Anyone else find that they slide TOO much on HC?

[PhilippT]

As the title says, I find myself sliding too much on Hard courts. It’s so bad that I don’t even like playing on clay as I can’t stop I just keep sliding. Very long post, TLDR at the bottom.

A bit of background, I’ve been playing since age 4 and have always been very quick on the court. I’ve always played with the mindset to go for every ball no matter how far/hard. I’ve been sliding since longer than I can remember. I am about a 5.5 player. UTR was an 8 when I played tournaments as a junior but I can stand up to 9-10 UTR rated players.

Ive tried ignoring it but it seems to cause me many issues in play. I’ve slipped on the court (think like ice) and just fall. Especially when I need to change direction fast. I either change too fast or have no grip that my feet “slip” and I fall.

Not only is slipping and falling my issue, but shoes have become too expensive. I carry extra shoe laces because I never know when I take a bad slide and rip my laces. My socks are torn around the big toe knuckle. And my shoes last 40 hours MAX. This is ASICS court ff 2 shoes which have become hard to find last few years.

I’ve tried head shoes, Wilson and Nike. Non have survived my sliding. It’s as far as Wilson shoes deteriorating in 30 minutes of play (not kidding). I ripped the soles off in 30min of rallies.

Head shoes are the same story and I won’t even get into nikes. They are paper thin lol.

The wear pattern isn’t in one spot (toe dragging/sliding etc) but rather the entire sole just gets thinner and thinner. Think like a 1.5 inch by 0.5 inch hole in the sole if I really push a shoe.

TLDR: Does anyone else slide so much they slip and fall on hard courts? If so, what can be done?

 

[Fintft]

This won't help you much, but as a club player I used to get 3 for 2 from TW warranty with their 6 months sole warranty. They would replace the shoe, the moment I'd start slipping (sometimes outside of warranty, hence the 3 for 2), no need for holes.
I've moved to playing on clay year around since and now I'm replacing the shoes only once a year. GR8.

 

[PhilippT]

This won't help you much, but as a club player I used to get 3 for 2 from TW warranty with their 6 months sole warranty. They would replace the shoe, the moment I'd start slipping (sometimes outside of warranty, hence the 3 for 2), no need for holes.
I've moved to playing on clay year around since and now I'm replacing the shoes only once a year. GR8.

It would be nice if Canada had outsole warranties on shoes…

No company that I’m aware of has it (and honours it). However, after a dispute with Nike regarding the Cage 4 shoes. 3 holes in 1.5 weeks they offered a refund.

If only ASICS offered warranty. Best shoe on earth.

 

[Fintft]

I live in Canada as well, but the border is 80kms away and MyUsaddress in Ogdensburg keeps a package for $5/year and since I used to hike often in Adirondacks, I only bought shoes from US. TW has paid return labels included.

 

[Tennis_Slapper23]

I had a problem sliding to much, it came from playing on green clay and sliding on every ball. It got to the point where I would be late to take a first step because I knew I could slide and get balls. I basically had to think about footwork and the basics to break that habit.

I’d suggest to think about when and why your sliding. Because if you watch a high level junior or college kid, sure they slide a good amount but. It’s typically out of need. You should try to improve your first step speed and reaction time(how long it takes for you to know which direction to move).

Court positioning/ play style has a role. If your playing super far back and giving your opponents more chances to hit drop shot/ or hit a ball of the court you have to slide to. Like if you watch Alex Deminuer he slides a lot because he plays far back and doesn’t dominate points much. Which gives his opponent more room to hit drop shots or hit angle of the court. But if you watch cilic or Mateo they are more aggressive and closer to the baseline making them run less/ slide less.

Also you should only be sliding on drop shots and balls that are hit on side of the court you have to almost dive to get. I’d probably try to slide less which is a no brainer but definitely look for a warranty shoe. Also, someone told me the heavier shoes last longer and that’s been the case for me. I had a pair of Wilson kao’s last for about 3 months and a pair of Wilson Rush Pros last for 5 but with me playing more.

 

[Rosstour]

I don't slide into my shots at all. Even on clay.

Be careful what you wish for, lol

 

[PhilippT]

I had a problem sliding to much, it came from playing on green clay and sliding on every ball. It got to the point where I would be late to take a first step because I knew I could slide and get balls. I basically had to think about footwork and the basics to break that habit.

I’d suggest to think about when and why your sliding. Because if you watch a high level junior or college kid, sure they slide a good amount but. It’s typically out of need. You should try to improve your first step speed and reaction time(how long it takes for you to know which direction to move).

Court positioning/ play style has a role. If your playing super far back and giving your opponents more chances to hit drop shot/ or hit a ball of the court you have to slide to. Like if you watch Alex Deminuer he slides a lot because he plays far back and doesn’t dominate points much. Which gives his opponent more room to hit drop shots or hit angle of the court. But if you watch cilic or Mateo they are more aggressive and closer to the baseline making them run less/ slide less.

Also you should only be sliding on drop shots and balls that are hit on side of the court you have to almost dive to get. I’d probably try to slide less which is a no brainer but definitely look for a warranty shoe. Also, someone told me the heavier shoes last longer and that’s been the case for me. I had a pair of Wilson kao’s last for about 3 months and a pair of Wilson Rush Pros last for 5 but with me playing more.

Foot work could be the case but I’m pretty good with my feet (according to all the coaches that have seen me play and even some ITF players).

I played at a high junior level (I’m 19 now though).

I’m wondering if it could be somehow related to the amount of weight I put on my foot? Maybe I’m too light on my foot which causes it to slide more?

Maybe I’ll record myself play and send in a video on here.

 

[Fintft]

I don't slide into my shots at all. Even on clay.

Be careful what you wish for, lol

Hence I went for the clay shoes with the deepest thread: GR8s

 

[Rosstour]

Hence I went for the clay shoes with the deepest thread: GR8s

I have really long legs for a guy, and very small feet (I take 6/6.5 in Nike tennis shoes)...I think that hurts me a lot.

How does tread depth affect sliding?

 

[Tennis_Slapper23]

I don’t think weight would play a role in sliding. Are you sliding while running in a sense or are your slides just normal slides out of need? What do you mean by slide?

 

[Tennis_Slapper23]

I have really long legs for a guy, and very small feet (I take 6/6.5 in Nike tennis shoes)...I think that hurts me a lot.

How does tread depth affect sliding?

Tread depth has a big role on hard courts. The tread is designed for preventing slipping. If anyone has ever played basketball, playing basketball in non basketball shoes especially regular jogger sneakers you slip like crazy. A lot of people change tennis shoes when they start to slip/lose tread.

 

[Rosstour]

I don’t think weight would play a role in sliding. Are you sliding while running in a sense or are your slides just normal slides out of need? What do you mean by slide?

Weight absolutely plays a role. Anything that changes your physics will play a role!

I don't slide while running. The only time I will be consciously aware of sliding is out of the shot--after I get into the air for a wide FH, the outside (right) foot will sometimes slide when I come down.

Interestingly enough I am banned from my favorite clay club right after a rain--I'm 130-135 lb but apparently I'm so "heavy on my feet" that I absolutely destroy the courts.

My Dad, at 200lb, is allowed to play after a rain bc he is light on his feet. I don't understand it lol.

But...he has size 10 feet. In physics, "a point concentrates a force"

Tread depth has a big role on hard courts. The tread is designed for preventing slipping. If anyone has ever played basketball, playing basketball in non basketball shoes especially regular jogger sneakers you slip like crazy. A lot of people change tennis shoes when they start to slip/lose tread.

Yeah, because I'm too light to really wreck my shoes, the first thing that happens is I start to slip. This happens before I wear through the uppers, and before the insole breaks down. That's when I retire the shoe and wear it to the office.

 

[Fintft]

I have really long legs for a guy, and very small feet (I take 6/6.5 in Nike tennis shoes)...I think that hurts me a lot.

How does tread depth affect sliding?

You don't slide with deep threads. I use 10.5 at 6'2" and long legs.

 

[Fintft]

Weight absolutely plays a role. Anything that changes your physics will play a role!

I don't slide while running. The only time I will be consciously aware of sliding is out of the shot--after I get into the air for a wide FH, the outside (right) foot will sometimes slide when I come down.

Interestingly enough I am banned from my favorite clay club right after a rain--I'm 130-135 lb but apparently I'm so "heavy on my feet" that I absolutely destroy the courts.

My Dad, at 200lb, is allowed to play after a rain bc he is light on his feet. I don't understand it lol.

But...he has size 10 feet. In physics, "a point concentrates a force"



Yeah, because I'm too light to really wreck my shoes, the first thing that happens is I start to slip. This happens before I wear through the uppers, and before the insole breaks down. That's when I retire the shoe and wear it to the office.

I destroy the courts as well, mainly b/c of the GR8s and my weight + happy feet. But they haven't said anything yet.