The best performance basketball shoes for women should provide durability, stability, support, flexibility and shock absorption. During a basketball game, women are constantly jumping, moving from side to side, and abruptly stopping, making it essential that a woman chooses the right shoe that can stand up to this type of rigorous movement.
Type of Player
Determining what type of player you are will help you determine the right shoe. Basketball players fall into three types: power players, all-around players and fast players. A power player will need a heavier shoe that has maximum stability and cushioning. An all-around player will need a lightweight shoe that provides an adequate amount of cushioning and ankle support. A fast player needs a lightweight, low-cut shoe that offers moderate support, flexibility and cushioning.
Shoe Construction
Understanding the construction of a shoe will also help you choose the best performance shoe. The construction of a shoe consists of an upper, midsole and outsole. The upper area is the top of the shoe. The function of the upper area is to keep the foot snugly in place. The midsole is the layer responsible for shock absorption. It's considered the most important layer because its level of cushioning determines the player's ability to explode off the floor. The outsole provides stability for the player. The outsole should be flat and wide to prevent ankle rollover and provide traction for sudden stops.
Things to Consider
Try on the shoe with the type of sock you will wear during a game, and ensure that you can wiggle your toes. Also, the shoe should be comfortable during all movements and it should not rub against your heels.
Top Brand
According to Eastbay.com, the Nike Hyperdunk, Nike Zoom Soldier IV, and Nike Blue Chip II are the top selling and best-rated women's performance basketball shoes. The Nike Hyperdunk is a lightweight shoe that features next generation Flywire that provides support for lateral cuts and speed, an injected TPU heel counter for heel lockdown, Phylon midsoles for cushioning, Nike Zoom at the heel and forefoot for added cushioning, a midfoot shank for stability, herringbone sole traction and performance flex grooves. The Nike Zoom Soldier IV features a full-grain leather upper, Flywire strap for heel lockdown and added support, an AirSole midsole unit for extra cushioning and a herringbone outsole for traction. The Nike Blue Chip II is a lightweight shoe that features a midsole that consists of a Phylon heel and an AirSole unit in the heel for extra cushioning, a herringbone outsole for ultimate traction, and a lateral sidewall wrap-up for side cut protection.
Member Comments