Adidas Supernova

The Best Tennis Shoes I Ever Wore

The best tennis shoes I ever owned were hard to give up. They were K-Swiss tennis shoes. I wore them hard, and when I needed them most, they were there for me. A lot of people wear shoes once or twice, then go out and buy a brand new pair every week. Not me. Those shoes and I were inseparable. They lasted about 6 years before I finally decided to let them go. They had served their purpose, and whoever had made those shoes would have been happy to know that I had used them to their full potential.

Why is it that tennis shoes are not as highly regarded anymore? People are going for the shoes that basketball players wear, all flashy and designer, but I think the tennis shoe is where it's at. They're sporty, and keep you upright and balanced throughout your day. And, of course, my favorite are the K-Swiss tennis shoes.

The best tennis shoes I had and I saw miles of terrain. They were with me in college, and with me at 3 different jobs I held. I wore those shoes to the Riverwalk in San Antonio, and down the back alleys of Austin, TX. They were my go-to pair of running shoes, and they kept me free of joint pains every time. Those shoes carried me for miles of sidewalk and track jogging.

Funny thing about tennis shoes is that hardly anyone that wears them actually uses them to play tennis! I didn't want to be one of those people. I wanted to play tennis in my shoes, and I did. Of course tennis is a team sport, and it didn't hurt to have the company of my friend, who also wore tennis shoes.

In the end, it was hard to say goodbye. I began noticing that the back heel of the shoe had a plastic piece that was beginning to dig into the back of my right heel. I knew it was time to put my best tennis shoes down. I ended up heading to my local sporting goods store, and again, I asked to see their selection of athletic shoes. I wanted something that was going to be just as comfortable as my last pair. I wanted a pair that would translate "me" to the rest of the world; a shoe that had my name written all over it. I found what I was looking for in a new cross-country tennis shoe made in the USA.

The Babolat SFX Shoe

The makers of high-end professional tennis and badminton equipment Babolat have released a new shoe designed specifically for use on the tennis court: the Babolat SFX tennis shoe. The shoe description can be found under the "fluidity" heading on Babolat's shoes web page, and they've listed quite a few innovations built into their new sneaker. For example, the toe of the shoe is designed to allow more freedom of movement in the front of the foot. Also, the upper part of the inside of the shoe has been reinforced for better durability, and the shoe is also ventilated to keep feet cool while running back and forth across the net (and not let any funky aromas build up). An "Ergo-Motion" insole built into the shoe molds to the player's foot to provide support and allow for more fluid movement as well. In fact, the entire shoe has an ergonomic design which allows it to mold to the foot and ankle of the player wearing it. The heel has added shock absorption, and the sole of the shoe is made to give the wearer the maximum amount of traction for quick movement.

Both the Babolat SFX men's and Babolat SFX women's shoes feature these advancements. The men's shoe comes in a stylin' blue and white color scheme, and the women's in a fetching pink and white. The soles of the shoes are supposedly inspired by rally racing equipment, according to Babolat's website, but I wouldn't recommend trying to put them on the wheels of your car. Another nifty piece of shoe-tech Babolat has put into this shoe is the "foot belt," a pair of straps going around the top of the foot and the ankle which provide support in key areas. I presume this design blends seamlessly into the overall design of the sneaker, as opposed to there being an actual belt you cinch up around the outside of your very expensive, high-performance tennis shoe. All in all, these shoes look to be very comfortable, and while their descriptions may be a bit wordy and a bit more technical than necessary, the many lauded footwear advancements built into these sneakers actually do seem to have merit. If you're a serious tennis player, and you've got the green to lay down, the Babolat SFX shoe looks to be a worth investment whether you're a dude or a lady.