For the longest time I would get confused when I heard men and women discussing women’s tennis shoes. I couldn’t believe so many women really played tennis, and I had never seen any of them about the tennis courts or even just touching a racket. Being young, I didn’t recognize that men and women from different locations have names for issues that I may well not be used to. Some people say jacket or coat, although others say parka, even though they all mean the exact same thing. The similar thing happens with soda and pop. It’s the similar stuff, but you could call it one or the other depending on exactly where you live.

I thought women’s tennis shoes were for the purpose of the tennis court only, a lot like bowling footwear are worn at the bowling alley but rarely out in public. I later learned that when people said tennis shoe, they meant the exact same thing as what I called a sneaker. No one is correct or wrong; it really is determined by exactly where you grew up and what your parents called them. This distinction in slang was fodder for some excellent laughs when I went to college and started meeting men and women from everywhere.

Some men and women snicker once they hear me call women’s tennis shoes by the name of sneakers. I am not certain, but I am guessing the name sneakers came from the fact that unlike hard soled footwear, you can sneak up on somebody with them on. They have a soft sole and produce incredibly little noise. Actually, the sole noise you hear them create may be squeaks on a polished basketball court. Perhaps they really should not be sneakers or women’s tennis footwear; maybe they ought to be named squeakers. Ok, sorry, poor joke. Maybe just search for a tennis sneaker to prevent all confusion.

Should you want women’s tennis shoes, or sneakers, or whatever it is that you simply call them, you may uncover them anywhere that carries shoes and boots. Should you want shoes that are created for tennis, ensure you visit an athletic store and tell them you would like great shoes for tennis, but don’t necessarily call them women’s tennis shoes, or you could get shown any old pair of soft-soled shoe. Search for a great fit, and ensure you get arch support. You’ll pay more for a quality pair of shoes, but if you would like them for athletic reasons, you will probably be glad you did.