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To be successful on clay, you must be flexible with your footwork. That takes agility, balance, and above all, the right tennis shoes.
For tennis players, competing on a clay court is far more demanding than on a hard surface. The longer points require more patience, and the trickier bounces mean constant adjustments. However, the greatest demand is a clay court’s uneven, slippery surface which highlights the need for balance, assured movement, and proper footwork. Players who know how to slide into their shots make clay court coverage look like an elegant art form; players who treat the surface like a hard court, well…
In addition to acclimating to the court’s surface, players must choose the gear that will help maximize performance. And the most important piece is a tennis shoe with a clay-court-specific outsole. Without it, changing directions on a slick clay court feels like playing in a pair of ice skates.
A clay-court-specific outsole is superior to other outsoles because it has the classic tight, herringbone tread that digs in and grips the surface. A hard, or all-court, outsole has thicker areas to handle scuffing and abrasion and fewer grooves to make it easier to slide (on hard courts). Neither feature is really beneficial on clay.
Having less material on the outsole means clay-court tennis shoes are also lighter, which is a bonus during the longer, more demanding points. Some clay-court shoes have uppers with additional material or barriers to prevent the granules from getting inside the shoe, staining socks, and potentially irritating the foot. But it’s the superior traction that’s the main selling point.
If you play on clay, making do with a hard-court outsole is a big mistake. Owning one or two pairs of tennis shoes made just for clay courts is a worthwhile investment. These three models found at Tennis-Point are sure to get you on the right foot (pun intended!):
Adidas Barricade Clay
Adidas Barricade Clay ($150)
For the 12th release of their iconic shoe, Adidas gave the Barricade an overhaul. Still one of the most stable clay-court tennis shoes on the market, a more adaptive fit, additional cushioning features, and less weight make it a more streamlined and comfortable ride. PS – at the time of publication, these shoes were on sale – only $75!
Asics Gel Resolution 9 Clay
Asics Gel-Resolution 9 Clay ($150)
The Gel-Resolution franchise has been the epitome of rock-solid stability and support. This latest model has improvements to the fit in the upper, support in lateral movement, and a segmented outsole to encourage smoother court landings.
Nike Vapor Pro 2 Clay
Lightweight and breathable, the Vapor Pro 2 is built low to the ground for maximum responsiveness and court connection. The brand’s famed Air Zoom unit resides in the forefoot and midfoot, providing shock absorption and energy return into each stride.
