Tennis Shoes Vs Basketball Shoes

An athlete always aims at optimizing the performance during the game and achieving this right pair of shoes is pivotal. Due to this rationale, great importance is attached to tennis shoes vs basketball shoes comparison by the professionals of both the games. Not only professionals but those who play tennis as well as basketball as a fun activity or for the sake of healthy activity are also interested in this comparison.

For those who want to ensure that they give their best during the game, it is preferable that they buy separate shoes for each game. Additionally, it is important to limit the possibility of being injured or unable to move correctly. To minimize the possibility of being injured or unable to move properly. As both of these games are played differently hence basketball involves movements that are different from tennis and the other way around.

The main difference between tennis shoes and basketball shoes is that tennis shoes are lighter then basketball shoes. In this article, we will focus on major factors that makes the tennis and basketball shoes different from each other.

Comparison Table

Feature	Tennis shoes	Basketball shoes
Weight	Lighter	Heavier
Sole	Lighter sole-herringbone/bumpy pattern	Heavier sole-herringbone pattern
Top	Lower-top	Low/mid/high top
Cushioning	Lighter to medium cushioning	Heavy cushioning

Tennis Shoes Are Lighter Than The Basketball Shoes

Side-by-side movements are more common in tennis as opposed to basketball. So, logically the lighter the shoes are, the better a game is.

On the flip side, basketball involves lots of running, jumping, and immediate moves. In the given scenario, heavy shoes provide players better hold and help them play a better game. But a very few players, specifically those having a faster speed, opt for lighter shoes to play basketball.

 

Design Of The Soles-Tennis Shoes Vs Basketball Shoes

Basketball Shoes

To provide adhesion while taking immediate starts and pauses, the basketball shoes exhibit a herring-bone design. Usually, basketball shoes are intended to be used for outdoor games, but those manufactured for indoor games tend to be heavier than those of outdoor ones.

Tennis Shoes

The soles of tennis shoes are designed differently depending on the surface they will be used on.

Hard Court Shoes

The shoes manufactured for the hard surface have a herring-bone pattern on the soles. This pattern gives the player a good grip on the surface. These shoes have higher durability. The plus point of shoes designed for a hard court is that they can be used on grass and clay service. However, if you are a professional athlete then you will need to get separate shoes for each sort of surface.

For Hardcourt tennis shoes must check the detail HERE.

Indoor Court Shoes

Those made specifically for the indoor game have a quite leveled sole and the purpose behind this is to eliminate the chances of leaving any sort of marks on the surface. As the soles are smooth they provide less grip.

Clay Court Shoes

If you ever had a chance to watch a tennis game being played on clay court you might have noticed that players slip a lot during the game. This mainly happens when the clay gets trapped in the shoes, at the top bottom. Thereby, a player should carefully select the shoes for this game. The tennis shoes that are meant to be used on clay surfaces have the same pattern on soles as the basketball shoes have. However, tennis shoes are less durable as compared to basketball shoes. This type of pattern gives a player great support and cushioning for making side-by-side movements.

For Hardcourt tennis shoes must check the detail HERE

Grass Court Shoes

This type of court requires the fastest movements than all the other courts. The shoes that are used for hard surfaces can also be used on this surface. But getting a pair of shoes specialized for grass courts is a better option. Its sole is very different from all the other types of shoes that we have mentioned so far. The sole of grass-court shoes is granular or shows small bumps, similar to a pimple. These tiny bumps provide extra traction to a player.

 

Low And High Top-Tennis Shoes Vs Basketball Shoes

Tennis

The tennis shoes have a low-top, which makes them lightweight and prevents scraping against the ankle bone.   

Basketball

On the contrary, basketball shoes have three versions in this regard- low-top, mid-top, and higher-top. The majority of basketball players play using high-end shoes since such shoes give the highest amount of brace to the player’s ankle. But those who run really fast use the low-top shoes because of their lower weight.

 

Tennis Shoes Have Thinner Cushioning Than The Basketball Shoes

Cushioning of the shoes has a significant impact on a player’s game. Right cushioning implies that a player can comfortably play the game and make desired movements.

During a tennis game, a player is required to make instant side-by-side movements. To make these quick movements easier, the tennis shoes have thinner cushioning.

While playing basketball a player has to make to and fro jumps and make quick movements in order to get into the required position. Because of this nature of movements, the basketball shoes have thicker cushioning as compared to the tennis shoes.

Final Verdict

Now as we proceed towards the end of the tennis shoes vs basketball shoes comparison, it is very likely that you are convinced that the same shoes cannot be used for both games. Using the same shoes not only means that you are compromising on the quality of the game but most importantly you are risking your health. An athlete who is not using the right pair of shoes has a higher chance of getting injured during the game. So, it is reasonable to spend on the right shoes rather than going through pain that can be avoided. In addition, not using the right shoes can also result in fatigue because the player won’t be comfortable while playing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

1. How many basketball shoes do you need?

A player should have a pair of basketball shoes. These shoes should be used within the court only. If a player wears these shoes and moves around various places other than the court then there are ample chances that the shoes will no longer be suitable for use inside the court. Because in this way they will lose their grip.

 

2. Do basketball shoes have a shelf life?

Yes, basketball shoes have a limited life. The adhesives and EVA used during the manufacturing of shoes lose their adhesiveness after some time. This applies on all shoes, no matter if they are being used or are placed inside a cupboard. Normally, basketball shoes have a shelf life spanning 6 to 9 months.

 

3. How often do tennis players change shoes?

Ideally, a pair of tennis shoes should be replaced once it has been used for 40 to 60 hours. For example, if you play tennis for 1 hour every week then you should replace these shoes after one year. Even if the shoes appear to be fine they should be replaced.