10 Best Hard Court Tennis Shoes
Updated on: November 2023
Best Hard Court Tennis Shoes in 2023
New Balance Men's LAV V1 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, Neon Emerald/White, 1.5 D US
- 12 MM Drop
- Bootie Construction
- External Heel Counter
- Hard Court Non-Marking Outsole
- Ortholite Insert
adidas Men's CourtJam Bounce Tennis Shoe, Grey/Black/White, 9.5 M US
- Abrasion-resistant tennis shoes with a Bounce midsole
- Regular fit; Lace closure
- Mesh upper for breathability
- Adituff for best abrasion resistance in the toe area; Adiwear outsole offers the ultimate in high-wear durability
- Bounce cushioning provides enhanced comfort and flexibility
Nike Men's Court Lite 2 Tennis Shoe, White/Game Royal-Flash Crimson, 9 Regular US
- Combination leather, Synthetic and mesh construction for comfortable support
- Full-length foam midsole with shank for cushioning and stabilization
- Outsole traction pattern for control on hard courts
New Balance Women's 996v3 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, Orange, 9.5 D US
- Hard Court Outsole
- Lightweight Cushioned Midsole
- Non-Marking Outsole
New Balance Women's 696v3 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, STEEL/CHAMPAGNE, 10.5 M US
New Balance Women's 696v4 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, White/Pigment, 9 2E US
- Full-length Ndurance outsole provides superior traction and durability to help get more wear out of the shoe
- Herringbone-pattern outsole for added traction during lateral movements
- Non-marking outsole
- Synthetic/Mesh Upper
New Balance Men's 896v2 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, White, 14 2E US
- REVlite Midsole
- Full Length Ndurance
- Herringbone outsole
- Removable insert
- Synthetic/Mesh Upper
adidas Performance Women's Barricade Court Tennis Shoe, White/Matte Silver/Grey, 5 M US
- Synthetic upper for lightweight durability and comfort
- Abrasion-resistant Adituff wraps around the toe and medial forefoot to help protect against foot drag that occurs during serves, volleys and extreme lateral movements
- Torsion System between the heel and forefoot for stability
- Cloudfoam midsole for step-in comfort and superior cushioning
- Adiwear outsole offers the ultimate in high-wear durability
New Balance Men's 796v1 Hard Court Tennis Shoe, White/neon Emerald, 6 2E US
- Lightweight
- Non-Marking Outsole
- Gum Rubber Outsole
- Ndurance
- REVlite Midsole
ASICS Men's Gel-Court Speed Tennis Shoes, 9M, White/Black
- PGuard Toe Protector - Enhanced toe durability.
- Seamless Construction - The use of seamless materials reduces the potential for irritation and friction caused by traditional stitches and seams.
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System - Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off phases, and allows movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle.
- Trusstic System technology - Reduces the weight of the sole unit while retaining the structural integrity of the shoe.
What's the Big Deal About Hard Tennis Courts?
When you think about playing tennis, you usually think of playing on a hard court. Here are some more quick tips about them.
The increased prevalence of hard courts on the professional tour caused playing styles to increase as well. For example, players that stayed in the back of the court began to become more noticeable and successful at the top tiers of the game (see Jimmy Conners and Bjorn Borg).
As the game expanded and became more accessible to the public, hard courts moved to the forefront. One of the main reasons for this is because a hard court is much easier to maintain than a grass or clay court. This is why most recreational courts are hard courts.
Even though they are considered to be the most neutral of all playing surfaces, hard courts generally play fast. A normal hard court will be faster than a clay court, but slower than a clay court. This means that people that play with power and like to attack will have an advantage over people that like to play offensively. Offensive baseliners, such as Venus and Serena Williams, Mardy Fish, and James Blake find success on hard courts.
With that being said, hard courts can vary in speed and ball bounce depending on their composition. For example, the hard courts at the US Open are made of Deco Turf. Because of its hardness, the surface plays extremely fast. The ball barely slows down when it hits the court. The Australian Open used to use Rebound Ace. This surface was much softer, and the ball bounced higher, making the play resemble a clay court.
Players often encounter injuries on regularly on a hard court, as the surface is not forgiving on the body. A lot of running is required to play well on hard courts, along with a lot of quick changes in direction. You can't slide like you can on a clay court, and the points usually last longer than on a grass court. Also, hard courts can retain an enormous amount of heat. During hot summer months, the on court temperature can soar to 90 degrees and above.
