Black Shoes

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
I've heard this 25 years ago, and I'm hearing it again.

I wear Reebok walking shoes, AR0455, black. Somebody said, "You're not supposed to wear black shoes. It leaves marks on the court." Heard it long ago, and I don't think it's correct. Black is the color underneath the court. The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added.

Thoughts?
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I've heard this 25 years ago, and I'm hearing it again.

I wear Reebok walking shoes, AR0455, black. Somebody said, "You're not supposed to wear black shoes. It leaves marks on the court." Heard it long ago, and I don't think it's correct. Black is the color underneath the court. The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added.

Thoughts?

What if your shoes aren't taking away court paint but adding a layer of black on top of the court paint?

Also, it's irrelevant: the end result of either will be the same to an observer.

LGQ7: "No, your Honor: I didn't shoot Mr. X. I shot at a tree and Mr. X happened to walk into the bullet's path."

Judge: "Seriously?"
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
What if your shoes aren't taking away court paint but adding a layer of black on top of the court paint?

Also, it's irrelevant: the end result of either will be the same to an observer.

LGQ7: "No, your Honor: I didn't shoot Mr. X. I shot at a tree and Mr. X happened to walk into the bullet's path."

Judge: "Seriously?"

If it's irrelevant and the results are the same, they why would someone say that to me?
 
urban legend NO ONE has ever said that to me and i've worn skate shoes and basketball shoes 25 years ago, the key is non marking souls, doesn't matter color yo
 

AlexSV

Semi-Pro
I've heard this 25 years ago, and I'm hearing it again.

I wear Reebok walking shoes, AR0455, black. Somebody said, "You're not supposed to wear black shoes. It leaves marks on the court." Heard it long ago, and I don't think it's correct. Black is the color underneath the court. The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added.

Thoughts?

How would the color of the shoe determine its ability to scrape off paint? Whoever said that is an idiot. It's the sole, on shoes that aren't made for indoors, rubbing off and sticking to the court.

I feel dumber for having read this thread.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
How would the color of the shoe determine its ability to scrape off paint? Whoever said that is an idiot.

I said the shoes scrape off the paint, by friction. The marks you see are the black underneath the paint, not the scraped off rubber.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
How would the color of the shoe determine its ability to scrape off paint? Whoever said that is an idiot. It's the sole, on shoes that aren't made for indoors, rubbing off and sticking to the court.

I feel dumber for having read this thread.

We're talking about outdoors court.
 

Moveforwardalways

Hall of Fame
There is no way at all that your shoes are scraping paint off the court. If you are wearing the wrong kind of shoes, they can leave marks on the court.
 
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Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
I've heard this 25 years ago, and I'm hearing it again.

I wear Reebok walking shoes, AR0455, black. Somebody said, "You're not supposed to wear black shoes. It leaves marks on the court." Heard it long ago, and I don't think it's correct. Black is the color underneath the court. The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added.

Thoughts?

Are there black marks on the court? Are they from your shoes? If the answer to these questions is "yes" then get those shoes off the court.

Doesn't matter whether the black is from scraped off paint or scraped off sole. It's damaging the court surface either way and there is no reason for it when there are oodles of non-marking, non-scraping shoes out there.

This is one of the more silly threads I've seen.
 
I said the shoes scrape off the paint, by friction. The marks you see are the black underneath the paint, not the scraped off rubber.
Must be a slow news day. I think you're referring to the phenomenon of the black chess pieces scraping off the red squares on the chess board making them indistinguishable from the black squares, this happened to Bobby Fisher once--he was caught deliberately scraping the black pieces--this precipitated the invention of non-marking chess pieces.
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
I drag my toe when I serve. I was playing on the indoor university courts years ago wearing non marking black soled shoes.

Assistant tennis coach sees me, calls me over to the desk, and gives me a new pair of Nike shoes. Makes me change into before I can go back to the court.
 
I drag my toe when I serve. I was playing on the indoor university courts years ago wearing non marking black soled shoes.

Assistant tennis coach sees me, calls me over to the desk, and gives me a new pair of Nike shoes. Makes me change into before I can go back to the court.
Did you have to give them back or get to keep them?
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Did you have to give them back or get to keep them?
Kept them

He told me to put on some different shoes as mine were marking up his courts. I told him this is all I have and that my soles are non marking. So he asks what size I wear and gives me a new pair of shoes.

My friend I was playing with was pretty shocked.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Was it really that hard to rub your sole on the court and find out?

Would have saved my life 5 min of stupid discussion.

Good question. In my mind I already have the answer, that is why I didn't try.

This is the 2nd time in 25 years this came up. It's not an ongoing thing.

You don't know the answer either.

I weigh 125 lbs. I may not the mass and speed enough to skid and rub off the paint.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Good question. In my mind I already have the answer, that is why I didn't try.

This is the 2nd time in 25 years this came up. It's not an ongoing thing.

You don't know the answer either.

I weigh 125 lbs. I may not the mass and speed enough to skid and rub off the paint.

I’m not surprised which is why the paint rub off theory seems bogus. I’m 195lbs and never rub paint off. I’d imagine you’d have to wearin mountaineering boots with crampons to take paint off a court.
 

Turbo-87

G.O.A.T.
I don't understand why one would wear walking shoes to play tennis. Those soles would last me two weeks.
 
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S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I weigh 125 lbs. I may not the mass and speed enough to skid and rub off the paint.

That contradicts what you wrote in your OP: "The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added."

Which is it? Are you adding shoe marks or taking away court paint? Or both? Or neither?
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
I don't understand why one would wear walking shoes to play tennis. Those soles would last me two weeks.

I originally wear New Balance either tennis shoes or running shoes.

Then I developed ambidexterity so I need a flat sole instead of a curved sole.

The Reebok walking soles are harder and lasts longer than New Balance.
 

Ronaldo

Bionic Poster
I originally wear New Balance either tennis shoes or running shoes.

Then I developed ambidexterity so I need a flat sole instead of a curved sole.

The Reebok walking soles are harder and lasts longer than New Balance.
Buy a roll of duct tape and cover your soul
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Are you trying to compete with @Shroud for the "heaviest racquet" award?

Speaking of whom, where is the Shroudster these days?
Hey man. messed my good knee up a bit and havent been playing. So no forums because it will just make me want to play! Easing back into things.

Its funny. Someone here convinced me to go lighter and I was doing ok. Coming back I was just playing 21 and hitting groundies. The light racket sucked because I couldnt hit anything in without neutering the stroke. If I swung out it went out. If I held back it went out. It was frustrating and apparently I don't understand swing path and topspin like I should. Hey its a 110 rocket launcher. Anyhow out of frustration of thinking I had to just slice everything to win, I grabbed the 422g gamma and hit the crap out of the ball. I was awesome to take full cuts and things went IN!.

So now I need a stick that is heavy but the light one is better for serve and return. So I have to go with it but man I want one that does it all. Maybe I should split the difference.

Thanks for thinking of me man! Hope you guys are all well and crushing it.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Hey D!
It's me, Dom.
Been outta tennis for a year, dropped by San Pablo and lo and behold, Papa Mango was there partnered with Ming.
Got a set in, lost 7-5, but it was closer than the score and went just over an hour and 20 minutes.
That was yesterday and I can barely walk now. Aced Dee twice and held serve every time.
Hope you heal and enjoy the Sunshine state.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Hey man. messed my good knee up a bit and havent been playing. So no forums because it will just make me want to play! Easing back into things.

Its funny. Someone here convinced me to go lighter and I was doing ok. Coming back I was just playing 21 and hitting groundies. The light racket sucked because I couldnt hit anything in without neutering the stroke. If I swung out it went out. If I held back it went out. It was frustrating and apparently I don't understand swing path and topspin like I should. Hey its a 110 rocket launcher. Anyhow out of frustration of thinking I had to just slice everything to win, I grabbed the 422g gamma and hit the crap out of the ball. I was awesome to take full cuts and things went IN!.

So now I need a stick that is heavy but the light one is better for serve and return. So I have to go with it but man I want one that does it all. Maybe I should split the difference.

Thanks for thinking of me man! Hope you guys are all well and crushing it.

Hey, welcome back! I thought you might have gone the way of NYTA or something. Hope the knee is feeling better.
 

norcal

Legend
Watched two swimmers play barefoot wearing speedos on a hardcourt. Then they whipped out their *censored*
hay.gif
 

Shroud

G.O.A.T.
Hey D!
It's me, Dom.
Been outta tennis for a year, dropped by San Pablo and lo and behold, Papa Mango was there partnered with Ming.
Got a set in, lost 7-5, but it was closer than the score and went just over an hour and 20 minutes.
That was yesterday and I can barely walk now. Aced Dee twice and held serve every time.
Hope you heal and enjoy the Sunshine state.
Glad you are still playing man. I bet Mango is insufferable since he got bumped...
 

NLBwell

Legend
Black waffle-soled jogging shoes would make a jumbled clutter of black marks all over tennis courts. This is back in the 1970's and 80's. Tennis shoes did not have black soles. Then someone invented non-marking black soles for tennis shoes (you now can see the words non-marking on black soled shoes).
With the invention of non-marking black soles, black soles are no longer a problem if they are non-marking.
Mark my words and bless your soul.
 

zaskar1

Professional
I've heard this 25 years ago, and I'm hearing it again.

I wear Reebok walking shoes, AR0455, black. Somebody said, "You're not supposed to wear black shoes. It leaves marks on the court." Heard it long ago, and I don't think it's correct. Black is the color underneath the court. The shoes scrape off the paint color leaving the black color underneath. It's a negative color, from what's taken away, not something added.

Thoughts?

on public courts, its probably not enforceable, however at clubs, you are suppose to wear non-marking shoes on the courts,
about 20 years ago, some woman challenged me with my black nike andre agassi blue soled shoes, i told her these are tennis shoes
i guess she thought all tennis shoes had to be white.
if someone wears trainers or running shoes on the court, they can mark them up.
they can also easily twist an ankle, as there is no lateral support.

i think at our club, havent seen too many marks, as usually people wear tennis shoes

z
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Having looked at the model LGQ7 wears I'd be impressed if they didn't mark the courts. Do not look like non-marking tennis outsoles.
 

FedLIKEnot

Professional
I am not sure what the heck is going on in this thread. But if your shoes can wear through the top coat of the court and down to the base layer than regardless the shoes are the wrong shoes. As far as color transfer to the court that can happen. I have via a slide scuffed the court. Nothing that a court cleaning can’t fix. But the issue would be a sole (or a soul) that leaves marks. Most athletic shoes these days don’t leave marks. Kids at our local rec indoor basketball court playing in cheap Payless shoes don’t leave marks. So again should not be an issue.
 
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