Basketball shoes are a way for players to show their style on the court, with hundreds of different shoes available. Shoes come in many different colors and models, but many players choose their shoes based on function rather than style. Players often look for comfort and stability when picking which basketball to wear.
Comfort
On the basketball court, you place a great deal of pressure on your feet with all of the jumping, cutting and running the game entails. For those reasons, you are going to want a comfortable pair of shoes that don't make your feet hurt or give you blisters, as well as help to absorb some of the impact. A shoe may be advertised as having cushioning or comfort, but the only way to tell is to actually try the shoe on. Lace up the shoe with all the same equipment you would wear during a game, including ankle braces and socks, and then walk and jump in the shoes to try to get a feel for the comfort.
Cut
Basketball shoes normally come one of three cuts: high-top, in which the shoe comes up over the ankle bone; mid-tops, which come to ankle level; and low-tops, which come below the ankle. The higher the shoe is, the more natural ankle support the shoe is going to provide. However, low-top shoes are often going to be much lighter than high-top shoes. The majority of players choose the higher-cut shoes for the added support, but some players may opt for the lighter weight shoes. Some players may opt for a compromise, with a lower-cut shoes combined with ankle braces for that added support.
Men's And Women's Shoes
Just like almost all other types of shoes, men's and women's basketball shoes are different as well. Since men generally have wider feet, men's shoes are designed to have a wider frame than women's shoes. Women will generally be more comfortable with the narrower cut of a women's shoe, as the men's shoe probably will not give the best stability. The majority of men also need the wider frame that men's shoes provide.
Fitting
When you are trying on a pair of basketball shoes, you most often want to allow for about a thumb's width of space between the tip of your foot and the tip of the shoe. Measure the foot when you are standing up for the most accurate fit. The extra space helps to ensure that the shoe will not rub against your foot, which can cause painful blisters. The width of your foot should also not stretch the shoe material; if this is the case you may want to try a wider shoe.
Closure
Basketball shoes have a number of ways to make them tight. Conventional laces keep the foot stable inside the shoe. Straps along the top can help prevent the ankle from rolling. Zippers are also available on some types of shoes as a way to hold the foot in place.
Member Comments