Insoles: What to Look for When You're Choosing

We take a look at how to choose the best insole for your feet.

Everyone's feet are different. Yours might be wide, flat, narrow or extremely arched. Maybe, you are prone to developing blisters, bunions or tendonitis. Whatever the case may be, keeping your feet protected and cushioned is essential for tennis players of any level.

It is one thing to have a great shoe on the court. But even the best shoes come with standard insoles. Abrupt responses, changes in direction, constant pounding and acceleration all come together to form the one thing that can make or break your tennis game: footwork. By minimizing stress and impact on your feet you are committing to bringing your best footwork every time you step on the court.

There is no doubt that you are on the right track when you make the decision to give insoles a try. But, there are several types and certainly several brands out there. You might be asking yourself which ones are the best? More importantly, which ones are the best for you?

First, there are two types of insoles.

Deciding between custom orthotics and over-the-counter insoles is the initial step. Custom orthotics are molded to your foot and can be ordered through a podiatrist or sports medicine doctor. This choice is the more expensive one and is usually recommended to correct poor foot mechanics that may be the cause of chronic pain. However, if you have any doubts about this course of action it is often customary to try out the various high-quality over-the-counter alternatives before you find yourself out of hundreds of dollars and unsatisfied.

Some of these alternatives include the Superfeet and Cadence insoles that offered at Tennis Warehouse. Trying out these insoles is worth the fraction of the price of what custom insoles cost. With several options based on individual needs and specific foot types, these top-notch brands carry the potential to correct minor biomechanical issues special to your feet,designed to ease discomforts caused by the demanding physical aspects of tennis.