Check the sole, then test the fit.

1. Know your court first

Most UK club tennis is played on hard courts, clay or artificial clay, omni (sand-filled artificial grass) and indoor courts. The sole on the bottom of the shoe (the outsole) needs to suit the court you play on most.

Many brands sell an omni or clay version of the same shoe, so you don’t have to change model to get the right sole. In every family on our Shoes page, use the Sole filter to pick Clay / artificial clay or Omni / artificial grass. A family listing doesn’t mean every version suits that court, so check the exact sole on the product listing before you order.

For natural grass, ask whether a grass-specific sole with small pimples is required or permitted. Rules can differ between clubs and events.

2. Check your club’s rules

Ask which soles your club or venue allows on each court, especially indoors and on clay. If you play on more than one surface, buy for the one you use most, or ask whether one pair is allowed on both.

3. Try them on

1. Try shoes on later in the day, when your feet are at their largest.
2. Wear your usual tennis socks, not thin everyday socks.
3. Lace them firmly, the way you would for the first game of a set.
4. Do a lunge, a side-step and a short stop. Your heel should stay put.
5. Check for pressure or rubbing across the front of your foot and under the laces.
6. Leave a little room for your toes so they don’t hit the end when you stop hard.
7. If the shoe feels wrong, try a different model or brand rather than going up or down a size. The shape of the shoe varies a lot between brands.

Wide or narrow feet

Don’t just size up to get more room: the shoe will be too long and your foot will move around in it. Try another brand or model instead, as some are cut wider or roomier than others.

In every family on our Shoes page, use the Fit filter and choose Wide or roomy options to see the families with wide fittings or a roomier fit.

4. Ordering online

1. Read the return policy. Check how long you have and whether shoes worn on court can go back.
2. Use the retailer’s size chart. UK and EU sizes are easy to mix up.
3. Look for notes on length and width where the retailer gives them.
4. If returns need unused soles, do the same lunge and side-step checks indoors with clean soles before you play in them.

5. Durability or lightness

Think about how long your sessions are and how often you play.

• Long club nights and lots of side-to-side movement suit a more durable shoe over the lightest one.
• If you play once a week on hard courts, a durable mid-price all-court shoe is a sensible place to start.
• The lightest shoe isn’t automatically the best, especially if you’re an improving player who slides into wide balls.

If a brand offers an outsole warranty, check its terms on the product page before you buy.

6. Common mistakes

• Running shoes on court. They’re built for moving forwards. Stopping and moving sideways in them makes it easier to roll your ankle. If you’re new to tennis, get tennis shoes before your second session.
• Hard-court shoes on clay or omni. The tread fills with clay or sand and you lose grip. Use a clay or omni sole.
• Ignoring club rules. Some venues ban certain soles, so check before you buy.
• Buying on looks. Court and fit first, colour last.

7. When to replace them

Replace your shoes when the sole is worn smooth where you push off and turn, the cushioning feels flat, the support feels noticeably different, or you get new rubbing after a normal session. A surface scuff alone needn’t mean replacement. Check torn uppers, loose soles and damaged side support before playing again.

Quick decision path

1. Check your court and your club’s rules.
2. Pick a shoe family that comes with the right sole.
3. Try them on in tennis socks, with a lunge and a side-step.
4. Check returns, and any outsole warranty.
5. Then choose colour and brand.

Browse shoes by brand and family →