Clay shoes - how often replace clay shoes?

[TheLastSwede]

How often do you replace clay shoes? I replace my hard court shoes when I feel that I get some knee pain after I played for around 2h. That is maybe after 60-100h. However, my clay shoes have I used for around 2-300h and I still think they perform ok. No pain and the sole still look ok.

How often do you replace your clay shoes? What is the general recomendation?

 

[brodd]

When to holes in the upper are big enough that you can't ignore them any longer or when the sole has lost it's pattern from walking from and to the car - whatever happens first. It's usually the holes and playing with shoes full of gravel is .. irritating.

 

[TheLastSwede]

I do not rip the upper part of my shoes so that will not be an issue. Don't drive to the club either, I am puttning on the shoes on the court.

 

[brodd]

Why would you then consider to replace them, if they look and perform good and gives you no pain or discomfort?

 

[rafa_prestige89]

Replace it when the tread pattern is gone and you start slipping on the court.

 

[Chairman3]

On average I get about a year, and I only use them on clay. Roughly 200-300hrs
Around a year the herringbone has actually been worn down and I start slipping, Ive had some minor tears in uppers but they didnt affect playability.
Recently switched to the Eclipsion 4 which have a different outsole pattern and it seems deeper, so curious if I can get longer out of them.

 

[Fintft]

On average I get about a year, and I only use them on clay. Roughly 200-300hrs
Around a year the herringbone has actually been worn down and I start slipping, Ive had some minor tears in uppers but they didnt affect playability.
Recently switched to the Eclipsion 4 which have a different outsole pattern and it seems deeper, so curious if I can get longer out of them.

I replace(GR8) them even without the herrigbone being worn out, b/c they loose some cushioning/support.

 

[stapletonj]

I have some cheap Babolats. I play on clay one week a year (at least 2 hours a day every day) when I go on vacation, and maybe 2 days a year otherwise.
These shoes are almost 20 years old. I paid less than $50.00 for them during a sale. (at Nevada Bob's - just kidding)
They play fine and the knee and hip pain I have to contend with on hard courts is nonexistent during my clay court forays.
So there.....
Dont get me started on the skyrocketing price of AGRs - yikes.

 

[eah123]

I play on clay about 6 months/year. My Ubersonic 3 clays I played with about 2 years. No noticeable wear on the treads. But the cushion was dead and uppers stopped providing any support. They felt like slippers on my feet! I don’t think it’s hard to tell when it’s time to get a new pair of clay shoes.

Hard court shoes on the other hand, the treads wear down to the cushion before any loss of support in the upper and only slight loss of cushioning. I’m not a slider.

 

[d-quik]

These shoes are almost 20 years old. I paid less than $50.00 for them during a sale

always good to hear stuff like this!

whats your opinion on people saying they have stuff falling apart after 3-4 years here? https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/do-shoes-last-for-years-unused.744357/

 

[J011yroger]

I do a purge in spring and fall. Throw out the ones that are defeated. Usually the uppers rip on my clay shoes or the cushioning gets pounded out. I mostly coach and I am in tennis shoes minimum 12 hours per day I probably go through 20 pairs a year.

J

 

[J011yroger]

This was my purge at the end of the summer.

J

 

[NastyWinners]

Oh no not the venom green vapor

 

[J011yroger]

Oh no not the venom green vapor

Ya Boi was looking sharp!

J

 

[stapletonj]

always good to hear stuff like this!

whats your opinion on people saying they have stuff falling apart after 3-4 years here? https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/do-shoes-last-for-years-unused.744357/

Frankly it depends on the shoe, how it is stored and what glue is used.

real leather can dry out and become brittle if not stored properly
glue can yellow and become brittle if no stored properly
so can most foams

I honestly think sunlight is really the biggest enemy (radiation?)

Back in the day I had a pair of adidas Top Ten high tops (endorsed by NBA players including Kevin Grevey, Mitch Kuptchak, et al) that I had left out a couple of years where the sun could get to them.

I tried to play in them and they pretty much fell apart.

 

[stapletonj]

This was my purge at the end of the summer.

J

please tell us that the gas can means you burn them in a sacred ritual......... BTW - WHAT A VIEW !!!!! where is that?

 

[J011yroger]

please tell us that the gas can means you burn them in a sacred ritual......... BTW - WHAT A VIEW !!!!! where is that?

My country club.

J

 

[J011yroger]

please tell us that the gas can means you burn them in a sacred ritual......... BTW - WHAT A VIEW !!!!! where is that?

View from my office.

@MaxTennis @nyta2 and @Anton Have all come to play with me there.

J

 

[McLovin]

This was my purge at the end of the summer.

J

Those are some quality lawn-cutting shoes you're throwing away there...

 

[Anton]

View from my office.

@MaxTennis @nyta2 and @Anton Have all come to play with me there.

J

It's all true, Jolly landed himself a slice of heaven.

 

[netlets]

I think the OP is wondering more about when the cushioning goes away in these shoes. I have had the same pair of Adidas Ubersonics (clay version) for about 5 years now. I just started looking for new ones. I think I really should have replaced them last year even though the soles are fine. The cushioning is really important for my knees - started to tell last summer they weren't giving me comfort. I'm looking for new shoes for this summer's tournaments.

 

[J011yroger]

I think the OP is wondering more about when the cushioning goes away in these shoes. I have had the same pair of Adidas Ubersonics (clay version) for about 5 years now. I just started looking for new ones. I think I really should have replaced them last year even though the soles are fine. The cushioning is really important for my knees - started to tell last summer they weren't giving me comfort. I'm looking for new shoes for this summer's tournaments.

I wear them to death at work. The 4s rip but the 2&3 you just have to throw out after a while because it's like walking on concrete.

J