Tennis vs Running Shoes

[ripctt2]

Hypothetically if i only have running and tennis shoes which do i use for table tennis?
Some key points:
My tennis shoes are significantly heavier although i have used them in the past few weeks and havcent noticed anything. Its just that they are quite heavy and stiff to walk in. (asics gel challenger 14). They are okay for my footwork although mgiht also be becuase i havent tried the running shoes for quite a while.
My running shoes are significantly lighter and playing on a concrete floor they work perfectly fine and they are super light. (note i do not use the tennis shoes on concrete. I tested on normal flooring) (asics gel excite 9)
I have trials tmr so idk which to choose. any help is appreciated.

 

[NDH]

I'm sure people may have their own opinions, but I can't imagine playing in running shoes and feeling confident about side to side movement.

I've tried playing tennis in running shoes before, and the lack of lateral support was a real ankle breaker moment.

If your running shoes have support, and not THAT much cushioning, you might be OK.

But of the two, assuming they are actual tennis shoes (and not what Americans may call Tennis shoes, which are just "athletic sneakers"), I'd go Tennis shoes all day long until you can buy something better for Table Tennis.

Plus, you said you'd already used them and not noticed anything? That sounds like the much better option than switching to a running shoe at the last minute.

 

[You're Tacky & I Hate You]

I would use the tennis shoes.

Short and simple reason being they are "tennis" shoes and they're designed for similar movements as TT.

Longer thoughts being those running shoes look like they are a mesh woven material and don't have lateral support. So you might find yourself ripping through the sides and ruining them (I did this when I started playing TT and chose the wrong shoes). They also have big cushion soles which aren't great for stability, you sink into them and risk rolled ankles. The heel stack might also encourage you to plant your heels and make you less mobile, bad for TT.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[deepanmania]

Badminton shoes are also a good option for playing table tennis. In India, there are very few options for TT shoes. So I picked a nice Badminton shoe, and it's really good for playing table tennis.
There are many options for Badminton shoes, and you can get them for cheap.

The only thing to keep in mind is that in TT, we do a lot of side-to-side movements, so the base and heel of the shoe shouldn't be a chunky one, chunky ones are good for jumping.

 

[ripctt2]

Ah okay. Just to answer

I'm sure people may have their own opinions, but I can't imagine playing in running shoes and feeling confident about side to side movement.

I've tried playing tennis in running shoes before, and the lack of lateral support was a real ankle breaker moment.

If your running shoes have support, and not THAT much cushioning, you might be OK.

But of the two, assuming they are actual tennis shoes (and not what Americans may call Tennis shoes, which are just "athletic sneakers"), I'd go Tennis shoes all day long until you can buy something better for Table Tennis.

Plus, you said you'd already used them and not noticed anything? That sounds like the much better option than switching to a running shoe at the last minute.

yes they are actual tennis shoes. like specialised tennis shoes.
Okay i think ill stick with tennis shoes then. SInce my running shoes have a ton of cushioning.

 

[Lazer]

If Your running shoes isn't indoor shoes they may make marks on the floor. This isn't liked in a hall...

Cheers
L-zr

 

[ripctt2]

Hmm I just got butterfly lezoline unizes like the origina lone not II. But like i've seen mixed opinions online. so im not sure whether this was a good purchase or not. in my region, in australia it was like a 50 dollar discount so thats why i got it.

 

[boretennis]

definitely the tennis shoes. running shoes are not stable enough for sideways movements.
as others i use badminton shoes.

 

[ripctt2]

definitely the tennis shoes. running shoes are not stable enough for sideways movements.
as others i use badminton shoes.

But please read the message i sent above. i got table tennis shoes. just not sure about quality since htere are mixed opinions online.

 

[thisisit]

90% of the time, i play in vibram five fingers. sometimes, i train barefoot.

 

[DrBean]

Court shoes are all generally the same (aside from basketball and volleyball), spec'd for lateral movement and not much else. Main issue with the running shoes is the stack height and soft foam. If you're rigorous the incidence of sprained ankles would be pretty high.

Otherwise, some barefoot shoes can also work.

 

[tzifos]

I am using for the past 3 months football (futsal) shoes from Adidas (Super Sala Competition 3), and they are excellent for TT! Only 44Eyros with free shipping!
Almost flat with thin sole (they have about 3~4mm drop heel to toe so some basic knee "suppport") and much better traction than my BTY LEZOLINES RIFONES with excellent and very stable for sideway movements. Never used my BTY shoes from the moment I got them!

 

[ripctt2]

If i got dust on the table tennis shoes, would using like a normal table tennis rubber cleaner + sponge work?

 

[DrBean]

How dirty is your gym that you need to clean your shoes?

 

[tzifos]

If i got dust on the table tennis shoes, would using like a normal table tennis rubber cleaner + sponge work?

Usually a damp old towel or tshirt in the side of the table does the work.

 

[Reaper]

Stay with the tennis shoes. I've been using Joma Master 1000, it's the best desicion i've made for my wide feet.

it's weird that your're not liking the asics gel challenger 14. Lately in my area, Asics it's been the go to brand for TT players that dont want the hassle of importing TT shoes.

 

[ripctt2]

Its super heavy.m Like 100 grams heavier than a normal running shoe. And in case you didnt read my message from before, I said i got proper table tennis shoes so it doesnt rlly matter ig