Low-top basketball shoes are one of three general styles of basketball shoe designs. The other two are high-top and mid-top. Each design, or cut, offers various benefits as well as some drawbacks. Before you purchase a pair of basketball shoes, determine which type of player you are. Also consider your history and whether you have sustained any major ankle injuries. These factors play a major role in whether a low-top basketball shoe is safe for you to play in.
Function
Low-top basketball shoes are typically light and allow for greater mobility. Their simple design keeps the ankle exposed and doesn't restrict its movements. Some players feel that the low-top's design allows for more range of motion compared to the other two basketball shoe designs. Low-tops were popular in the early days of basketball but have been nearly replaced by more advanced shoes in the past two decades.
Safety
Basketball is a demanding sport that requires a lot of running, jumping, twisting and turning. These maneuvers place significant stress on joints, especially the ankles. Ankle injuries are some of the most common injuries in basketball. Players can easily twist an ankle by coming down from a jump and landing on another player's foot. The absence of ankle supports in low-top basketball shoes exacerbates this risk. With ankle supports, the ankle is somewhat stabilized as body weight comes down on it. The padding of high-top shoes also places cushioning between the ankle and the court, should the ankle be twisted so severely that is is pushed into the ground.
Injury History
Low-tops are not a good choice of basketball shoes if you have sustained ankle or foot injuries in the past. You should try to protect your ankles as much as possible when playing basketball. Low-tops are also not ideal if you have knee problems because the support provided by high-tops transmits stability up the leg when running and turning. The low-top's minimalistic design doesn't offer this type of protection and stability.
Top Rated Shoes
KicksGuide.com rates the 30 best basketball shoes of all time. The basketball shoe review website based its ratings on factors such as performance, cushioning, safety, comfort and durability. Not a single low-top model made the list. Ultimate-Youth-Basketball-Guide.com claims that approximately 10 percent of players wear low-top shoes for regular play, and about 70 percent of players choose high-tops for their ankle support, further signaling the low-tops shortcomings in safety.
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