Specific shoes for sliding on clay

[yogisri]

I play on Har Tru courts during Spring and Summer. Couple of questions:
- Do I need to buy a different pair just for clay if I wanted to slide? Currently I use Asics Court FF on hard courts.
- What videos would you recommend to learn how to slide?
- Is there any difference sliding on red clay versus har tru courts?

Thanks
Yogi

 

[Dragy]

Clay shoes would actually give you better grip on clay compared to all-court shoes. The former have softer sole rubber and less smooth texture. Sliding is based on having bigger momentum moving to the ball and putting your feet farther away from the body, and lowering center of mass.

 

[Dartagnan64]

All shoes slide on clay. Herringbone soles give you better grip when running and changing direction.

I've never seen a video but coaches have told me the key to sliding is make sure you point your leading foot in the direction of the slide. If your toe points perpendicular to the direction of the slide its a good way to turn an ankle.

 

[Fintft]

All shoes slide on clay. Herringbone soles give you better grip when running and changing direction.

And, it seems to me that Asics Gel Resolution clay shoes have the deepest herringbone pattern. I love them (again only on clay).

 

[Dartagnan64]

And, it seems to me that Asics Gel Resolution clay shoes have the deepest herringbone pattern. I love them (again only on clay).

That's what my wife uses. Too narrow for me. Looking forward to trying my Solecourt Boosts when I wear out my SFX3's.

 

[Fintft]

That's what my wife uses. Too narrow for me. Looking forward to trying my Solecourt Boosts when I wear out my SFX3's.

Me and your wife are delicate And I am big, tall guy at 6"2' or 187 cm. You?

 

[Dartagnan64]

Me and your wife are delicate And I am big, tall guy at 6"2' or 187 cm. You?

5'11" with Fred Flintstone feet

 

[Fintft]

5'11" with Fred Flintstone feet

He needed those b/c he didn't have an engine in his car, though....

 

[sureshs]

Go to TW Men's shoes, Finder, and check clay court shoes

https://www.tennis-warehouse.com/se...&opt_page=1&opt_sort=alphaAtoZ&opt_perpage=20

 

[Hmgraphite1]

I have had luck with the Nike Cage 3 , they have a wider herring bone on the front outside and grip well. I've also used the Diadora Blue shield AG which grip well also. I like a show that's not as big in surface area so I get more lbs per square inch, better traction and less slipping when pushing off

 

[mikeler]

For sliding, if you are right handed then slide with your right foot.

 

[Searah]

think you're gonna hurt yourself or trick an ankle if you're intentionally trying to slide.

i feel it comes naturally without meaning to when you're trying to reach a ball.

 

[mikeler]

think you're gonna hurt yourself or trick an ankle if you're intentionally trying to slide.

i feel it comes naturally without meaning to when you're trying to reach a ball.

If you don't specifically practice it, then I agree.

 

[Dartagnan64]

If you don't specifically practice it, then I agree.

Yes, all the Tennis Canada kids that come to practice on clay at our club get a lot of coaching about sliding on the surface before they even start hitting balls. It's a skill like anything else,

 

[mikeler]

Yes, all the Tennis Canada kids that come to practice on clay at our club get a lot of coaching about sliding on the surface before they even start hitting balls. It's a skill like anything else,

It puts a smile on my face when I see juniors practicing sliding without hitting a ball. That's the best way to learn and then it will just start to feel natural when hitting balls.

 

[Dartagnan64]

It puts a smile on my face when I see juniors practicing sliding without hitting a ball. That's the best way to learn and then it will just start to feel natural when hitting balls.

Sadly amongst rec adults, footwork drills seems to be a lost art. But the juniors getting high level coaching spend a ton of time on it.
I have several friends that won't play on clay because they view it as a dangerous surface. I tell them its only dangerous if you don't work on learning how to move properly on it.

 

[Daniel Waters]

I play on Har Tru courts during Spring and Summer. Couple of questions:
- Do I need to buy a different pair just for clay if I wanted to slide? Currently I use Asics Court FF on hard courts.
- What videos would you recommend to learn how to slide?
- Is there any difference sliding on red clay versus har tru courts?

Thanks
Yogi

You don't necessarily NEED a different pair of shoes, but tennis shoes specically for clay court are well worth purchasing. Some hard court shoes have herringbond patterns which make them decent clay court shoes, but I find there is a noticeable difference in playability. In fact, there have been at least 3 players I play with on clay that I finally convinced to buy a shoe just for their clay court play have told me they couldn't believe the difference and were super glad they made the switch. Besides, a clay court shoe (at least the soles) can last multiple seasons in my experience.

 

[ppsi1216]

I'm 61 and have been playing on har-tru for about ten years. I've half heartedly tried to learn to slide but I cannot. I wish I could but I guess I'm not patient enough to learn. I use a pair of head clay court shoes and have found them to be the beat ones I've had so far.
I'm 6-1 200lbs and a low level frustrated defensive player with a hard first serve and a sissy baby girl second serve. You get the idea. Probably not the best person to get an opinion from.