When you're ready to take tennis seriously, you'll need a set of proper kids tennis shoes. Running shoes just won't do!
Why not use running shoes?
All kids tennis shoes have extra lateral support, to support your feet while you're constantly darting this way and that when you're chasing after a tennis ball. Lateral support is the first thing that makes kids tennis shoes different from running shoes. Most running shoes don't have that extra lateral support
During all that side-to-side movement, you really don't want your ankle to turn on you. That's why kids tennis shoes are made of heavier and stiffer materials than running shoes. You're looking at canvas and leather, not high-tech polymers. Kids Tennis shoes are also made to be as flat as possible for stability, with durable soles that can hold up after miles of running on the court.
What to look for in a tennis shoe
To find the kids tennis shoes that are perfect for you, you have to start with knowing what kind of feet you have. It's not just about size! It's also about how your arch holds up. That's even more important in flat-footed kids tennis shoes.
There are three types of biomechanics associated with foot movement pronation, supination, and ideal. Barefoot testing indicates what type of foot movement you are likely to have, but footwear on the soles is a relatively good indicator.
Ideal feet are more likely to wear out evenly on the soles. Wear on the inside ball of the feet is more likely to mean your feet pronate; this is often referred to as having flat feet. If your shoes wear out on the outside of your heels, it is possible your feet have high arches and supinate.
