A: An easy way to determine what shoe size to wear is to leave about a thumbs width of room between the front of the shoe and where your big toe ends. It is important to have room in the front because tennis involves short stops. Without the extra room, people tend to jam their toes against the front of the shoe, which causes pain and a condition called black toenail. Also, if a shoe is too long it will not provide enough support and may cause blisters.

A: A tennis shoe is constructed with more support on the sides than a cross-trainer. This makes a tennis shoe much more stable for lateral movement and will help to prevent rolled ankles and other tennis related injuries. A tennis shoe will also have a denser rubber on the sole than a cross-trainer. This will make a tennis shoe last longer on tougher surfaces, like a tennis court.

A: Yes, some shoes are more durable than others. A durable shoe will have a reinforced toe area and a higher density rubber in the areas that receive more wear and tear. This will generally make a more durable shoe heavier.

A: Not necessarily. While there are clay court specific shoes, most current tennis shoes are designed with a herring bone pattern on the sole. This pattern will help to keep the clay from sticking in the bottom of the shoe.

A: No, as long as the shoes are made specifically for tennis, they will not mark up the court regardless of color. However, a shoe that is not specifically made for tennis like a basketball or running shoe may leave marks on the court.

A: A lighter shoe will generally be made with more mesh than other materials. This will make a lighter shoe more breathable which will help to keep your feet cool. It will also have less rubber on the outsole. A lighter shoe will also tend to be more flexible which will make them more comfortable for your feet.

A heavier shoe will tend to be more stable and more durable. They will also be stiffer and therefore a little harder to break in.

A: Generally, an expensive shoe will have an optimum blend of cushioning, weight, and durability. An expensive shoe will also tend to be more specialized towards a specific aspect. For example, a shoe for a more competitive player will have more cushioning and support than a shoe for a casual player. This will make the shoe for the competitive player more expensive.