If you're not sure of the proper way to lace your basketball shoes, you're in good company. Even college basketball players have got it wrong in the past, according to legendary coach John Wooden, who led UCLA to 10 NCAA titles. Part of his unique coaching technique included a lesson on how to lace basketball sneakers. In 2001, Wooden told ESPN.com that he did this to help prevent blisters that can form during all the quick-stop turning and changes of direction and pace that occur on the court.
Step 1
Pull your shoelace in through the bottom left eyelet and out through the bottom right eyelet, so you have a straight bar over the tongue of the sneaker, with the ends of the laces outside the eyelets.
Step 2
Cross the left end of the shoelace over to the next right eyelet, which is the second one from the bottom. Feed the shoelace under and through the eyelet so the lace emerges outside the eyelet.
Step 3
Cross the right end of the shoelace over to the next left eyelet in the same way, feeding the lace under and then out of the eyelet.
Step 4
Continue crisscrossing the laces to the very top eyelets, always pulling the lace out through the top of the eyelet.
Step 5
Keep the laces loose, then hold up your sock while you put on your sneaker. Pull the laces tight from top to bottom until your foot feels secure in the sneaker and you do not have any wrinkles around the heel and toe of the sneaker. Tie the laces at the very top in a double knot.
Tips and Warnings
- Right before you hit the court, tighten the laces once more and retie the bow. This over-under method of tying helps your shoes last longer because the laces don't rub across the edges of the shoes.
- If you still find wrinkles in the shoe despite carefully lacing, you might be wearing a size too big.
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