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How to get traction on basketball shoes
How to Get Better Grip on Basketball Shoes 2019
How Do You Get Good Traction / Grip on Athletic Shoes for Basketball, Volleyball & All Sports on Indoor Courts?
Summary:
Google ‘how do you get better grip with basketball shoes,’ and you’ll find these common tips:
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- Keep shoe soles clean.*
- Keep court floors clean.
- Use a traction mat, gel mat, or grip lotion.*
* Countless articles online advise wiping your shoes with a damp towel throughout the game. Some may even recommend a gel mat or grip lotion for shoes. Don’t believe them!
We’ll explain the problems with these common tips and why Slipp-Nott Sports Traction System is truly the best solution for instant and consistently superior shoe grip.
More NBA & NCAA players use Slipp-NottThere’s a reason why more pro and college basketball teams rely on Slipp-Nott than any other product to boost performance and safety on the court.![]()
One step on the sticky mat instantly removes dirt from the soles of athletic footwear.
Traction solutions for shoes – basketball, volleyball, badminton, racquetball and, fencing
If you play any sport on an indoor court, you know how important good shoe grip is for making quick and safe stops and turns. But when shoes pick up dust and wax off smooth gym floors, that buildup causes soles to lose their ‘grippy-ness.’ The result: Players can’t maneuver with precision, and the risk of injury due to slipping increases.
It’s no wonder that a question like ‘How do you get better grip with basketball shoes’ is often searched for online. Solutions range from simple hacks to products designed to improve traction on sports footwear.
In this post, we look at some common recommendations:
1. Keep shoe soles clean for better grip
Constant Wiping: You’ve probably seen basketball players wipe the bottoms of their shoes with a damp towel…or lick their hands to wipe their shoes.
Why this is NOT the best solution: While we completely agree that removing dirt buildup is the best way to improve traction, wiping shoes several times during a game is just plain tedious. In addition:
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- Using a towel can be hit or miss:
- If you use too much water, your rubber soles become a wet slip hazard.
- If the towel isn’t wet enough, it won’t do a good job of cleaning your soles.
- If some areas of the sole’s surface are wetter than others, some areas may be cleaned while others may just get slick from all the water.
- Wetting your towels will always yield inconsistent results because there is NO WAY to guarantee the material will have uniform water coverage.
- Even if you could guarantee uniform coverage, it’s impossible to know exactly how much water is the right amount every time!
- While you can (and many players still do) lick your hands to wipe the bottoms of your shoes, it’s unsightly.
More importantly, though, this technique would work only if you have perfectly flat, large hands. Think about it: With your palms’ contours, it’s impossible to make contact with the entire surface of the sole.
Some basketball players try to improve shoe grip by licking their hands and wiping.
2. Mop the court regularly to minimize dust
A clean floor definitely makes a big difference, but dry mopping can’t and won’t guarantee a clean court. Wet mopping is the best way to keep the floors clean, but that takes a dedicated maintenance staff which is both costly and time consuming. Dry mopping is helpful in “moving” the dust and dirt but it does not REMOVE the dirt. Dry mopping is really only good for drying liquid spills or absorbing perspiration after players fall.
Sweeping or dry mopping court floors only moves around (not remove) dirt
3. Apply a grip gel/lotion on your soles
Of all the methods out there to get better basketball shoe grip, this is the worst choice! To illustrate why, take a look at how these products work:
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- You have to sit down to apply the gel/lotion on one shoe and wait for it to dry.
THEN, you repeat the process on the other shoe and must wait again for the gel to dry before you can even put your foot down on the floor. - Grip is improved…but for only for a few minutes because the gel on your shoe ends up removing the dust on the floor – and soon you’re back to sliding. So, the product designed to improve traction actually does the opposite!
- To regain traction, you have to reapply the gel…but minutes later, you need to do it again! During a game, that’s a lot of reapplication – and you’ll have to wait for the gel to dry every time you reapply. When you’re in the middle of intense action on the court, do you really want to stop and go through this hassle every few minutes?
- Because the product is a magnet for dirt, each reapplication continues a vicious cycle of building layer upon layer of dirt and gel on your shoes. Eventually you’re left with a buildup of hard-packed gunk and slippery soles.
Do your shoes and yourself a favor.
Avoid grip gels and lotions in all forms.
Ditch the two-bit hacks and…
4. Get a Slipp-Nott traction mat – instantly clean shoe soles
Do what the pros do. Get a Slipp-Nott. Used by more NBA and NCAA teams than any other brand, Slipp-Nott provides the best traction for basketball and all sports footwear designed for smooth, indoor floors.
Our sticky traction mat instantly and effectively grabs dirt off rubbery soles as you step on and off the adhesive surface. The result: Dirt-free soles with superior grip in less than 3 seconds.
Sometimes referred to as a ‘traction board’ or ‘sticky mat,’ a Slipp-Nott Traction Set consists of disposable adhesive sheets, secured on a sturdy base. Guaranteed for life, our bases are made with modified, high-impact, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Terpolymer (A.B.S) for durability. We then bond a ribbed, rubbery backing to the underside of the base to keep it from sliding and damaging floors.
Keep using the top sheet until all the adhesive is covered with dust and dirt.
Then remove the top sheet of the mat to expose a new, clean sheet.
Keep using the sticky sheet until it’s covered with dirt. Peel off top layer to expose a new, clean sheet on your traction mat.
Traction sets include your choice of a mat with 30, 60 or 75 sheets. Additional replacement mats are sold separately:
When it comes to quality in sports traction, Slipp-Nott sets the standard
Slipp-Nott is the original traction mat for basketball, volleyball, badminton, fencing, handball, racquetball, or any sport played indoor on smooth floors. As the leading provider of sports traction for professional (NBA) and amateur (NCAA, High School and Middle School) athletes, we set the industry standard for quality and reliability, backed with a lifetime warranty.
There might be cheaper, low quality options out there, but if you want a traction base built to last, just do yourself and your team a favor and get a Slipp-Nott.
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4 Quick Ways to Get Grip on Your Basketball Shoes
Grip is an incredibly important part of any basketball shoes.
No matter what surface you play on, being able to stick to the floor allows you to run, move, and cut to the best of your ability.
Soles wear down quickly. They also collect quite a bit of dirt. Both of those setbacks cause you to slip and slide while on the court. That then greatly hinders your ability to stop and go, which then makes it much harder to drive to the lane or play defense.
Even shoes with only slightly worn down grip can cause you to be one second too early or one second too late. In basketball, that makes all the difference.
Quick Navigation
1. The Cleaning Method
Though grip wears down over time, there are quite a few ways to keep your shoes in good shape. The first, and perhaps most effective, is by cleaning them.
Many basketball shoes start to lose their traction as a result of the dirt and dust they pick up from the floor. That layer, even if barely noticeable, causes shoes to easily slide across the hardwood.
There are two different cleaning methods that will help eliminate that layer and reliably give you more grip no matter how much you play.
First, you can wet a washcloth and use it to wipe down the bottom of your shoe. Just make sure to get into the grooves. You don’t need to do a deep scrub, but you need to do enough to lift off the dirt particles.
If you want to go bigger, you can also clean your soles with a stiff bristle brush and soapy water. Scrubbing down your shoe in this manner gives a deeper clean. However, I find that it is quite comparable to using a rag. It comes down to personal preference and the amount of dirt on your shoes.
2. Utilizing Enhancers
If cleaning isn’t working, or if you want to take an extra measure on the top of cleaning, you can always turn to special grip enhancers.
Grip lotions are easily available sprays that coat your shoe to add more tackiness to the sole. A quick spritz will be more than enough to give you the extra grip you need.
There are also special sticky pads, also called sticky mats, that improve grip.
These are primarily used in a gym setting, where they sit off to the side of the court. You then step on them before the game or during breaks to get a bit of extra adhesion.
Both of the above methods improve your shoe’s grip. Though they both work on their own, I often use them in combination with the washing method to get the best of both worlds.
Just remember to never use your basketball shoes outside. The traction is specifically made for hardwood. Using it on any other surface can quickly break down the rubber grooves and cause you to slip.
3. Fixing Grip in Game
Sometimes you’ll find your traction steadily breaking down in the middle of the game. If that occurs, you want to moisten your soles right away to ensure you don’t lose your edge.
That can be done through either quickly wiping them down with a damp rag (which some teams or gyms may have on the sideline) or by wetting your shoe with saliva.
Rinsing your hand in a drinking fountain and then wiping it across the bottom of your shoe can help your footwear stick.
However, if there’s no time for that maneuver, licking your hand and wiping it on the bottom of your shoe works just as well.
I know the idea of licking your hand mid-game is not the most appealing idea, but it does work. I’ve done it more times than I care to admit, and it always leads to better traction.
4. A More Permanent Fix
No matter how much you use the above methods, there will be times where your shoe grip wears down past the point of no return. If that happens, you can have your soles fixed by a shoe repair service.
Getting your old sole replaced can make your pair feel brand new. It may not be as easy as cleaning the sole or buying spray, but it’s typically much cheaper than going out and buying a new pair.
Of course, if the tread is worn through and shoe repair isn’t an option, the only way to fix the grip is going to be purchasing new shoes.
Final Words
Many people give up on their basketball shoes too quickly. The traction doesn’t feel right, or they find themselves slipping on the court, and they try a new pair.
However, there are many easy methods you can utilize to keep your grip strong.
Make sure to try different methods and figure out which one works best for you. Some shoes respond better to cleaning, while others do well with general moisture of sticky pads.
What’s your favorite method for improving your grip? Do you have your own tricks? Let us know in the comments below!
How are basketball shoes different from the rest?
11:45, January 7, 2020
Fashion
Experienced basketball players know that to achieve victory it is not enough to be a goal-oriented and persistent player. Undoubtedly, long-term training always gives its positive results. But one of the most important components of victory is the right sports shoes. This helps not only to achieve maximum efficiency and comfort in the game, but also to avoid injuries that often accompany basketball players. After all, this game consists mainly of sudden movements, running, jumping.
The player must be able not only to move well and quickly, but also to brake quickly in shoes. With constant stress on the feet, basketball players need sneakers that are somewhat different from everyone else and have some important qualities.
Choosing the Right Basketball Shoes
Basketball shoes need to have perfect ankle support in the first place, which is why most professional players prefer to play in high shoes. These shoes help keep the player stable during lateral movements. In addition, in high-top sneakers, the ankle is reliably protected when jumping. A large selection of both men's and women's sneakers is presented in the online store
For each sport, shoes must have certain qualities. For basketball shoes, three main criteria are important - the quality of the sole, the material from which they are made and the degree of fixation of the ankle.
Outsole
One of the best basketball shoes is the Nike Air Jordan. Their presence in the player is already the first step to victory.
Basketball shoe sole is divided into two types. The first is intended for playing indoors, on a smooth surface. It is soft and designed for playing on the artificial turf of the stadium. For street play, it is better to choose sneakers with a stiffer sole. When buying sneakers, pay attention to the area of the sole. The quality of the game depends on this. Good braking and traction with the coating is provided by sneakers with large soles.
An important element is the protector on the sole. It affects the stability of the player and the ability to easily brake on turns and stops. The most popular and in demand are sneakers with a Herringbone tread.
Material
Basketball pros say it's best to play in a combination shoe that's made from leather and has mesh inserts. Leather material has long established itself as the most stable and reliable. And thanks to the mesh, the player's foot is provided with flexibility and ventilation. Recently, basketball shoes made of modern synthetic materials have become popular.
They are not only light and durable, but also comfortable.
Ankle protection and support
There are three types of basketball shoes, depending on the design of the shoe. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages:
- High-top sneakers are most often used by players because they provide reliable ankle protection. In addition, in such sneakers, the player is as stable as possible. Air Jordans is exactly the model of high sneakers that appealed not only to professionals, but also to beginners. It is best to buy Air Jordan sneakers in a specialized store. This guarantees the purchase of truly original shoes.
- Mid-height shoes are preferred by players who care about speed in basketball and at the same time they are worried about avoiding ankle injuries. In such sneakers, the player feels less movement restriction than in high-tops. The manufacturer warns that this type of shoe is not recommended for players with little experience. Such negligence can lead to traumatic situations.
Medium height sneakers are suitable for speed basketball lovers. - Low sneakers are used in the game less often than those listed above. Their top is just at the level of the ankle, which cannot protect it during the game. Undoubtedly, due to their lightness and convenience, such sneakers give a basketball player a chance to reveal all their hidden talents. But, if you choose between security and quality of the game, then many tend to ensure security. Low running shoes are the choice of fast and agile athletes.
In ordinary running shoes, the manufacturer pays little attention to the fixation of the foot. Sports shoes for basketball should securely fix the foot. This helps the lower leg to remain stationary while playing, braking, accelerating or changing direction quickly.
A quality basketball shoe should be lightweight and have excellent cushioning. Ease is provided thanks to production from special modern materials. Depreciation manufacturers think through to the smallest particles.
The heel part in sports shoes for basketball is high, its width is increased. This reliably protects the player from falls during sudden movements.
Clasp
The clasp, at first glance, seems to be an unimportant detail. But when buying sports shoes, you should especially pay attention to it. During the fitting of sneakers, the foot must be securely fixed with a fastener. In this case, there should not be a feeling of discomfort and the presence of free space in the shoes. You can get fewer injuries if you choose sneakers with the right fastening. Professional basketball players prefer laced shoes. It securely fixes and protects the foot during the game.
Don't buy the first model you see. It is better to consider all possible options and opt for a reliable and comfortable pair. In order to avoid fake Nike Air Jordan, it is better to buy in Ukraine in a specialized store.
How to choose basketball shoes | Useful tips and nuances
We love basketball because this sport is quite fast and dynamic.
At some moments we make sharp jerks, high jumps, unexpected stops and, of course, this is what helps us to dominate the game and love it for unique moments.
When playing basketball, there is always a high risk of getting various kinds of injuries that overshadow our pleasure and send us to the infirmary for recovery, which can last from a few days to a year. But no matter what happens, we still love this game and try to protect ourselves as much as possible when necessary, in order to feel comfortable and convenient with every step.
But why should any basketball player think about safety as much as about a clean and beautiful hit in the basket, leaving behind a pleasant sound of rustling net? A simple example: the more powerful a car's engine is, the more manufacturers focus on various systems that help make driving safer and more enjoyable. The same goes for basketball, the more jumps and jerks we make, the more we need to pay attention to safety in this game.
Of course safety and comfort in basketball is achieved by many factors. For example, this is a complete and balanced diet that saturates our body with numerous useful microelements and vitamins. Also, safety in the game is achieved by performing various exercises to strengthen the ligaments and joints during training periods outside the game. An equally important factor is a good warm-up before the game itself and the cleanliness of the surface on which we will perform various movements. And all these are important components that will directly or indirectly help us avoid various injuries in the future.
Quality basketball shoes are essential for a successful, comfortable and safe game. Of course, it is important to mention that any footwear is not able to protect us from injury by 100%. Even if we follow all the recommendations described above.
But does this mean that you can play basketball in any sneakers? No. And here are a few reasons. Some models are simply not designed to perform the actions that a basketball game involves.
Other sneakers may have mediocre quality or short-lived materials that can lead to unfortunate consequences.
And here comes the question. How to choose basketball shoes that would help you get maximum pleasure and enjoyment from the game? Based on the ratings and reviews of both amateur and professional athletes, BasketZilla has collected the necessary information to help anyone make a choice and understand what factors to look for when buying basketball shoes.
Original, branded shoes or any other?
We recommend starting your choice with this question. We immediately want to mention the importance of buying only original basketball shoes from reputable manufacturers. Why exactly? Signature sneakers from brands like Nike, Adidas, Jordan Brand, Under armour, Reebok, ANTA, PUMA, Converse, Peak and a few more provide quality shoes with durable materials and proven technologies that have passed quality control and numerous tests. The production of branded sneakers is based on the feedback of professional athletes and their subsequent use during the game itself.
Accordingly, branded basketball shoes will allow us to feel more comfortable and confident on the court.
Here it is important to emphasize the danger of counterfeiting branded shoes. Now, when buying on the Internet or in shopping centers, you can stumble upon such fake basketball shoes that are difficult to distinguish at first glance, even for some specialists. There are a number of factors on how to distinguish a fake from the original. Here is some of them.
- verified online stores or branded departments that represent the brand
- sizes. Pay attention to the availability of half sizes and plus sizes. On sites selling fakes, often only running sizes for men and women.
- prices should not differ much or even several times from the average market value among official sellers.
By the way, our service, BasketZilla, offers to buy only original basketball shoes from well-known manufacturers in trusted and reliable online stores that have proven themselves exclusively on the positive side! Everyone has the opportunity to compare prices among these suppliers, see photos, read reviews, learn about discounts and available sizes.
Our service makes it much easier to find a better option. Available options can be found at the end of the article.
But does this mean that it is dangerous and better not to buy non-branded basketball shoes? Not always. In any case, when choosing sneakers, it is worth considering several factors:
- how high-quality materials are used in them. For example, how are the seams made, are they taped in areas of increased wear? What is the upper material, does it have good wear resistance? How is the lacing system done? Is the sole durable and what is the cushioning system?
- how comfortable the shoes are. For example, is your leg comfortable when you stand, when you walk, when you jump? How tight is the foot and is there any excessive discomfort?
So, regardless of the financial component and their priorities, everyone has something to think about. Some are guided by the phrase "the miser pays twice", others do not want to "overpay for the brand.
" Be that as it may, pay attention to the performance of the specific basketball model that you want to purchase. Determine for yourself at what level you will play - amateur or professional, because the more serious the approach to the game, the more serious investments should be.
Shoe Heights and their Impact on Playing Style
There are three types of basketball shoe heights - High, Mid and Low. It used to be that taller players fighting under the basket should wear taller shoes, and accordingly the shorter the player, the lower the profile height of their model should be for speed and agility. Now, this stereotype has begun to become more and more blurred, as the concept of the position of a player in basketball has changed a lot. This is especially felt in the NBA, where the real breakthrough was made by Kevin Durant with the Nike KD line of sneakers and Giannis Adetoumbo with his Freaks, forever washing away the notion of classic position distribution according to player height.
Now, when everyone wants to be LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant, profile height should be chosen based on your playing style. For example, if you want to play at high speeds, using dribbling and first step speed, feel free to choose a low profile and in some cases a medium one when it has an elastic zone in the ankle area. If you want to score from above or fight under the basket, look for higher models that will help protect your joints with excellent cushioning and a padded collar. That is, although height and weight sometimes affect the style of play and these factors also need to be considered when choosing the height of a sneaker, nevertheless, not everyone wants to play in a certain position, and not everyone plays at a professional level.
Therefore, the average height of the profile in modern basketball shoes is more versatile, which can be used by both center and heavy forwards, as well as small forwards, defensemen and even point guards.
Don't focus too much on your height and weight, as your main factor should be comfort and convenience with the standard basketball moves that you tend to do the most. It's also worth considering that if you're using an ankle brace, then you should choose shoes that allow you to secure it tightly.
If you play at a professional or semi-professional level, then you should approach the choice of profile height more carefully, perhaps after consulting with your coach, who will tell you what position he is going to use you in the future. If you are clearly assigned to a certain position, then think about what role is assigned to you in the team, what exactly is expected of you? What do you tend to do during the game itself - go under the basket, fight for rebounds, or organize fast attacks?
There is also an opinion that the height of the profile greatly affects the protection and safety of the ankle. But think about this. For example, if the ligaments in the ankle area are naturally weak, prone to twisting, or even just already stretched over years of repeated injuries, then the height of the profile will not be able to save 100% from getting a relapse.
For example, a high profile will protect the ankle, but when tucked, it will create a load on the ligaments and tendons of the knee joint. A low profile, on the other hand, has a high risk of re-injury, but allows you to wear a brace and does not burden the knee. The Mid profile has something in between and is therefore more versatile, although we emphasize that no profile can completely protect your ankle.
The height of the profile also allows you to achieve a different fit with the lacing system. Sometimes a lot depends on the leg lift, which determines the positive or negative feedback about a particular model.
So, the height of the profile should help when playing basketball, and not interfere or cause discomfort. The surest way to choose a profile height is to play with each of these types and try to experience their advantages and disadvantages for yourself.
About the surface on which we plan to play
Before buying basketball shoes, it is worth considering whether we buy them for indoor or outdoor play.
In the halls, as a rule, there is often parquet and, in rare cases, a rubberized coating. In outdoor areas, the coating is usually more rigid for durability in open spaces. Therefore, depending on the surface, we should choose our running shoes.
For example, for a gym, we'd better take a softer sole, which will help to achieve maximum grip on the surface, of course, provided that the parquet is carefully cleaned and there is no dust, dirt or even unpainted spots on it. The tread pattern is also responsible for grip, and many note the high efficiency of the so-called “Christmas tree”, but it should not be made a priority when choosing, since other patterns have no less positive reviews.
For the outdoors, we should opt for a shoe with a firmer outsole to avoid wear and tear on tarmac or any other rough surface. It must be remembered that any sneakers on outdoor playgrounds wear out faster, which means that they should be more carefully cared for.
Many people point out the advantages of having models that flex better towards the toe and are fairly firm or less flexible in the midsection.
This will make jumping much easier on any of the surfaces.
Another important factor is the cushioning system. Each brand and model is different. And of course, some shoes are designed specifically for speed, others for overhead shots. But depreciation should be, otherwise soon you can get problems not only with the knee, but also with the spine. Many basketball players who played on different grounds note that playing on asphalt is more traumatic and uncomfortable for jumping than on other surfaces. Therefore, if you plan to play at full strength on asphalt, then consider when choosing good cushioning and reliable traction with a wide sole that will increase stability and stability during the game.
Now there are balanced basketball shoes that can be used both indoors and outdoors. We emphasize that a lot depends on your style of play, further operation and care of the model.
Therefore, determine for yourself the surface on which you will play.
It may be worth taking a few sneakers so that one can be used in the gym, the other on the street. This is the most correct approach if you play often and at the limit of your capabilities.
About the upper materials
Today's basketball shoes are made from different materials than they used to be. For a long time it was believed that only natural leather is able to meet all the requirements of basketball shoes. However, despite the high strength, such models are quite heavy for a modern fast game. And so now most brands use a combination of genuine leather, synthetic leather, textiles, mesh materials, plastics and other components that can create the perfect option for any basketball player.
Everyone has their own priorities when choosing the material of the upper. For some, the basis is durability and strength, for others, lightness and ventilation are the most important factors. Modern basketball shoes have a balanced composition of materials that meets even the most demanding requirements.
Look at your old running shoes and identify their weaknesses and worn spots. For some, this will be the area in the forefoot in the area of the big toe, and not only the materials of the upper, but also the sole. Someone has a lot of wear on the rear end and the depreciation system. For others, the lacing system and uncomfortable tongue are uncomfortable. Whatever it is, take this moment to yourself so that when buying new sneakers, think about how they will cope with our problem areas.
So upper materials often emphasize certain points - lightness, ventilation, comfort, flexibility, and so on. Think about what is more important for you and choose ahead.
What to look for when trying on
Ideally, each model would be well measured. But what if you are shopping online? It’s good if you know your size for each brand and purchase it on subsequent purchases, because each manufacturer has its own size grid. But what if we buy sneakers for the first time and through an online store?
The most important thing is to determine the size of the foot in terms of length and width.
It is important to focus on the size grid of the manufacturer! It is necessary to take measurements of the foot on a flat surface while standing and preferably in the second half for when we walked enough. Stand on a white sheet of paper and circle the foot at a vertical angle with a pencil or pen. Measure the length from the thumb to the heel. This is a classic version with the definition of the length of the foot. There are rare cases when different models sit differently in the same company. It depends on the structural features of the shoe and the technologies that were used to create it. Also, to determine the size, you can go to the nearest department with the sale of sneakers of a particular company. But this option is only possible if original sneakers are sold there, and not a fake, in which the dimensional grid has a difference. In extreme cases, you can try on your friend's shoes, who have a similar or close size.
If the purchase is made directly in the store, then it is best to do it in sports socks and after we have walked enough, because our legs have already received some tension and, accordingly, are slightly swollen.
This is quite normal, because during the game our feet also tend to swell. If the purchase is made in the morning or when the legs did not have enough tension, then it is better to take a model half a size larger to avoid discomfort during the game. If you need a tight fit, it is better to take the size in size.
Be sure to try on both feet as the length of the foot may vary and one of the feet may feel uncomfortable later on.
Pay attention to the removable insole, which can be washed or even replaced in case of need.
The next step is to lace up the shoes tightly, because one of the most important things about basketball shoes is the ability to lock the foot in tight thanks to the lacing system. Now, in addition to the laces, there are various straps, latches and sometimes zippers. Tight fixation of the foot is the key to good stability and stability. Some NBA players, for example, periodically lace up their shoes at halftime during a game for optimal performance.
Of course, it is worth noting that some people do not like the tight fixation of the sneaker, which is why you can notice models flying off the players' feet from time to time. The best thing is to find a middle ground. You do not need to pinch the foot too much, because there is a risk of poor blood circulation in that area of the body. But you should not allow the foot to “walk” in the sneaker, because there is a danger of slipping, which can lead to injury.
Next, get up and walk around, if possible, make jumps and sudden stops, as during the game (Warn the seller in advance to avoid misunderstandings). Take your time in this moment, let your feet feel the shoes, get used to it.
If at this moment you notice a sharp discomfort, then either change the size or the model itself. If this discomfort is not significant, then this may indicate that the model needs to be smashed. Remember that if the shoes fit you in size, then subsequent rubbing and calluses are a feature of your foot or the operation of a particular model.
If they do not go away, you can use various spacers, stretching sprays, special insoles, or use folk tricks to get the desired result.
If there are any features, such as a wide foot or anatomical deviations, then take care of a consultation with a specialist, orthopedic insoles, ointments, exercises, and so on.
So, trying on shoes should be mandatory. However, if the purchase is made through an online store, carefully take measurements and, if necessary, consult with a manager or consultant.
Conclusions and highlights
So let's summarize and look at the points that you need to consider when buying.
- Buy branded, branded and original shoes from trusted online stores or points of sale. Remember, the better your feet are taken care of, the more they will be grateful to us throughout their lives. If you find budget, non-branded sneakers, determine if they will meet the basic requirements of basketball models.
- Define your playing style and choose a profile height that will help you perform your usual game movements with ease and comfort.
- Think about what kind of surface you take your shoes for. The hall is a soft sole, the street is more solid. You can buy universal ones, but do not be lazy to take care of the shoes so that they last a long time.
- Consider what is most important to you in a basketball shoe? Lightweight, breathable, durable, flexible and choose your upper design accordingly. Think about the wear spots on old sneakers and focus on strengthening them in the model you're going to buy.
- Do not rush to buy right away. Try on carefully. If you buy through the online store, take measurements and consult with the sales manager. Do not be afraid to make a mistake, since most models are made to fit standard foot sizes.
Therefore, listen, but in any case do not rely on the opinions of others about this or that model, because not only the shape of the foot is different for everyone, but also the style of play.
Please note that finding the perfect shoe can take some time and effort.
