Unless you’re an athlete, you probably have no idea what the difference between tennis, walking, and running shoes is. Perhaps, you think there’s no difference at all. The truth is, there are a few visible differences that you should consider when sports shoe shopping.
Each type of sports activity requires certain moves that your feet perform. That’s why it’s important to purchase footwear correctly. Read on to learn why tennis shoes differ from walking or running shoes.
1. Different soles
The running, walking, and tennis shoes have slightly different soles. Running and walking shoes are typically discarded when they lose their spring or cushioning, but almost never because of the hole in the shoes. Tennis shoes require strong traction and high durability.
They’re typically discarded when you wear through the outsole, or grind down the sole until it provides weak traction and it’s smooth and slippery. If you buy sneakers with the low quality sole, all those constant starting, stopping, and sliding moves during the game will kill your footwear in a week or less.
2. Stiff and tough materials
The running and walking shoes tend to be lightweight and flexible, unlike tennis shoes. That’s why both walking and running shoes are perfect for everyday wear. Tennis shoes are more stiff, supportive, and durable and aren’t that comfortable. If you’re looking to wear your tennis shoes daily, you may experience foot pain and other foot problems.
3. Lateral stability and support
The running and walking shoes place more emphasis on cushioning and support. Tennis shoes are specifically created for the tennis courts. They place emphasis on lateral stability and support, which plays a critical role in how well you play. Plus, high-quality tennis shoes help to avoid common injuries related to this activity, such as a lower limb, thigh strain, tennis elbow, stress fracture feet, sprained ankle, Severs disease, sciatica, neck sprain, and more.
The thing is, most of the tennis movements done on the court are the side-to-side cuts. When you run or walk, your movements are generally heel-to-toe. That’s the reason why tennis shoes have a higher level of support and stability than cushioning.
4. Different comfort levels
Although running, walking, and tennis shoes are all comfortable, their comfort levels are absolutely different. Walking shoes are designed for work, strolls, and traveling, while running shoes help your body handle the rigors of running. Both have cushioned heel and toe areas to lower impact from heel-to-toe movements on the ground.
Tennis shoes are comfortable as well, but for tennis only. Lateral stability built into them ensures ideal side-to-side motions but it’s not designed for your strolls in the park. If you don’t have any foot problems, though, feel free to wear your tennis shoes whenever you like.
Many people mistakenly believe that sneakers don’t differ at all. It’s hard to see the difference between the various types of sports shoes so make sure you buy the sneakers created specifically for the tennis court. You can even compare running or walking shoes with tennis shoes to feel the difference.