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What To Look For
The first issue in selecting your New Balance tennis shoes is your style of play. Volley and serve players need a reinforced toecup (toe guard), while baseline players need good lateral support to help with their regular side-to-side movements. Other issues to consider are the type of feet you have and the kind of court you play on most often. Most tennis players are on a hard court, which requires some attention paid to shock absorption. Supinated (high-arched) feet need more cushioning, while pronated (flatter feet) need more lateral support.
Common Pitfalls
One common mistake is to go for well-cushioned shoes over lateral support, thinking that this will prevent injuries. In reality, not offering pronated feet proper support will cause twisted ankles and knee trouble down the road, and a lightweight means of getting some extra cushion out of your New Balance shoes is to simply wear thicker socks.
Where To Buy
If you are a serious tennis player, you need to go to a shoe or sporting goods store and try your new pair of New Balance shoes on before buying them. Getting the right fit, and in particular seeing if the shoes offer the proper support, is critical. This cannot be done online. It may cost a little more, but that extra expense is saving you from potential injuries.
Cost
The New Balance tennis shoe product line ranged between $50 and $120 in 2009.
Comparison Shopping
Some New Balance shoes are optimized for special needs. The 1004 has many features, but one of the most important for a baseline player is Herringbone Outsole that is specially made for lateral movement. The 803 has the enhanced stability and support that you need for playing tennis with pronated feet.
Article Written By Edwin Thomas
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
