If you are busy pulling on your tennis shoes for your regular game of tennis, they are most likely tennis shoes and not cross trainers. Most regular tennis players do have a pair of good tennis shoes, shoes that are specifically designed for the game.
However, if you are a new tennis player and haven’t yet decided if you are going to be a regular player, you may well be putting on your cross trainers.
Can You Play Tennis in Cross Trainers?
Yes, you can but you really shouldn’t, especially if you are a regular player!
If this is your first game of tennis and you are having a first tennis lesson, by all means wear your cross trainers.
If you play tennis once every couple of weeks or months, again by all means wear your cross trainers.
But if you are going to be playing tennis often, either sociably or seriously, you really should get a pair of tennis shoes. That’s because…
Tennis Requires More Movement Than Running
Tennis shoes have been designed with the game of tennis in mind, obviously.
They are therefore extremely stable, well cushioned, totally flexible and have additional materials, usually leather, designed specially for the toes and heels.
Tennis is about running backwards and forwards, about running sideways and about pivoting. A good tennis serve takes the player on to the tips of his feet, as does a smash.
Reaching backwards for a ball can take a player on to this heels.
And volleys, especially when a player has to stretch, includes toe work. Tennis shoes are therefore designed taking all aspects of the foot in mind, and are designed for all the shots, always protecting the feet and allowing the body excellent flexibility.
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Cross Trainers Can be Used for Many Sports But…
Cross trainers are shoes that can be used for all sports.
They too have good cushioning, good flexibility and are of course durable. They are a versatile shoe that you can use for other sports, not just running.
However, a cross trainer that is used daily for tennis is likely to not give you enough support and movement that you need. Playing tennis with a cross trainer from time to time is fine; playing tennis three times a week with a cross trainer is not the best thing for your tennis game.
You should get yourself a tennis shoe, especially if you take tennis quite seriously.
Tennis Shoes are Designed for Various Surfaces
Most tennis shoes are designed for a hard court.
Some tennis shoes are specifically designed for a clay court, and there are specialist tennis shoes for grass courts.
You are most likely to be training on a hard court or a clay court player, and on very few occasions on grass.
Tennis shoes can be used on all surfaces but if you are a tennis professional, you will probably have more than one pair of tennis, for the various surfaces you are playing on.
Cross trainers can be used on all the tennis surfaces, but you will probably find that they need a tiny bit more cushioning, stability and flexibility. The surface of a cross trainer, and of course good cross trainers have good grip, may not be enough for a hard court, on a regular basis.
Cross Trainers are Alternatives to Tennis Shoes
A cross trainer is an alternative to a tennis shoe; it is not a tennis shoe.
While you can definitely lace up your cross trainers and pick up your tennis racquet and balls and enjoy your tennis game, your cross trainer is going to wear out a lot quicker than a tennis shoe.
Cross trainers were designed with many sports in mind, tennis shoes were designed with only tennis in mind.
Your tennis shoe is going to last a lot longer, when you only play tennis in it, than with your cross trainers.
Even if you are only playing tennis in your cross trainers, they are still not going to last as long as tennis shoes. And if you are only using your cross trainers for tennis, you may as well buy tennis shoes!
Best Brands of Tennis Shoes or Cross Trainers?
Most well known brands – Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Mizuno, ASICS, New Balance – make tennis shoes and cross trainers.
You will find your favourite tennis shoe by wearing it, learning if you prefer Nike to New Balance.
Of course it depends on your feet, your body and your overall style. The more expensive the shoe, the more cushioned and / or durable it is. This goes for tennis shoes and cross trainers.
The best thing to do is read reviews, chat to other tennis players, look at what tennis shoes the professional tennis players are wearing, and then make a decision. Decisions also depend on your budget.
If you are a new tennis player, you definitely do not need the best tennis shoe on the market. If you are a regular player, you want a shoe that is going to be good and long lasting.
And if you are turning professional, or are professional, of course you want a great tennis shoe.
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Commitment To a Sport
When you commit to a sport, you commit in a number of ways. You practice, because that is what is going to make you the best player you can be.
You read up about the sport, because that is how you are going to be informed about the sport. You invest in the sport, with equipment, clothing and shoes.
You want to be the very best you can be, in your chosen sport.
If you are a tennis player, you want to have a good tennis racquet, or a few good tennis racquets, decent clothing that is comfortable to wear and clothing that helps you to play (women wear short skirts and not long skirts for good reason, long skirts get in the way) and of course, good tennis shoes.
Your clothing is light and breathable because you don’t want to be weighed down by anything when you move around the court.
Your racquet is going to give you the most power it can possibly give you. And your shoes are going to give you as much grip, flexibility, stability and safety, as possible. For this reason, you are going to choose all things tennis, when it comes to playing the game.
Tennis racquets, tennis clothing, tennis balls and of course, tennis shoes.
Don’t Let Cross-Trainers Stop You
Remember, if you only have a pair of cross trainers, it’s okay! Play in them; don’t let it stop you from playing tennis.
But as you progress in the game, rather keep the cross trainers for running or other sports, and buy yourself a decent pair of tennis shoes. You will find you are stronger, safer and a lot more stable in tennis shoes.
If budget is an issue, save up and do it slowly. But if you are committed to the game of tennis, and you want the best out of the game you can get, get yourself tennis shoes. And use them for tennis only!