5 Best Clay Court Tennis Shoes To Wear In 2023

Each surface requires specific tennis shoes to perform the best. Clay courts are slow but allow you to slide comfortably with no worries.

Most of the injuries encountered in tennis do not happen on a clay court, as opposed to hard or grass courts.

Still, clay courts need specific shoes with particular characteristics to maximize your performance and avoid unwanted injuries.

In this guide, we will list the best clay court tennis shoes you can buy in 2022.

Why Do You Need Special Shoes for Clay?

Hard courts are fast, so you need to be fast as well to get to the ball quickly.

Unlike clay when you have much more time, you need to be agile and slide adequately.

Tennis shoes that perform the best on hard courts have the following features:

Stability
Controlled traction
Easier sliding
Rigidity
Durability

What Are the Best Tennis Shoes For Clay?

Here is our list of the best clay court tennis shoes.

Asics Solution Speed FF2

This is one of the 3 powerhouses of the Asics tennis shoe industry. In our posts, we often mention the 3 of them.

While the Asics Court FF2 is an all-court favorite shoe and the Gel Resolution 8 is famous for being comfortable, I find the Asics Solution Speed FF2 to be the best clay tennis shoe of Asics and one of the best on the market.

Starting with the fit, the shoe seems to be so comfortable to wear with a classic well-padded tongue which I like the most.

In addition, the Solution Speed FF2 is lightweight and fast for those who want speed and agility.

Stability is top-notch as well thanks to the smart design featuring TPU parts in the midfoot and a slightly low arch. This is surprising given the fact that the shoe is considerably lightweight.

The upper is breathable and flexible for those weird clay movements like twisting and flexing. It also feels high-quality with the Dynawrap technology.

The midsole is supportive and very bouncy featuring Gel technology, offering great shock absorption.

The outsole consists of resistant rubber with a multi-angle tread pattern that works great for sliding and quick direction changes.

*Asics Solution Speed FF2 tread pattern*

One reason why I put this shoe on this list is the fact that the outsole and the upper are durable if you play mostly on clay, which is not the case on hardcourts.

PROS

So comfortable and cushioned
Great support and bounce
Surprisingly stable
Lightweight and fast
Great traction and easy sliding on clay

CONS

Be careful with the sizing

Men	SEE PRICE
Women	SEE PRICE

Nike Air Zoom Cage 3

No surprise that the great Rafael Nadal endorses the Air Zoom Cage line. He plays with a shoe similar to the 3rd iteration.

The best feature of this model is its stability in the dirt. Wearing it, you feel connected to the clay court and you immediately have total control of your slides and stops without losing balance.

At the same time, they are dynamic and responsive and they offer plenty of cushioning on the inside around my heels and toes.

A full bootie construction wraps the feet giving a sock-like feeling.

In the middle, you will find a TPU shank providing torsional stability and sturdiness.

The midsole is a Nike Air Zoom unit supporting your heels and toes with plenty of cushioning and softness.

PROS

Outstanding stability and good grip
Support and comfort
Sweet wrapping feel of the foot
Well padded
Good shock absorption on the jump or on the abrupt stops
Top-notch durability

CONS

Not Easy to Fit
Needs some break-in

Unfortunately, it is difficult to get your hands on a new pair dedicated to clay, as the new Air Zoom Cage 4 is being promoted.

Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4

A lightweight and fast tennis shoe with a smart tread pattern design.

The outsole has variable herringbone angles with a variety of flat and chunky pieces and different angles that makes the shoe grippy without compromising the easy sliding.

*Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4 tread pattern*

The shoe is also flat especially on the forefoot, giving a better feel of the clay and better judgments of the movements.

The Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 4 is light and supportive at the same time, offering those extra milliseconds to get quickly to the ball in a perfect position. Take Alexander Zverev as an example.

On the midsole, you will find supportive and padded Lighstrike cushioning, perfect for rebounds and chock absorption.

The Adiwear outsole is durable and offers adequate traction that allows you to slide efficiently on clay.

Overall, this is a perfect combination of lightweight, stable and comfortable, and surely one of the best clay court tennis shoes ever.

PROS

Soft and cushy
Lightweight, fast and bouncy
Flexible and breathable upper
Great heel and ankle support
Great for sliding on hard courts

CONS

Not durable
Many people had their toe guard break after a few weeks
Needs days of break-in time to become comfortable

Men	SEE PRICE
Women	SEE PRICE

Adidas SoleCourt Boost

One of the most comfortable and plush tennis shoes on the market. It works superbly on clay courts thanks to the outsole pattern.

The Adidas SoleCourt Boost features an outsole with a deep tread pattern. The chunky rubber parts grips clay tightly giving you all the stability and traction you need on this type of court.

The SoleCourt Boost is also fantastic when it comes to giving you plenty of comfort and support in the ankle and heel areas.

With a low arch and a stiff and plush heel counter, they offer an optimal level of support for around the ankles and the heels.

In addition, the SoleCourt Boost has a wide lateral flange of 4 inches, offering you unmatched stability and a wider grip surface. Consequently, you have full control of your movements on the dirt.

Also, note that the materials incorporated on the inside and the outside are soft and durable. For example, the TPU upper resists abrasion and lasts for a long time.

Further, the Bounce foam material used to make the midsole offers lots of cushioning and shock absorption helping with quick rebounds.

PROS

Deep tread pattern for maximum grip and adequate sliding
Wide toe box
Nice materials
cushioning and comfort
Good durability
Amazing stability and rebounds

CONS

Needs attention in the ankle part

Men	SEE PRICE
Women	SEE PRICE

Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 3

The Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 3 is excellent for traction and controlled sliding.

They have two different tread patterns on the outsole. One half is chunky and multidirectional and the other half is flat and less angled.

This variation provides you with a good grip combined with controlled sliding and accurate stopping when needed. Casper Ruud is an example of how well you can move on clay with these shoes.

*Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 3 tread pattern*

In addition, a TPU stabilizer is located on the heel counter for more stability on the dirt.

The PCE3 includes Yonex trademark Power Cushion+ technology in the midsole, which is great for rebounds.

The upper is made from Double Russel Mesh which is lightweight and breathable. Also, note the rigid heel counter that gives you plenty of stability.

Overall, the Yonex Power Cushion Eclipsion 3 is a solid choice for supreme clay footwork and improved stability without compromising comfort and cushioning.

PROS