HELP I HAVE FLAT FEET!!!!!!!!!

[Gaurav Singh]

I probably have the flattest feet in the world. I am 16 and have recently went to see a consultant about pains that I get under the mid-region(where I should have an arch) of my feet, which I regularly experience after e.g. having to sprint to hit a drop shot etc. The consultant has never seen anything like it before, and after I told him I wanted to play professional tennis, he "STRONGLY" advised I have plan B (my education). I got the impression that he didn't want to upset me by telling the truth.

My physio says that insoles would be of little use. However I really want to be a professional and many other players have succeeded through adversity (and through worse things than flat feet).

What are going to be the drawbacks of having flat feet on the court? And are their any advantages!!!!!!!!

I do find it harder than most players to keep on my toes, BUT CAN INSOLES REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Thanks

[andirez]

I am definitly no expert at this, but there are companies who custom fit a shoe for you. I don't know if they can compensate for really flat feet, but to me it seems that the problems you are experiencing is because of the misfitting of the shoe (shoes are made for people with non-flat feet, so you will be stressing the middle area of your foot a lot if you use these shoes, while with 'normal' feet the force is distributed over the entire foot). So if you'd have a shoe without the bump in the inner-middle part, you woundn't be experiencing these pains, don't you think? I don't have flat feet, but I am very sensitive to shoes. If something does not fit properly, I definitly get pains once I stress my feet (sprinting, stopping rapidly, etc.)

[andirez]

This is an example of what I mean by custom fitting:
http://www.shoe-fitter.com/fittings.htm

[Gaurav Singh]

Andirez u might be right. I also have very narrow feet, and this is why I always choose nike tennis shoes. But what do you mean by "bump" in the middle, and if there is a slight "bump" then surely it will be beneficial by pushing the mid-foot region up slightly, so I have a bit of an arch? Don't u think?
I am currently wearing the Nike Air Max Breathe Free 2

[lenosucks]

Maybe you're doctor was telling you to look towards your education because he thinks you're dreaming when you think you have a shot of making it in the pros.

[David I.]

I also have very flat feet but I rarely feel any foot pain and my foot speed is one of my strengths. Arch supports make my feet hurt.

[perfmode]

Maybe you're doctor was telling you to look towards your education because he thinks you're dreaming when you think you have a shot of making it in the pros.

Very true. You've gotta be an ITF touring junior to have any chance at all on tour.

[jayserinos99]

i have flat feet. as for inserts, they don't work in my case and i gave up on them because they made the situation worse. so i instead looked for shoes with a little higher arch support than i normally wear and that worked out fine.