7 Best Tennis Shoes in 2023
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
What makes it the best?
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
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Best lightweight tennis shoes
What makes it the best?
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
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Tennis shoes with the best stability
What makes it the best?
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
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Tennis shoes with the best cushioning
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Great cushioning
- Amazing comfort
- Good breathability
- lightweight
- Durable
- Excellent traction
- Good fit
Cons
- A bit expensive
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Tennis shoes with the best durability
What makes it the best?
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
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Best tennis shoes for speed
What makes it the best?
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
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Best budget tennis shoes
What makes it the best?
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
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Comparison of the 7 best tennis shoes
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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.
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Hard Court |
Clay Court |
All Court / Multi Court |
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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 |
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Use: Professional |
Use: Professional |
Use: Recreational |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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Types of tennis shoes based on playing style |
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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 |
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Weight: average Upper: come in a variety of styles Midsole: have thicker and bouncier cushioning Outsole: durable |
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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.
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Reasons not to use other shoes for tennis |
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Running shoes |
NOT recommended because they:
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Basketball shoes |
can be used because these shoes:
NOT recommended because they:
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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.
