Tag: tennis shoes footer

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T1W-Taper (Wide Egyptian) Toe Line

Diagram of a T1W-Taper toe line with an extra wide forefoot

A T1W-taper has two elements: the shape of the toe line and the width of the forefoot.

The toe line is characterized by a big toe that is longer than all the rest, with each toe shorter in sequence.

The forefoot is characterized by projections that protrude significantly outside of the maximum width of the toe line. This can be the result either of a naturally wide forefoot or injuries, such as bunions.

Men with this foot shape will not fit standard-width men’s court shoes. Ladies with this foot shape will not fit standard-width ladies court shoes. In general, men of this shape will need extra wide shoes, while ladies will need either standard unisex or wide men’s shoes.

Best Shoes for T1W (Wide Egyptian) Toe Lines

A T1-taper is the easiest toe line to fit. In the case of a T1W-taper (Wide Egyptian), however, the width of the forefoot is an issue. For this particular shape, we generally advise going to a T3W-taper because this is the only shape wide enough to accommodate the width of a T1W-taper forefoot.

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T3W-Taper (Wide Roman) Toe Line

Diagram illustrating a T3-Taper (Wide Roman) Toe Line

A T3W-taper, sometimes called a Wide Roman toe line, is characterized by the first three toes being of approximately the same length after which the the toe line begins to taper down to the little toe. In extreme cases, the top of the little toe will line up below the base of the large toe on the other side of the foot.

Although this is a relatively common foot shape in the athletes who visit our southwest Calgary store, there are surprisingly few options for this foot shape. Generally speaking, we will only have a few options available in sizes US Men 7 through 11.5.

Because this shape is so hard to fit for court shoes, players with this shape often suffer from blisters, chaffing, black toenails, toe pain, and general foot pain. In the worst cases, these players also develop Morton’s neuromas and/or arthritis in their feet.

Shoes with T3-Taper Toe Lines

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T2-Taper (Roman) Toe Line

Diagram of a T2-Taper Roman Toe Line

A T2-taper, sometimes called a Roman toe line, is characterized by the first two toes being of approximately the same length after which the the toe line begins to taper down to the little toe.

This shape, paired with a standard width forefoot, is most common in male athletes under 30 years old. In older athletes, this shape is most commonly paired with a wide forefoot.

In ladies, this shape is uncommon, but not rare. When it occurs in ladies’ feet, it is most often paired with a wide forefoot, which can make it difficult to find for players in sizes US Ladies 6, 6.5 and 7.

Players who have this toe line paired with a standard-width forefoot should not have trouble finding court shoes that fit. This shape and the T1-taper are generally favored by shoe designers which means that most court shoes on the market are designed to fit this shape well.

Shoes with T2-Taper Toe Lines

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Showing 19–21 of 21 results

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T1-Taper (Egyptian) Toe Line

Diagram of a T1-Taper Egyptian toe line with a standard-width forefoot

A T1-taper is characterized by a big toe that is longer than all the rest, with each toe shorter in sequence.

T1-taper toe lines, sometimes called Egyptian toe lines, are most commonly found paired with standard width forefeet on athletes under 30 years old. Players over 30 with T1-taper toe lines often have wide forefeet. This shape is also common in ladies but uncommon in men.

A T1-taper toe line paired with a standard width forefoot is relatively easy to fit into most court shoes because this is the shape that most court shoe designers have in mind when they design their shoes.

A T1-taper paired with a wide forefoot also tends to work well with genuinely wide court shoes. Again, this is because most court shoes are designed with the ideal of an Egyptian foot shape in mind.

As most court shoes are designed with the T1-taper-standard-width configuration in mind, these players will not generally have difficulties finding court shoes that fit.

Shoes with T2-Taper Toe Lines

Provided they are the correct length and width, all of these T2-taper toe line shoes will work for players with a T1-taper toe line.

Showing 19–21 of 21 results

Showing 19–21 of 21 results

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Who is Responsible for Sore Feet, Ladies?

Yonex Aerus Ladies Badminton Shoe

There is a constant refrain in the shoe business about the evils of major shoe brands and how their decisions are damaging women’s feet.

The narrative says that generations of women have suffered immeasurable foot damage due to shoe designs that promote style and beauty over health. These decisions, the narrative holds, have caused millions of older women to suffer from hammertoes, bunions, crooked toes, flat feet, corns, callouses and many other maladies of the feet.

To some extent, that is true. Poor shoe design does lead to preventable injuries and painful chronic conditions. But at some point women have to take responsibility for the choices they make.

Yonex Ladies Court Shoes

A random sample of five Yonex ladies court shoes from our online store.

In our store for example, we help hundreds of women try on shoes every month. Many of these women suffer from one or more of these maladies, so we do not hesitate to offer healthier options. Only a small percentage, however, even consider what we are telling them.

Almost every day of the week we have women in our store who insist on buying court shoes that are too short and too narrow. “But my heel is slipping,” is the most common sign that a woman is about to insist on buying a shoe that is too small.

We advise them that a little bit of movement in the heel of an athletic shoe is normal and healthy. We explain that the only way to get an athletic shoe in which there is no heel movement is to choose a shoe that is too short.

Asics Ladies Court Shoes

A random sample of five Asics ladies court shoes from our online store.

Shoes that have no heel movement — in other words, shoes that are too short — lead to hammertoes, bunions, crooked toes, flat feet, corns, callouses and many other maladies of the feet.

“But I am always a size 7,” some women state emphatically. “I have been a size 7 my whole life.”

In fact, from birth to death, the human foot is in a constant state of change. Our feet change grow longer and wider through childhood. For some people, feet continue growing well into adulthood.

Asics Ladies Court Shoes

A random sample of Babolat ladies court shoes from our online store.

Change continues even for those whose feet do stop growing in their teens. As we age, our feet tend to widen and our arches tend to fall. So nobody can ever truly say that their feet are the same size now as they were more than 20 years ago.

We offer expert fittings in our store for exactly this reason. We want to give all athletes, including female athletes of all ages, an opportunity to buy shoes that will not damage (or further damage) their feet.

Unfortunately, we often feel like our good advice is falling on deaf ears. Many women, it seems, are accustomed to the pain and want to continue experiencing it, even into their golden years, in spite of the fact that there are many healthier options right in front of them.