For new players, buying tennis shoes can be a daunting task – tennis shoes are a specialty category, with specific functions, technologies, and characteristics that distinguish them from other athletic shoes. Even for a seasoned veteran, picking out one style from the hundreds available is a challenge. But never fear! We want you to play your best tennis yet, which means playing in the best shoes for your feet. This is part one of a series on how to buy the perfect tennis shoe.

While at Tennis Express we love to help our customers find the perfect tennis shoes for match play, we also recognize that your feet have many needs, and we sell a wide variety of men’s and women’s styles to help keep you feet looking stylish on and off the court. Here’s a rundown of some of our best casual styles for men and women.

by Alesha Rimmelin

Finally, the shoe that graces Roger Federer’s foot is being made to fit the feet of women. The Nike Women’s Zoom Vapor 9 Tour is now being made in women’s sizes, and is finding traction – no pun intended - with stars like Maria Sharapova. This new shoe boasts Nike’s top of the line technology, the latest in lightweight fabrics, and a design that was specifically engineered for the tennis player’s distinct and varied needs.

Feet, like tennis strokes, are all a little bit different. High insteps, pronation, and supination are just some of the factors that can and should affect your choice in footwear. So what exactly do those terms mean? We’re going to give you a quick podiatric tutorial to show you which tennis shoes are best for your particular foot construction.