
  • We are nerdy about scores and quantities because we want to put more weight on the characteristics of the shoes. So we test them in our lab, measure various aspects, and compare the values to the mean. We also bring our saw machine to work by cutting the shoes open, revealing all their parts.

Important: As our pages are ads-free, our selection process for the "top picks" isn't influenced by advertisements. We bought every pair of tennis shoes that we subject to a rigorous wear test. None of these came free from our affiliate retailers or were given by the brands. 

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.