Clay Court and Shoes

[IL_10is]

I am going to be touring this summer in Europe where I will be playing on the infamous red clay. Can anyone recommend any good tennis shoes to play on clay?

[stringertom]

Can't go wrong with Yonex's clay sole. Most clay soles are herringbone-patterned. Yonex has little round "nubbies", almost like an old-style grass sole. Best shoe on the market, in my very humble opinion!

[Outlined]

you need shoes with the VVVV-pattern

[Steve F.]

Originally Posted by IL_10is

I am going to be touring this summer in Europe where I will be playing on the infamous red clay. Can anyone recommend any good tennis shoes to play on clay?

What's your normal shoe? That Yonex shoe is good if you've got a wide foot. For narrow, check out the adidas Feather. Also must check out tenniswarehouse-europe.com, TW's euro cousins sell clay shoes there that they don't sell in the US (grrrr) -- you can most likely buy them online and have them shipped to your hotel (or a friend) if you choose the Clay Ballistec or Asics Resolution for example (you can try either on in the US as a hard court sole). Warning, don't try to buy them there once you arrive. I've lived in Paris and there are only a handful of shops that sell gear, and at big markups. Ship to hotel or bring with if you can. Good luck and enjoy!

[IL_10is]

I usually wear a HEAD Tour, but I have also used K-Swiss Approach. I just need a new pair that I will wear only for clay.

[innoVAShaun]

You can always go with the Nike CourtBallistec 2.3 or 3.3 with the clay court sole.

[Steve F.]

Originally Posted by IL_10is

I usually wear a HEAD Tour, but I have also used K-Swiss Approach. I just need a new pair that I will wear only for clay.

Both of the shoes you mention have herringbone treads that are suitable for clay, with the KSwiss tread similar to the Feather. If you want to pick up a clay specific shoe, then go for the clay Ballistec or the Resolution because they are medium width like the ones you already have. You can't go wrong with either. Good luck and enjoy!

[jwbarrientos]

Originally Posted by Outlined

you need shoes with the VVVV-pattern

Yeap (+1), later go with the shoes you regularly uses in clay's version (or closest specs).

Beyond that, give yourself a time to understand how clay surface works and how your are suppose to run/walk, if everything is moving is not an earthquake is just the infamous clay

[innoVAShaun]

You can always get the clay version Adidas Barricade 6.0's now at TW: