How To Choose Pickleball Shoes

Choosing the perfect shoes for pickleball can be a little bit of a tough decision for pickleball players. A variety of shoes are there in the market. Pickleball shoes have some specific requirements with some specific features.

You should pick shoes for pickleball that have features like high-quality rubber soles, thick midsole cushions, and wide and tight fitness sizes. These features make the shoes unique from other court shoes and fulfill the requirements to play pickleball.

If you want to know about that, what are the requirements for good pickleball shoes? and why do you see that in pickleball shoes? This is the guide for you to choose pickleball shoes.

In this article, We will guide you on how to choose pickleball shoes and their requirements, and these features should be a must there.

How To Choose Pickleball Shoes Step by Step Guide

Here is the step-by-step detailed guide about how to pick shoes for pickleball. And what shoes to wear for pickleball? 

You have to choose the pickleball shoes having these 4 features. It will be the perfect match for you. 

1. Outsole Grip
2. Cushioning and Support
3. Breathability
4. Weight

(1) Outsole Grip

The shoes must have rubber outsoles to maintain traction with the court during the gameplay. It should be thicker for duality. It provides a cushion for your foot to absorb the shocks during quick movement. It should be rough but not so much to make scratches on the court.

(2) Cushioning And Support

The shoes must have thick sole cushions to support ankles. This thick cushion works as a shock absorber on the court of pickleball. When you make a jump or perform lateral movements quickly this cushion will help you to adjust jumps and prevent injuries. So, you should choose the one with a thick cushion and support.

(3) Breathability

Breathability is the 3rd and most important feature that should be in pickleball shoes. Make sure that the upper of shoes should be made from that type of upper through which the air can ventilate. When you choose shoes with a good Breathability score it will ultimately be long lasting. It will keep the shoes tight and prevent the foot from sweating.

(4) Light Weight

It must be lightweight. Lightweight Pickleball shoes can improve performance. The weight of indoor pickleball court shoes should be less than 9 ounces and less than 13 ounces. These lightweight shoes can save your stamina. It will also lead to the durability of shoes.

So, keep these four features in your mind while you are choosing pickleball shoes.

What are court shoes for pickleball

As we know pickleball can be played on indoor and outdoor courts. The outdoor courts may be asphalt, concrete, or grass courts ( rare ones) while the indoor courts can be wood laminate or concrete, etc. The pickleball shoes can affect your performance. if you pick it perfectly. After the selection of court type whether it is indoor or outdoor it comes into what are court shoes for pickleball. Both are different from each other and we have discussed both below.

Outdoor Court Shoes

The traction between the court and your feet is important in pickleball. The outdoor shoes pickleball should have good outsole rubber. It will keep traction between the court and your feet to avoid slips and knee injuries. Outdoor pickleball courts are greater than indoor courts in terms of dimension and size. Shoes with thick outsoles are the best option for outdoor courts like Asphalt or Concrete. It can make you feel reliable in long and fast gameplay on the court and will work as a good shock absorber as well.

Indoor Court Shoes

Indoor shoes are good for playing pickleball on indoor courts like wood laminate or gym floors. Their outsoles should be softer than outdoor shoes to control lateral movements. This thin outsole is for reducing the space between your feet and court surface to keep better traction and make it more sticky. It should also have a thick cushion to absorb shocks in quick movements. It will also help you to prevent slips and other injuries. 

So, what are the best shoes to wear to play pickleball 70 depends upon your requirements. As per our experience, you should choose the pickleball shoes according to your court surface requirements and which one is a perfect fit for you.

Expert Opinion on Choosing Pickleball Shoes

According to pickleball experts, these are some opinions that can save you time, money, and health. It will keep you safe from the growing market scams and replica local shoes. 

• Don’t go for cheap pickleball shoes. Select and pick the right pair of shoes. It can cost you from 80$ to 150$ but it is a worthy investment.
• Choose high-quality shoes instead of colorful but low quality. At the end of the day the quality of shoes can make or break you on a pickleball court and the colors do not matter.

How Can I Find the Right Pickleball Shoes for Me?

If you don’t know which shoes will add value to my gameplay then these are steps you should follow. 

First of all, choose a court surface whether it is outdoor or indoor. Measure your feet to find the perfect fit for your size. Make sure that the shoes have good quality rubber outsoles and are perfectly chushioned to make you comfortable. That’s how you can Find the Right Pickleball Shoes for yourself. 

Ankle support, lightweight, and comfort on the court are requirements in pickleball shoes while good rubber outsoles, lightweight midsoles cushion, and perfect size fitness should be the features to be in pickleball shoes. The shoes with these features can fulfill the requirements of good pickleball shoes to choose from. It will ultimately lead to comfortable gameplay.

FAQs To Choose Pickleball Shoes

Do you need special shoes for pickleball?

Yes, You need proper and special shoes for pickleball shoes because specialized pickleball shoes are essential for the unique demands of the game, offering the right support, traction, and features to optimize your playing experience and minimize the risk of injuries.

Do I need special shoes for pickleball?

Yes, You need special shoes for pickleball because of its fast pace, court hardness, and lateral movements. The special shoes can improve your court performance and save your energy during long gameplay. Common shoes like running, or jogging are not fit for it.

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes?

The main difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes is in their soles and cushions. Outdoor shoes have thick outsoles and thin cushions while indoor shoes have to think of outsoles and thick cushions.

Do pickleball shoes make a difference?

Yes, Pickleball shoes make a lot of difference. It needs special shoes because you will have to maintain the pace of the game with quick and collateral movements. Common shoes would not help you to perform well on court. 

What to look for in pickleball shoes?

The simple logic to choosing good pickleball shoes is that they should be well cushioned, well fitted, and have a good shock absorber, to keep perfect traction and avoid injuries.

What should the bottom of a pickleball shoe look like?

The bottom of a pickleball shoe should offer a combination of traction, flexibility, durability, and stability to support your movements and enhance your overall performance on the court.

What other shoes can you choose for pickleball?

You can also consider tennis or volleyball shoes for pickleball. Tennis shoes are good If your court surface is made from asphalt but if the court is not made from asphalt then you can go with volleyball shoes. The usage of tennis shoes on other than asphalt courts would not provide reliable results of good traction. Running shoes are highly not recommended because they are designed for straight-line movement while pickleball is a game of lateral movements. 

Conclusion

If you are a pickleball player then to choose and then buy pickleball shoes is a worthy investment. If you have played pickleball in common shoes you will experience a lot of difference after buying it. Your requirements for pickleball shoes are Ankle Support, lightweight, and more comfortable. After that, how can you choose pickleball shoes? keep in mind the important features before buying the shoes. It should have quality rubber outsoles, thick cushion midsoles to absorb shocks, weight should be from 9 to 13 ounces with high durability and breathability uppers. These are basic requirements and you have to choose pickleball shoes with these features.