Best Shoes for Kids Who Play Tennis – Lateral Support, Stability, and Good Traction!

Most parents make the common mistake of letting their children wear their everyday sneakers when playing tennis. I strongly suggest that if your child is somewhat serious about playing tennis to find a pair of actual tennis shoes, as they are designed with enhanced lateral stability and support that far exceed the capabilities of running shoes. I have put together a small list of the best shoes for kids who play tennis, and I will show you these shoes shortly.

Is it Worth it for Families to Invest in Tennis Shoes?

Shoes that are specifically designed for playing tennis won’t make your child a better tennis player, but they sure will maximize performance. The main reason why I suggest parents buy shoes designed for tennis is safety. There are a lot of quick lateral movements in tennis, and tennis shoes are designed to prevent rolled ankles during these movements. Tennis shoes are also better built than sneakers, so you can rest assured that your child will outgrow the shoes before they get destroyed.

What Makes the Shoes I Recommend Ideal for Playing Tennis?

The tennis shoes I recommend provide 3 key features that make them ideal for children who play tennis:

1️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This feature provides lateral support and cushions and protects your child’s heels. Do you know what the heel counter of the shoe is? The heel counter is the back part of the shoes, and the firmer it is, the better heel and ankle support that it provides. Let me show you the difference between a shoe with a firm heel counter versus a shoe with a soft heel counter:

Your kids’ tennis shoes should always provide a firm heel counter to prevent rolled ankles and other foot issues such as heel pain.

2️⃣ Substantial Outsoles: The tennis shoes I recommend provide substantial outsoles to support and protect your kids’ feet every time they come in contact with the ground. The substantial outsole of the shoes will help minimize the impact between your child’s feet and the ground:

3️⃣ Excellent Traction: Your kids’ tennis shoes need to provide excellent traction as there are a lot of sudden stops involved in tennis. Tennis shoes with good traction help prevent your child from slipping and falling:

Are Shoelaces Better than Velcro Closure for Playing Tennis?

Shoelaces will help secure your child’s feet and provide better support and stability than shoes with velcro closure. The issue with allowing your child to play tennis in shoes that come with velcro closure is that the velcro straps won’t hold your child’s feet in place as effectively as shoelaces.

Before I show you a list of tennis shoes that provide these 3 features I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot length and width. I don’t want you to waste time and money ordering shoes that won’t fit the shape of your child’s feet.

Now that you know what features your kids’ tennis shoes must provide and how to determine your child’s exact foot shape from home, we are ready to take a look at the best shoes for kids who play tennis. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases. This allows us to create free content and resources for many families around the world. 

Best Shoes for Kids Who Play Tennis

The tennis shoes I recommend below can fit different foot shapes such as narrow, medium, and wide feet. Just look at the description below each shoe to figure out what foot shape that specific shoe is capable of fitting. All of the tennis shoes below can be used on hard and clay courts.

Keep in mind that some places require your child’s tennis shoes to be 90% white or they won’t allow them on the court.

My coworker who has over 20 years of shoe fitting experience taught me a specific shoe lacing technique that works wonders for children who play sports, specifically for children who play tennis.

Before you leave I wanted to mention how wearing the correct type of socks when playing tennis can help prevent pressure points and foot issues such as blisters and corns.

What Are Good Socks for Playing Tennis?

There are certain socks that provide targeted cushion and support to certain areas of the foot to help reduce pressure points. It’s also important for your kids’ socks to be breathable to prevent your child’s skin from getting soft and more prone to breakdown.

Socks that provide good padding help protect your kids’ feet as they quickly pivot and come to sudden stops on the tennis court. Choosing the right tennis socks for your kids will help them feel more comfortable, avoid blisters, and have more fun playing tennis!

Make sure that you provide your child with the correct sock size as socks that are too small will cramp your child’s toes together while socks that are too big will bunch up below your kids’ feet and create discomfort.

Remember that tennis is a sport where footwork is very important and foot injuries can happen. The correct type of tennis shoes can prevent unwanted slips, falls, and injuries.

Looking for Other Boot Recommendations? – Get a Personalized Suggestion

I understand that not all families can afford to invest in a pair of specific sport shoes for their children. It’s hard to provide children with more than one pair of their everyday sneakers as they tend to outgrow their shoes pretty quickly. Do not hesitate to contact me and I will show you a selection of everyday sneakers that provide similar features to tennis shoes:

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Have you found a specific tennis shoe brand or tennis shoe style that has worked well for your child’s feet? Let us know in the comments section below so other families can benefit from your experiences.