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Clay is a surface made of crushed stone, brick, shale, or other unbound mineral aggregate. Unlike grass court which the surface is fast and tricky to play on. Clay, on the other hand, is very slow. The ball usually bounces relatively high and loses much of its initial speed when contacting the surface.
Therefore, if you want to be very successful on clay, you need to be physically strong and have good shoes that have excellent traction. This is because you are going to get involved in a lot of rallies and play more defensive games.
Selecting the perfect clay court shoes may be tricky for most people. As a result, I have created this post for you to make your life very easy. This post is an in-depth review of the 10 best tennis shoes for clay court and how they can benefit your game tremendously.
Table of Contents
Yonex Eclipson Power Cushion 3
The Yonex Eclipson Power Cushion 3 comes at number one on the list of best tennis shoes for clay courts for 2021. This shoe is specifically designed to provide you with excellent support, stability, and durability.
Upper
The upper is made of PU wrap around a Double Russell Mesh layer. The purpose of both materials is to provide you with good support, comfort, and breathability. This makes it easier to play with them in hot conditions because moisture can leave the shoe quickly while allowing fresh air to come through.
Midsole
The midsole is made of a Power Graphite Drive sheet in the forefoot area to provide you with excellent stability by resisting unwanted twisting.
Heel Area
What makes this shoe special from the rest and unique on the clay the heel outrigger counter. This is going to give you rigid support to your ankle whiles you are sliding on the clay court.
Outsole
The last point to talk about is the outsole which has three parts to it. Firstly, you have got a more griper herringbone pattern which is going to provide you with an excellent grip on the clay court.
Secondly, the middle of the outsole has got a large terraced gap which makes the shoe a little lighter than what it would have been. Also, it allows air to flow inside of the shoe with ease.
And thirdly, the medial side of the outsole has a dense herringbone pattern which is going to provide you with a good grip on both hard and clay court. If you like the features of this shoe make sure to read the full review.
K-Swiss HyperCourt Supreme
K-Swiss may be under the radar when it comes to making tennis shoes. However, their tennis shoes are high-performing and they do live up to a lot of player’s expectations. This shoe is getting a lot of praise on the market due to its awesome features such as comfort, support, and durability.
Upper
The upper is made of the unique DuraWrap flex. The purpose of this material is to provide you with an extra line of defense against toe dragging. On top of that, it’s flexible and comfortable. The only downside to the upper is it lacks breathability.
Midsole
The midsole is made of CMEVA Midsole. This material does a great job at providing you with support and stability.
In addition, it helps to reduce the amount of weight that your knees and lower body will be subject to. This whole process reduces fatigue and the risk of injuries from occurring.
Heel Area
The heel area is going to lock your heels and foot in a perfect position. This would enable you to move comfortably and smoothly on the court.
Outsole
As the outsole is important when it comes to clay, it’s worth taking a look. It has an Aosta 7 rubber material which is going to provide you with excellent durability and good traction on the clay court. This means you can move aggressively and quickly on the court. If you think this shoe would suit your style of tennis then make sure to read the full review.
Adidas Sole Match Bounce
Coming at number three for the best shoes for clay is the Adidas Sole Match Bounce. This shoe is really good for clay court surfaces due to its excellent tread pattern.
Upper
The upper is made of a special material called 360 TPU chassis. This material does really well at surrounding your foot and providing you with good support and stability during sharp movement and changes in the direction on the court.
Furthermore, the use of the 360 TPU chassis gives you both control and confidence whiles playing rallies and sliding on the court.
Midsole
The midsole is made of bounce technology which is basically a combination of ultra-responsive and cushioned EVA that will enhance performance and comfort.
This is going to provide you with nice cushioning and comfort when moving around the court and jumping.
And lastly, the midsole uses the heavy impacts to create more energy to give you an extra boost to help you cover more space on the court.
Heel Area
The heel section is protected by a firm and thick material that will keep it in a solid upright and healthy position. This is awesome because it helps keep your heels stable and comfortable on the court.
Outsole
As I said earlier what makes this shoe special for clay is the outsole. It has a deep herringbone that is going to grip any type of clay court. On top of that, the huge lateral flange is going to provide you with excellent stability. If you prefer this shoe then make sure to read the full review.
Adidas SoleCourt Boost
Next is the Adidas Solecourt Boost. This shoe is not only great for clay courts but for physical issues such as Achilles tendonitis, flat feet, and others.
Upper
The upper is made in a lightweight way to help you move quickly and effectively on the court. On top of that, the shoe is breathable which does very well at transferring fresh air into the shoe and allowing moisture to leave quickly.
Midsole
The midsole comes with boost material to provide you with supreme cushioning as well as protecting the sole of the feet from shocks and heavy contacts.
At the bottom of the sole, an EVA material is used in the boost midsole to make it extremely firm and strong. This will prevent bumps and shocks from reaching the sole of the foot, which could potentially cause injury or discomfort over the course of a match.
Heel Area
Coming with a heel height of 2.4-centimetre. This is going to allow your feet to stay in perfect position and help with your movement on the court. Also, the propriety foam does really well to provide you with shock absorption.
Outsole
The Adiwear outsole is going to provide you with excellent durability and traction on the court. Furthermore, the rubber is able to form a solid connection between the shoe and court, which means that you will always be in a firm and strong position when playing a shot. If you like this shoe make sure to read the full review.
Asics Court FF2
Another tennis shoe that is doing very well on the market and is good for clay court is the Asics Court FF2. This shoe is worn by Novak Djokovic.
Upper
The upper comes with a reinforced material to make sure that your feet are always protected and held in a perfect position as you move around the court. On top of that, the upper material has durable overlays for more protection.
Also, it is very flexible and supportive to provide you with better flexibility and heightened stability on the court, keeping you in control of all movements.
Midsole
The midsole is made of FlyteFoam technology which adds a real spring to your step and provides you with a more responsive feel. In addition, since the FlyteFoam is made up of organic super fibres it makes the shoe lightweight.
Heel Area
The heel area is going to lock your foot and heel in perfect position as you move around the court.
Also, this allows you to generate a lot of power to hit the ball with ease. On top of that, the heel has a wide heel to give you excellent traction especially on slippery clay surfaces.
Outsole
Another key reason why the Asics Court FF2 is great for clay is the outsole. The outsole tread pattern that covers the medial side of the shoe gives you an excellent grip on all types of clay surfaces.
Nike Air Zoom Vapor X
Number six with the best tennis shoes for clay is the popular Nike Air Zoom Vapor X. This is a great shoe not only for clay courts but all surfaces.
Upper
The upper is made of a Dynamic Fit system. This is going to give you glove-like fit support while you run and slide on the court.
In addition, a full-length foot frame on each side helps stabilise your foot during quick cuts and stops.
Midsole
The midsole is made with Nike’s famous Zoom Air unit in the heel area. The purpose of this is to provide you with excellent responsive cushioning and support on the court.
Heel Area
The heel area of the shoe is awesome to provide you with good comfort and cushioning. Also, it does very well to keep your feet in perfect position as you move around the court.
Outsole
The outsole comes with the aggro crag pattern that covers the heel to the toes. This is going to provide you with excellent traction on all court surfaces including carpets. Moreover, the lightweight of the shoe is going to help you move quickly on the court. If you like the features of the Vapor 10 then make sure to read the full review.
Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro
The Nike Air Zoom Vapor Pro is the new member of the line of the Vapor series. Nike did a fantastic job to combine the best features from the Vapor 10, Vapor Knit, and Vapor Cage 4.
Upper
The upper is made of durable mesh material which is made of a 3-layer design to provide you with excellent breathability.
On top of that, the mesh material does really well to provide you with extra support whiles you move around the court.
Midsole
The midsole is well made to provide you with excellent cushioning and responsiveness on the court.
Heel Area
The Pro comes with a 2.5cm heel height which is going to keep your foot lock-in and allow you to move comfortably on the court.
Outsole
The outsole of the Pro is just like the Vapor 10. The aggro crag pattern is going to provide you with excellent traction on all court surfaces. Moreover, the lightweight of the shoe is going to help you move quickly on the court. If you like the features of the Vapor Pro then make sure to read the full review.
Yonex Sonicage 2
Next on the list is the Yonex Sonicage 2. This shoe may be a surprise for some of you to see on the list, but it’s a fantastic shoe to play on clay due to its awesome features.
Upper
The upper of the shoe is made of durable skin and an extended TPU shank. This is going to provide you with great durability on the court. Also, you are going to get a nice soft and comfortable feel when you wear the shoe.
Moreover, the use of directional stripes helps to provide you with flexibility in the forefoot. This is going to be very useful to you on the court because you can move with ease and comfort on the court.
Midsole
The midsole is made of a combination of power cushion and hyper msLite materials. The purpose of these materials is to provide you with a plush and comfortable ride whiles reducing the weight of the shoe.
Heel Area
The heel area is going to keep your heels in perfect position and allow you to move comfortably on the court.
Outsole
The Yonex Sonicage 2’s outsole may be a little different than what you have expected but it does a good at providing you with an excellent grip on the clay court. The only downside to the outsole is that it’s not going to be the most durable. If you like the Yonex Sonicage 2 then make sure to read the full review.
Babolat Jet Mach II
Babolat may not be a popular brand like Nike, Adidas, Asics and others. However, they do a really good job at making high-performing shoes that provides you with stability, lightweight and comfort.
Upper
The upper is made of one-piece Kevlar and Polyamide fibre. This combination of materials is going to provide you with enhanced lateral stability on the court.
If you are a player that likes to slide and move aggressively on the court then you would benefit a lot from the upper.
Midsole
The midsole is made of EVA material. This is going to provide you with stability and cushioning on the court.
Moreover, the shoe has a sharp lethally flinch which allows the shoe to stay very stable. This is good for your game because even if you lose balance you would still have good stability to rely on.
Heel Area
The heel area is going to keep your heels in perfect position and allow you to move comfortably on the court.
Outsole
The outsole of the shoe is made of Michelin rubber. This is going to provide you with excellent traction on the court and help you to transition in and out during rallies. The downside to the outside is that it’s not going to be the best durable outsole due to the lightweight of the shoe. If you like this shoe make sure to read the full review.
Adidas Ubersonic 4
And lastly is the Adidas Ubersonic 4. This shoe may be a surprise to a lot of you but it does a really good job on clay. You are going to enjoy the lightweight, stability and breathability of the shoe.
Upper
The upper is built with seamless Primeknit sock-like construction. This material is going to provide you with nice flexibility and comfort when moving around the court. Another key feature of the upper is breathability. You are going to enjoy the fresh air coming inside of the shoe whiles the moisture leaving quickly.
Midsole
The midsole is made of light strike midsole foam. This is going to provide you with a spongier feel when playing on the court. In addition, a huge polypropylene shank is used in the midsole to provide you with excellent stability and support.
Heel Area
The heel counter is high and has a pad in it too. This is going to provide you with a snug fit and comfort when moving around the court. Also, it would hold your ankle and feet in perfect position as you move around the court.
Outsole
The way the outsole is designed is very interesting. It has a mixture of different designs such as contrasting herringbone tread, flat racing skid herringbone, and so on. The purpose of this model is to help you to slide effectively on the court without losing balance. If you like this shoe make sure to read the full review.
Final Thoughts!!
As this post comes to its conclusion, I hope you have found it very useful and knowledgeable. Hopefully, this list would help you to select the perfect shoe for clay. I would end by saying that if you manage to pick any of these shoes up I wish you the very best in your next match.
