Pro's shoes slicker?

Ben42

Ben42

Semi-Pro
While watching the ATP Next Gen Finals last week I saw a lot of sliding around the court. It wasn't just the, now commonplace, sliding into shots, but stuff like sliding after just one short step when hitting a volley. And also a bunch of slipping and falling while trying to make quick direction changes.

I read about courts getting slower and slower. That must mean a rougher, grittier surface. So how are players able to slide even more? Are the soles of their shoes slicker than they used to be?
 
srv vlly

srv vlly

Semi-Pro
I don't think that the shoes get slicker. I think that players today are able to slide on hardcourts because they grew up doing it. Players slide on grass courts now and grass sneakers have little stubs on the sole. I do not think there is a correlation between more sliding and slicker shoes, rather there is more sliding today because someone showed it could be done and players adapted and followed.
 
D

Deleted member 746200

Guest
Well sliding on hardcourt needs some technique but it’s not that hard. I can slide on Indian Wells practice courts (known as more rough hard courts on tour) and my college courts (NCAA D1 standard). Not as smooth as Novak though. It just hurts my knee and ankle so I don’t slide too often any more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Ben42 said:
While watching the ATP Next Gen Finals last week I saw a lot of sliding around the court. It wasn't just the, now commonplace, sliding into shots, but stuff like sliding after just one short step when hitting a volley. And also a bunch of slipping and falling while trying to make quick direction changes.

I read about courts getting slower and slower. That must mean a rougher, grittier surface. So how are players able to slide even more? Are the soles of their shoes slicker than they used to be?
Click to expand...
I heard pro stocks shoes have taflon added to the bottom sole. This serves 2 functions. Slicker sole and more long lasting tougher sole
 
B

Beto 04

New User
Sliding just like your forehand or serve is all about technique. I don’t know when I started doing it but I can slide into or through any shot if I want to. It’s honestly a bad habit to get into though at least for me.
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Nostradamus said:
I heard pro stocks shoes have taflon added to the bottom sole. This serves 2 functions. Slicker sole and more long lasting tougher sole
Click to expand...

You mean "Teflon"? Stanford huh?

I did read somewhere on the boards the Djokovic's Adidas soles were "shaved" down to enhance his ability to slide.
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Rabbit said:
You mean "Teflon"? Stanford huh?

I did read somewhere on the boards the Djokovic's Adidas soles were "shaved" down to enhance his ability to slide.
Click to expand...
You can go buy some taflon spray cans. and spray it to the bottom of the shoe just before you go play. this works wonders on ability to slide and I heard it will even make you faster around the court
 
Rabbit

Rabbit

G.O.A.T.
Nostradamus said:
You can go buy some taflon spray cans. and spray it to the bottom of the shoe just before you go play. this works wonders on ability to slide and I heard it will even make you faster around the court
Click to expand...

There's no such thing as "taflon". You really went to Stanford?
 
PBODY99

PBODY99

Legend
@Ben42
Hard running and using clay court sliding on every surface is why so many players are sliding. You used to be coached not to skid into shot, as you were "out of control."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
shoes less sticky for hard court
Replies
6
Views
1K
Toyo
T
D
Why are pro shoes so slippery???
Replies
36
Views
3K
jmacdaununder2
jmacdaununder2
P
Anyone else find that they slide TOO much on HC?
Replies
13
Views
424
Fintft
Fintft
D
My hypothesis on how sliding works.
Replies
10
Views
958
red rook
R
mcutilize
dont wear cb 1.3 clays on hardcourt
Replies
7
Views
1K
remrusty
remrusty
Top