Updated August 28, 2024
Finding high-quality shoes is a must when it comes to sports. Every tennis fan knows the impact that shoes can have on your game, so it is essential to buy the very best. However, how do you know which shoe is the best? There are many factors to look for such as cushion, durability, and specific technologies which can help you reach peak performance. To make your shoe search a little easier, here are the best women’s tennis shoes right now.
adidas Women’s Barricade
A legend has reentered the game! First released in the year 2000, the Barricade helped bring about normalization of the hard court slide. The Barricade is designed as a shoe for the ultimate athlete who craves support and performance. For extra stability, adidas built the Barricade with a TPU midfoot shank. The shoe’s lacing system secures the foot using the integrated eye stays, and there is extra protection for the medial laces thanks to the asymmetrical design. To improve the durability of the shoe, ADITUFF abrasion mapping and a new ADIWEAR rubber compound are included in the outsole. The previous Barricade models were the market standard for stability, but they were pretty heavy. This new version maintains the stability, but it is also the lighter and faster than before. Maria Sakkari is already wearing the new Barricades on the summer hard court circuit.
New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam Lav v2
The Lav v2 is the shoe of choice for top players on the WTA Tour. New Balance made some subtle improvements over the first Lav. The most obvious upgrade is the more traditional tongue. The back of the shoe features an extended heel counter for greater support, and the ankle collar comes up higher around the Achilles tendon for a more locked in fit. NB’s Fresh Foam X updates the midsole for improvements in rebound and comfort, and the upper FITWEAVE construction should be familiar from fans of their running shoes.
adidas Women’s Avacourt
The adidas Avacourt features a women’s specific design with an upper of lightweight mesh for maximum comfort and breathability. The upper is also reinforced in key areas to enhance stability. A best-tested last and tooling geometries maximize performance for women, and include a heel counter for better lockdown and agility. The engineered anti-abrasion zone uses ADITUFF for greater protection and durability, while the molded TPU toe cap protects against toe dragging. A new Bounce Pro midsole utilizes dual density foam for a balance of cushion and stability. A very trendy semi translucent rubber outsole offers solid traction on all surfaces.
Nike Women’s Vapor Pro
Nike’s touring pros made the shift to the Vapor Pro at the beginning of 2021. The Vapor Pro continues the strong tradition of the outgoing Vapor X, with an incredibly lightweight game-day shoe. This version is lighter than the X, but also more supportive. The soft foam midsole pairs nicely with a Zoom Air unit in the heel for close to the court comfort. The full-length foot frame bolsters the stability on the shoe’s lateral side to protect the foot during intense lateral bursts. Just turn on the Tennis Channel for a few minutes and the odds are you will see Nike Vapor Pros on the world’s top players.
Nike Women’s REACT Vapor NXT
After lots of success in the running category, Nike brings REACT foam to a tennis shoe for the first time. This shoe keeps the “Vapor” moniker, but the shoe ups the comfort and support of the Vapor Pro, albeit with a heavier weight. The REACT foam is a softer foam under the arch, paired with firmer foam on the lateral side to keep the foot closer to the court for dynamic play. Additionally, the REACT Vapor has bolstered the medial forefoot with tough plastic to protect the shoe from court abrasions, and a new outsole design encourages those who incorporate hard court sliding into their game. The shoe’s lateral side features a stiffer frame for support that mirrors an athlete’s most common movements on the court.
Mizuno Women’s Wave Exceed Tour 5
The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 5 features a modified 3D-Solid construction for the shoe’s upper. This is designed with greater flexibility but not at the expense of durability. Under the hood, a new bootie construction supports the foot. However, it has some comfortable stretch and flex to ensure a comfortable fit. Mizuno added an ENERZY insole with bolstered cushioning. They also added greater energy return for the ball of the foot and heel section respectively. And it wouldn’t be the “Wave” Exceed Tour without the famous Mizuno Wave Plate. The Wave Plate keeps the ankle in the correct position and adds extra cushion in the rear foot. The Wave Exceed Tour 5 is lighter than the previous version, but it still has a 6-month outsole guarantee.
New Balance Coco CG1
New Balance took some 1990s basketball influence, and partnered with WTA star Coco Gauff, to create a one of a kind tennis shoe, the CG1. The midtop design offers incredible support, and new Energy Arc technology pairs a carbon fiber plate with gaps in the midsole to create greater energy return. New Balance’s popular FuelCell foam creates a dynamic feel to to drive you forward, while keeping the ride comfortable. Fit Weave Lite is prominently featured in the multi-piece upper of the shoe for support and breathability.
HEAD Women’s Revolt Pro 4.0
The HEAD Revolt Pro 4.0 HEAD’s most durable and stable shoe. A brand new upper design features a mesh and PU molded chassis, which pairs with T-KORE 360 to give the shoe a responsive, supportive ride. New in version 4 is a slightly higher heel design for better dampening, and a more spacious toe box to fit a wider variety of feet. HEAD used a PU insole this time to improve durability, breathability, and comfort. The Revolt Pro 4 features a 6-month outsole guarantee. The HEAD Cooling System, a ventilation window on the bottom of the shoe, has been expanded in this model to improve ventilation. For those who are tough on shoes, the Revolt Pro 4 is a great choice.
adidas Women’s Ubersonic 4.1
The 4th generation Ubersonic has come to play! A major upgrade from adidas is the LightStrike midsole, which makes the shoe more comfortable, while maintaining the close to the court feel of the previous versions. The 4.1 features the most comfortable inner sock construction around, and it blends seamlessly with the shoes’ mesh upper to reduce the shoe’s overall weight, while increasing breathability. adidas PrimeGreen incorporates recycled material in the Ubersonic 4 for a more sustainable performance shoe. This shoe perfectly fits the silhouette of the foot, and it is probably the closest thing to playing in a sock.
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Diadora Women’s B-Icon
This new shoe from Diadora is a departure of sorts because it doesn’t include Blueshield cushion technology. Instead, the brand borrowed from their distance running category and integrated DD Anima into the midsole of the B.Icon. The material is the lightest, most stable, and most responsive foam ever made by Diadora. The shoe hugs the court, and it feels faster than the Blueshield FLY and the renowned Speed Blueshield. Diadora’s WTA athletes will wear the shoe on tour. Take note, the B.Icon runs a little large, so we recommend going down a half size.
K-SWISS Women’s Ultrashot 3
The Ultrashot 3 from K-Swiss gained some momentum down in Australia when Venus Williams and Fabio Fognini wore them during the year’s first major. K-Swiss has always had a following due to the wider toe box and more spacious forefoot sections of the shoe. The Ultrashot 3 features the same sixth month outsole guarantee and impressive stability that the previous model was known for, but introduce new Surgelite midsole technology for lightweight cushioning and energy return. As stable as this shoe is, the mesh upper allows for greater airflow. The redesigned tongue is more comfortable than ever.
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Yonex Women’s Power Cushion Eclipsion 4
Yonex created a roomier toe box and forefoot to improve the fit of the shoe over the previous generation. To add agility to an impressively stable design, the brand incorporated a new 3D POWER GRAPHITE DRIVE. The technology also includes a 3D graphite plate in the midfoot for quicker reactions and faster acceleration. New Feather Bounce FOAM was inserted into the midsole for improved comfort. Power Cushion+ returns in the forefoot and heel to improve energy return and cushioning, and the heel is further stabilized by a TPU HEEL STABILIZER. The shoe`s one-piece outsole design is built to hold up during the toughest matches on hard court surfaces.
Top-Rated Women’s Tennis Shoes for Hard Courts
Asics Women’s Gel-Challenger 14 Tennis Shoesoffer superior durability, stability, and support in a price-effective package. These classic traits from the GEL-Challenger line are complemented by a number of lightweight cushioning technologies for comfortable performance.
The New Balance Women’s FuelCell 996v6 B Width continue the solid tradition of the brand`s signature model. A lightweight engineered mesh was used in the upper for breathability and flexibility with just the right amount of protection.
Nike Women’s Air Zoom Vapor 11 Tennis Shoes The Zoom Vapor 11 is the most advanced Vapor model to date, and it caters to players who want a close-to-the-court feel, with added speed and stability.
Top-Rated Women’s Tennis Shoes For Clay Courts
Asics Women’s Gel-Resolution 9 Clay Tennis Shoes create advanced stability and cushioning for players who like to control the court from the baseline. DYNAWRAP™technology in the eyestay has been strategically altered to apply pressure when extra support is needed.
The Yonex Women’s FUSIONREV 5 Clay Tennis Shoes clay tennis shoes maintain the comfortable characteristics of popular past models but integrate a number of updates to provide more stability and a closer-to-the-court fit. Version 5 gets the light and soft msLITE X midsole for bouncy support from below along with Power Cushion+.
The On Women’s The Roger Pro 2 Clay Tennis Shoeis the second version tennis shoe from On and Roger Federer. This version has improved stability, agility, and durability over the previous version. The shoe is worn on tour by Iga Swiatek.
Top-Rated Women’s Tennis Shoes for Grass Courts
The K- Swiss Women’s Ultrashot 3 Grass Tennis Shoes White and Steel Gray are designed to be lighter and more comfortable than the original Ultrashot for competitive tennis players. They feature the same durability and stability that the previous model was known for but introduce new Surgelite midsole technology for lightweight cushioning and energy return.
One thing we have learned over the years is that a single tennis shoe is NOT for everyone. Everyone’s foot is a little different, so look for the perfect match for your game at Tennis Express.
FAQ’S
- What is an outsole warranty?
– a guarantee that covers the rubber outsole of a shoe for a specific periof of time after purchase.
- If you play on different surfaces should you have a shoe for each?
– yes for the best results and to prevent injury it is always best to wear the appropriate shoe according to the surface being played on.
- What is the difference between tennis shoes and running shoes?
– lateral support, outsole design, and stability. Tennis shoes offer more lateral support, they have more durable outsole patterns for grip and they are designed to provide more stability.
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