7 Best Tennis Shoes in 2023

Brenton Barker
Brenton Barker on
7 Best Tennis Shoes in 2023
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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 over 40 pairs of tennis shoes 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 active playing styles. When in doubt, just go with the top picks we selected in various categories.

To learn more about choosing tennis shoes based on the type of court and your playing style, read over our guide.

Best tennis shoes overall

ASICS Court FF 2
88
Superb!

What makes it the best?

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 dynamic shoe from ASICS is one of the best speed-oriented models. It never compromised stability or durability in favor of being fast, making it a very well-rounded option.

Pros

  • Top-tier durability
  • Highly breathable
  • Springy cushioning
  • Excellent lateral stability
  • Very secure foothold
  • Fairly flexible
  • Great grip but slides well too
  • Sock-like in-shoe feel

Cons

  • A bit heavier than average
  • Tricky to put on
Full review of ASICS Court FF 2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White/Mako Blue (1041A083102)
Blue (1041A083400)
Black (1041A083005)
Blue (1041A083402)

Best lightweight tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

Vapor 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 Vapor X without adding an ounce to its weight. A caveat, though, you need to examine the tread if you frequently play on the abrasive hardcourt as it can smooth out rapidly.

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

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Men
Women
Any color
White (CZ0220124)
Blue (CZ0220402)
Black White (CZ0220024)

Tennis shoes with the best stability

Adidas Barricade
84
Great!

What makes it the best?

Dashing across the court or having to zigzag as you’re given the runaround, the Adidas Barricade will get you where you need to be. With its wrap-around tongue design, the Adidas Barricade is locked onto your feet with no chance of letting go. Combining the tongue design with the reinforced arc to provide amazing bounce-back support, the Adidas Barricade is ready to take over the court.

Pros

  • Great lockdown
  • Good stability and support
  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Breathable
  • Responsive feel
  • Good fit

Cons

  • Longer break-in period
  • Aggressive back will dig into heel
  • Expensive
Full review of Adidas Barricade

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Men
Women
Any color
Lucid Blue Core Black Solar Red (HQ8917)
Black (GY1447)
white /white/silver metallic (FZ3936)
Preloved Red/Preloved Blue/Better Scarlet (HQ8414)
Turbo/Core Black/Acid Red (GW5031)
White Tint Taupe Met Acid Orange (HQ8416)
Yellow (GY1448)
White/Black/Orange (FZ3935)
More colors

Tennis shoes with the best cushioning

What makes it the best?

The ASICS Gel Challenger 13 is a solid all-around shoe that offers a good balance of comfort and stability without much sacrifice. Its traction on the court is amazing and won’t let you down as you dash around. It brings the heat in a competitive landscape of tennis shoes with some very compelling features.

Pros

  • Great cushioning
  • Amazing comfort
  • Good breathability
  • lightweight
  • Durable
  • Excellent traction
  • Good fit

Cons

  • A bit expensive
Full review of ASICS Gel Challenger 13

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Men
Women
Any color
WHITE/BLACK (1041A222101)
Steel Blue White (1041A222400)
Tuna Blue Sun Peach (1041A397960)
Black (1041A222003)
White (1041A222103)
BLACK/ELECTRIC BLUE (1041A222002)
Indigo Fog/White (1041A222500)
White/Green Gecko (1041A222100)
Black (1042A164001)

Tennis shoes with the best durability

What makes it the best?

If the matter of discussion is stability, this one could easily be on top of the list. Putting forward a supreme level of support while in such offensive motions, ASICS Gel Resolution 9 is one of the pacesetters of today’s game. This tennis shoe catches the grip of the slide-y Joes on the court. And out of an awkward position you go when this bad boy is on foot! Tippytoes and cautious movements are not really its type, and going hard is its mantra because, with its ultimately durable construction, there’s absolutely nothing to fear.

Pros

  • Secure the foot down
  • Unbeatable durability
  • Incredible comfort
  • Provides arch support
  • Superb energy return
  • Grips super duper hard
  • Perfect for aggressive movers
  • Shock absorbent
  • Extra supportive for medial and lateral movements

Cons

  • Narrow fit
  • Steep price point
  • Slightly heavy
Full review of ASICS Gel Resolution 9

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Men
Women
Any color
Pink (1041A330700)
Grey (1041A330400)
Tuna Blue Sun Peach (1041A384960)
BLACK/WHITE (1041A330001)
White/Black (1041A330100)
White/Restful Teal (1041A376101)
ANTIQUE RED/WHITE (1041A330600)
Black/Camel (1041A453001)

Best tennis shoes for speed

What makes it the best?

With a perfect balance of lightness and stability, this tennis shoe is esteemed for its propelling force matched with speedy maneuvers on the court. Adidas Adizero Cybersonic is basically the players’ confidence booster as it gives a sense of security, support- and traction-wise. “If I were to play a tournament tomorrow, I would wear the Adidas Cybersonic shoes” is perhaps the quote that says it all!

Pros

  • Provides secure fit
  • Superb support and stability
  • Lightweight
  • Fast on court
  • Easy to get up off the ground
  • Durable
  • Excellent traction

Cons

  • Too tight for some
  • Poor lacing system durability
Full review of Adidas Adizero Cybersonic

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Men
Women
Any color
Core Black/Footwear White/Carbon (IF2983)
FTWR White Core Black Matte Silver (IG9514)
Arctic Fusion / Cloud White / Lucid Lemon (IF2984)
Ftwr White Core Black Solar Red (GY9634)

Best budget tennis shoes

What makes it the best?

K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 is lauded by all players from all levels for its comfortable, well-cushioned, and lightweight design. Its wide toebox works for medium to broad-footed players. Its midfoot shank helps prevent players from tipping inwards, while its traction solidly works on different surfaces. This shoe has improved a lot when it comes to lock-in compared to the previous version.

Pros

  • Amazing comfort
  • Plush cushioning
  • Lightweight
  • Flexes well
  • Secure fit
  • Great traction as in the Hypercourt Supreme
  • Stable ride
  • Appealing style

Cons

  • Not durable
  • Too wide
Full review of K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (06613039)
Blanc De Blanc Blue Opal Lollipop (06613146)
Weiß Blau (06613136)
Reflecting Pond/Biscay Bay/White (06613434)
Classic Blue/White/Berry Red (06613444)
Barely Blue/White/Black (06613423)
Jet Black Steel Gray Spicy Orange (06613042)
Steel Gray Jet Black Spicy Ora (06614052)
More colors

Comparison of the 7 best tennis shoes

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CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
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# of colorways

Hard court, clay court, and all court tennis shoes

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. For those who are new to the game or need a shoe for recreational use, there are versatile all-court trainers as well.

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

Hard Court

Clay Court

All Court / Multi Court

made of concrete or asphalt, covered with an acrylic top

Characteristics: tough, faster game, higher traction, harder on the body and shoes

made of crushed brick, stone, or shale

Characteristics: soft, slower game, less traction (can get slippery), easier on the body and shoes

includes both hard and clay courts

hard-court-tennis-shoes.png

clay-court-tennis-shoes.png

all-court-tennis-shoes.png

Use: Professional

Use: Professional

Use: Recreational

Outsole: 

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

Outsole: 

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

Outsole: 

a hybrid outsole pattern adapts to different types of courts

Midsole:

has more cushioning to protect the foot on concrete

Midsole:

has less cushioning and a close-to-the-ground feel; more lightweight

Midsole:

the level of cushioning varies depending on the model

Upper:

solid materials help to stabilize the foot

Upper:

made with materials that prevent dust from entering the shoe; have a very tight fit to prevent foot or ankle rolling

Upper:

available in a wide range of materials

Good to know

  1. 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.
  1. What about grass-court shoes? A while back, players could also come across tennis shoes for grass courts with special pimpled outsoles. However, these are no longer common for two reasons: the rarity of grass courts and the fact that the knob lugs ruin the lawn too easily, which is expensive to upkeep. You may use hard-court, all-court, or clay-court tennis shoes on grass.
  2. All tennis shoe brands offer a 6-month durability warranty for some of their models. It is a one-time replacement guarantee which applies to tennis shoes that have sustained considerable outsole damage within 6 months from the day of purchase.

3 types of tennis shoes based on playing styles

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

The table below describes the differences between the shoes in more detail.

Types of tennis shoes based on playing style

Speed.png

  • Best for agile, aggressive players who slide often

Weight: the most lightweight category among the three

Upper: feature minimal designs; flex more efficiently with the foot

Midsole: have a low-to-the-court profile with moderate cushioning

Outsole: not as durable as stability tennis shoes

Cushioning.png

  • Best for players who move around the court a lot

Weight: average

Upper: come in a variety of styles

Midsole: have thicker and bouncier cushioning

Outsole: durable

Stability.png

  • Best for baseline players who prefer solid and supportive shoes

Weight: on the heavy side

Upper: crafted with supportive features (often TPU overlays)

Midsole: have an abundance of cushioning; embed supportive structures like shanks to keep the foot stable

Outsole: the most hard-wearing, often comes with a durability warranty

Finding the best fit in tennis shoes

The shoe’s ability to hold your foot securely defines the level of grip, stability, and surefootedness on the court. When you try on a pair of tennis shoes, check for the following signs of the right fit:

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.

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.

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

Using other types of shoes for tennis

A pair of running shoes that you wear regularly may appear suitable for all sorts of athletic activities. However, it is not effective in accommodating the abrasive surface and rapid movements involved in tennis.

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

Reasons not to use other shoes for tennis

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
  • 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

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 shoes 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.
  • We take the shoe to our lab and we further perform tests that indicate other parameters such as fit, stability, and flexibility.
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.