Whether you call them tennis shoes, pickleball shoes or court shoes, the shoes you wear when you play racket sports can make a huge impact on your game and help prevent injury.
Finding the best court shoes goes way beyond looking at your favorite brands and the latest styles, especially if you’re experiencing any pain on or off the court. That’s why we recommend making sure you choose the right court shoes for your feet.
Our team at Game-Set-Match, Inc. is always ready to help you choose the best shoes for pickleball, tennis or any other racket sport.
Getting an Expert Opinion on Tennis and Pickleball Court Shoes
If you’re experiencing pain, it's helpful to learn more about your body and feet to determine the best shoe for you. You’d be amazed at how many different tennis and pickleball pains and injuries can be avoided with the right pair of shoes!
That’s why we recommend reaching out to a local physical therapist with expertise in tennis and pickleball. They can perform an assessment of your body and stance to determine the best court shoes for preventing pain.
In developing this blog, we consulted a local physical therapist who specializes in racket sports. Dr. Greer Mackie, PT, DPT , OCS, PRC is the owner of PhysioDEN in Denver, CO, and Independent Contractor for USTA Pro-Circuit Athletic Medicine, not to mention an avid tennis player herself.
Dr. Mackie kindly stopped by our Denver Game-Set-Match, Inc. location to share her expert insights on choosing the right shoes for your feet. Read on for her recommendations on choosing the best court shoes for tennis and pickleball so you can play your best and avoid injuries.
Find the Best Court Shoes for Your Sensory Needs
The best place to start when choosing court shoes for your game is to assess the sensory needs of your feet.
Our whole bodies are influenced by what we feel on the bottom of our feet. A good shoe can act as a guide, providing the sensory information our brains require.
For example, if we have limited heel control or sensory feedback to our arches, we may not be able to properly activate our glute muscles. This can result in injury over time.
You can assess your feet’s sensory needs in two ways:
Ask a physical therapist to assess what sensory input you require for the most comfort and best results on the court.
If you’d like to test this on your own, you can perform a “single leg balance and reach test” to assess your own foot posture (details below).
How to Perform the Single Leg Balance and Reach Test
Follow the steps below to perform a single leg balance test that will indicate how your feet are bearing weight.
Stand barefoot on your left leg with your right knee bent up and reach your left arm forwards.
Notice where you feel the most contact in the bottom of your foot.
If you feel more contact through the front or front and outside of your foot, see number 1 in the next section for recommendations for heel awareness.
If you sense more weight through the heel, inside of your foot, and/or your arch collapses inwards, see number 2 in the next section for recommendations for mid-foot awareness.
If you feel contact with your whole foot or have a combination of the first two options, see number 3 in the next section for recommendations for whole foot awareness.
1. Weight Bearing through the Front & Front-Outside of Foot
Common tennis and pickleball injuries associated with this foot posture: Achilles tendinitis, quad strains, calf strains, knee pain, low back pain, hip impingement, neck pain and/or shoulder pain
Court shoe shopping tips: Look for shoes that have a strong heel counter for increased heel awareness. The heel counter is the stiff back part of the heel area of the shoe. It adds support and helps the shoe keep its shape.
Examples of court shoes with increased heel awareness:
LaCoste AGLT 21: Recommended for players with low to average arch. This is a great sturdy option.
Wilson Rush Pro 4.5: Recommended for players with a higher arch and narrow foot.
ASICS Solution Speed FF: Recommended for players with a higher arch and narrow foot.
New Balance Fresh Foam x1007: Recommended for someone with limited toe mobility (minimal ability of the big toe to bend backwards) and wider foot.
2. More Weight Bearing through the Heel & Inside of Foot
Common tennis and pickleball injuries associated with this sensory need: plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee pain and/or low back pain.
Court shoe shopping tips: Look for shoes that offer more mid-foot awareness. A shoe with good mid-foot awareness will allow you to feel the arch on the bottom of your foot.
Examples of court shoes with increased mid-foot awareness:
Adidas Ubersonic: Recommended for players with a low to average arch. This is a great lighter weight shoe.
KSwiss Hypercourt Express 2: This shoe offers a wider toe box. It’s recommended for players with an average to low arch.
3. A Combination of Weight Bearing Options
Court shoe shopping tips: Look for shoes with whole foot awareness. A shoe with good whole foot awareness will provide a combination of the first two benefits: the ability to control the heel bone and feel the arch.
Examples of court shoes with whole foot awareness:
Babolat SFX: Recommended for players with a low to average arch; this is a lighter weight option.
ASICS Gel Resolution 9: This shoe is best for players with limited toe mobility and a narrow foot.
How to Know You Found the Right Court Shoes for Your Tennis or Pickleball Game
Now it’s time to shop! When it comes to shopping for shoes, we highly recommend shopping in-person to find the perfect fit.
Read Dr. Mackie’s tips below on how to know you’ve found the perfect fit.
Tips for Tennis and Pickleball Court Shoe Shopping
The shoes should feel comfortable right away. You should not need to “break them in.”
Tighten the shoelaces from the bottom up. Shoes should be tied tight enough that you need to untie them to take your shoes off. This will help hold your foot in the shoe.
You should be able to “sense” your heel, arch, and big toe on both feet when walking.
Your heel bone should not slip up and down in the shoe when you walk
If you stand and balance on each foot with your opposite leg in front of you (as if you took a step), you should be able to balance and sense your heel, arch and big toe on the ground all at the same time. If you can’t sense all three together, the amount of support of that shoe is not ideal for you.
Where to Buy Pickleball and Tennis Court Shoes
We’d love to help you find your perfect court shoes at one of our Game-Set-Match, Inc. locations. If you’ve already found the perfect fit, you can order it from our online store.
We offer a large variety of tennis and pickleball court shoes. Stop by in-person or online today to choose your next ideal pair.
Stay in the Know with our Email Newsletter
If you haven’t already, subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest pickleball news, special offers, new product launches and more.