best pickleball shoes 2021: Men & women sneakers

Shoes are essential in your sporting gear. I say this because you are going to be doing a lot of movements with your legs. To do this requires the right shoes with the right stability to get the proper shots. Even if you had the best pickleball paddle and your mobility is affected due to a sprain or fracture, you wouldn’t be able to make much use of your paddle. This is to prove to you that the right shoe is a highly significant part of your game. Thus, it is essential you look out for the best pickleball shoes available so as not to get inferior products.

Worthy of note is the fact that the feet are the base of the human body. For every building, there is a foundation, and the strength or weakness of the foundation determines how well the building will stand. Similarly, for the human body, your feet must be stable and balanced because the entire body weight rests on it. In Pickleball, there is a lot of pressure on your joints and only proper fitting shoes can help minimize the pain from the pressure.

Most outdoor courts are adapted to hard tennis courts while indoor courts are often used for multiple shared sports like badminton and volleyball. Therefore, indoor court shoes designed for these sports will work well since the court surface and movements during play are like pickleball.

The side movements of pickleball and quick change of direction closely resembles other racket sports like racquetball and squash. Because of this, the best shoes for pickleball are quality shoes designed for the sports mentioned above.

There are specific features to look out for when getting a shoe. Below are some of them:

Superb Quality and Value

A lot of people underrate the value of pairing good tennis socks with quality shoes. Poor quality shoes can cause pain and discomfort in your knees, ankles, heels, hips, lower back, and joints. The pain in these joints can then lead to further weakness, imbalances, and pain.

Poor quality shoes can start a chain of problems that could potentially lead to injuries that will stop you from playing pickleball. Shopping for a pickleball shoe with high quality is essential.

Brand

There are lots of brands famous for pickleball and paddle sports. These brands have their unique specifications and features for different playing levels. Although not all of them may provide you with the best satisfaction, that is why you need to check out the consistency and worth of the brand before making a purchase. ASCIS, Nike, K-Swiss, Adidas, Prince, Saucony and many more are notable brands in the market.

Weight

This is another critical factor to note. Wearing heavy shoes will take an enormous toll on your overall performance on the court, while light shoes can make a huge difference in your game. Some pickleball shoes are 9 ounces or even less, whereas some pickleball shoes can weight more heavily. Those extra ounces add extra weight to your feet and can add fatigue and slow you down enough to make you enjoy your game less. The weight of shoes vary by size, and for instance, a size 6 can be way lighter than a size 12.

Court Surface

There are two recognized court surfaces. Indoor and Outdoor.

The conventional indoor gym courts were generally made of wood while modern courts are often made of flooring that looks like wood, but they are slippery compared to outdoor tennis courts. You’ll need the right shoe with excellent sole traction that grips well. Volleyball shoes happen to be the best option for indoor courts.

The Outdoor court surface, on the other hand, is made of Asphalt or concrete. They are observed to wear the soles down very quickly. If you regularly play on concrete, look for durable reinforced soles that can withstand the wear and tear. Tennis court shoes are the best choice. You must avoid running shoes, even if you play pickleball as an indoor or outdoor game. They are not designed and structured for racket sports, and as such, the soles can quickly wear and cause a sprain to your ankle.

Playing Style

If your playing style is more of a power game, driving long shots from the baseline, then you’re going to be doing lots of lateral movements. So look for pickleball shoes that have extra lateral support and durable soles. Also, look for pickleball shoes with cushioned soles and toecaps.

Durability

The time your pickleball shoes will last you considerably depends on how you use them. If you wear your pickleball shoes on the correct surface, they will last longer and give you the desired performance. Tennis shoes will have harder, more flexible outsoles, which will do well on concrete and asphalt courts. Indoor shoes are softer, and with just one game on an outside court, you will have ruined the grooves on the soles, making them useless for further use on wooden floors.

Why running shoes or cross- training shoes should be avoided.

It is neither ideal nor appropriate to be found wearing just any kind of shoes for pickleball. Players who have been sighted wearing hiking shoes and any sports shoe will realize that their feet are at risk of being hurt.

The comfort and balance of feet can never be over-emphasized. Remember that pickleball combines, table tennis and badminton, so what is not endorsed for these racket sports would not be entirely perfect.

Running shoes have soft, flexible soles designed to absorb and lessen the shock impact of heel strike, but they lack the lateral support needed for quick stops, starts and attacking after pickleball. Also, the thick, distorted pattern on the sole can catch and quickly turn an ankle compared to flat sole shoes designed for racket sports.

Cross training shoes have softer soles that will likely wear out quickly on hard courts. For these reasons, I’ll recommend you have a decent pair of hard soled shoes for playing outdoor pickleball. Such that, you can wear them for a lasting period.

The features of an athletic shoe:

Sock liner: The sock liner also referred to the midsole is at the base of your shoe and provides a cushioning bed. This part of the shoe has probably the most significant impact on the comfort you feel when you wear the shoe. Most midsoles are made of lightweight and flexible materials, like EVA or PU.

Upper: The upper refers to the part of the shoe that entirely wraps over the foot. They are made out of very durable materials, either synthetic or natural leather. Many newer shoes incorporate a mesh into the upper to not only make it lighter, reducing the overall weight of the shoe but also to increase exposure to air and keep the shoes fresh. Many new products use a hybrid upper, combining elements of mesh and synthetic or leather to balance the aeration and durability of the shoe while minimizing weight.

Vamp: If you stand on your toes, the area of the toe-box will bend. To allow your toes flex, the vamp is usually made of some flexible material, to increase ventilation in the toe box allowing the toes to breathe and preventing your feet from hotness and stickiness.

Outsole:  The outsole is the bottom of the shoe, the knobby bottom provides, stability and texture to grip surfaces and prevent slipping. This is the area of the shoe where wear and tear are most easily noted. The durability of the outsole will largely determine the lifespan of your shoe because it is continuously in contact with the court surface and the friction caused by start and stops.

Most outsoles are made with a very durable rubber that can withstand abrasive surfaces, and outdoor court shoes are often made of synthetics whereas indoor usually have some kind of natural gum rubber to increase adhesion on smooth floors.

Toe-cap: The toe cap is positioned just above your toes and is reinforced to protect your toes against impacts and foot drag.

Toe Guard: The toe guard is an additional layer of rubber added to the front of a shoe for extra protection from toe drag.

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