How to select basketball shoes

When it comes to selecting basketball equipment, one of the most important things is getting the shoes right. Basketball is a fast paced game, with a lot of lateral and sideways movement of the foot. Basically you’re stepping, lunging, running in all directions and that means that just any other pair of cross-trainers won’t do. If you value your feet and ankles, you’ll need shoes that have support, sturdy construction that does not hinder movement but most importantly you’ll need shoes with shock absorption. Shock absorption becomes important in any fast-paced game like squash or basketball, that require you to make abrupt halts and turns and when your movements are sudden. Such movements place a lot of stress on your legs, feet and ankles and without the right pair of shoes; we doubt anyone can last even one high-intensity match.

In basketball, finding the right shoe is about understanding your position and purpose in the team as well as the type of player you are. Usually, three broad types of players are identified based on their main style: Power, Speed and All-Around.

Power-Players or Bigs

Power-players are the ones working the low post, sticking to a confined area with a lot of vertical jumps and physical contact. Mostly such players are called Bigs and are power forwards or centres. They need to jump and land on the hard surface quite a lot and are expected to grab rebounds and score points. Ankle support, shock absorption and stability become the three main things your shoes have to provide. Because the movement of these players is limited to a more confined area, the heaviness of the shoe is not an issue. In fact, for added support opting for a heavier shoe makes sense. High-tops are best-suited for such players. High-tops are the heaviest basketball shoes because they offer maximum ankle support and stability. They are well-cushioned and usually come with shock-absorbent features that makes the vertical jumps easier on the feet.

Speed or Guards

Speed and quickness are the top qualities of shooting guards and point guards. They need to dash around the court and most of their movement results in high vertical jumps. Since flexibility that aids movement around the court is primary for such players, they need to find the right light-weight shoes that offer sufficient cushioning to save their feet from the impact of landing after a jump. A lightweight shoe with moderate support, flexibility and cushioning becomes the major factors that such players need in their shoes. Mid-tops or low-tops are the best shoes for players who rely on speed. Mid-tops are shorter than the high-tops, they stop at the ankles and offer sufficient cushioning that does not make shoe heavy. Ideally, you should opt for mid-tops as low-tops are good but not protective enough. Low-tops are the lightest and provide no ankle support. They aid movement but leave your feet and ankles nearly unprotected.

All-Around or Forwards

The all-arounds are usually the forwards, who are required to start and stop abruptly and respond to the speed of the game. Vertical jumps, lateral movements, lunges are all in the course and that means a light-weight shoe is primary: something that does not obstruct movement at all. Mid-tops are great, we strongly suggest not opting for low-tops. Less than 10% basketball players opt for low-tops because while being the lightest, low-tops offer minimum stability and in a fast-paced intense game, that can be very dangerous for your feet.

High, Mid and Low Tops make the upper of the shoes and that leaves the midsole and the outsole. These are not role-specific, no matter what kind of player you are you should look for the following features in your mid-sole and outsole.

Midsoles is the primary protective element in a basketball shoe: it is the shock-absorbent, cushioning material between the upper and the outsole. Now midsoles can be made from either EVA, Compressed EVA, polyurethane or a combination of these. EVA is the most lightweight material out of the three and is found in low-tops but it isn’t durable and not a good idea if you’re on a budget. Compressed EVA is slightly more durable but it’s Polyurethane that offers maximum density and durability. Unfortunately, polyurethane is not lightweight and is so used in the heavier shoes: high-tops. Some shoes offer a combination of compressed EVA and polyurethane; these may fall in the range of mid-tops.

The outsole is the bottom of the shoe, usually made from rubber. There’s not much to watch out for in this front except you should make sure the outsole is flat and wide to provide a stable base and prevent injuries like ankle rollover. Basketball shoes that are designed for an outdoors court will feature a thicker, sturdier outsole.

If you play basketball in an indoors court or with wooden court, make sure the shoes you select are non-marking, so they don’t damage the court surface.