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How to grip 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.
Contents
- 1. The Cleaning Method
- 2. Utilizing Enhancers
- 3. Fixing Grip in Game
- 4. A More Permanent Fix
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!
Lord of the Ring: how to choose shoes for basketball
What you need to know when choosing shoes for basketball.
Author: Roman Huseynov
An interesting fact - one of the richest and most recognizable athletes in the world is Michael Jordan. Needless to say, if people recognize him not even from a photograph, but from the silhouette of an athlete flying in a branded jump to the ring.
Another fact is not obvious - Michael earned most of his fortune not by playing basketball (which is undoubtedly beautiful), but by sneakers.
Basketball shoes have been around for over a hundred years! In the beginning, they were just rag sneakers with very thin rubber soles. Their appearance and characteristics remained almost unchanged for the first 50 years.
Only at the end of the 60s did the first models specifically for playing basketball appear on the market. In the 80s, there was a real boom in basketball shoes. Many brands realized the potential of the game and its market and released their models.
Evolution gave way to revolution, and sneakers became more and more technologically advanced. In the 2000s, the technologies and materials used to develop basketball shoes, in terms of the complexity of manufacturing and design, become comparable to a Formula 1 car!
At the same time, old models are increasingly becoming elements of street culture.
While professionals choose other models, fans do not forget about the past.
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing basketball shoes is the fixation of the ankle at the sneakers. Ankle injury is the most common among basketball players, and it's best to do your best to avoid it.
Traditionally, there are three types of models:
- High sneakers . They started the basketball era. They give you great ankle support and ankle protection, but you have to sacrifice your speed on the court as these shoes restrict your movement. Most often, these models are chosen by basketball players with a universal style of play.
- Medium trainers . More speed - more freedom of action! But, alas, the risk of injury is higher. Best suited for experienced basketball players whose main weapon is speed.
- Low sneakers . The most maneuverable, light and free.
Maximum movement speed. Great for athletes with an active play style. Rarely found among professionals, but little by little they find their niche.
Remember, however, that even the highest sneakers will not save you from a strong blow or dislocation. The most important protection is the good training of the athlete and the pumping of the most used joints in the game.
The second important point is to understand where you plan to play. Traditionally, shoes are divided into models for the hall and for the street. Sneakers will vary in the degree of rigidity of the sole.
For outdoor and hard surfaces, the is a hard-soled sneaker. For the hall and artificial surfaces - with soft. The tread pattern is usually made in the shape of a herringbone - this gives the shoe additional friction and braking control. Cushioning is critical, so be sure to pay attention to the composition of the sole.
When choosing shoes for children , you should pay attention to models with Velcro and elastic bands - they are quickly and easily tied, and also securely fix the foot.
At the dawn of the basketball era, sneakers were mostly leather. Strong and durable, these shoes have served basketball players well. But with the development of the industry, the skin was gradually replaced by plastic and synthetic materials - they are stronger, lighter, the foot breathes better in them. Moreover, the wear resistance and fixation level of synthetics are sometimes much higher than that of leather.
Therefore, do not be afraid to purchase sneakers made of polyester or polyurethane. They will fit snugly on the leg and will serve you for a long time.
How helpful was this material?
Which basketball shoes to choose for volleyball
More and more players can see shoes that are not volleyball at all.
Many athletes began to give preference to basketball models, and we decided to find out why this is happening.
The choice of volleyball players is easily explained by the fact that volleyball shoes should perform similar functions to basketball shoes:
· provide reliable protection of the ankle and the entire arch of the foot;
· provide a strong grip;
Reduce stress on joints with cushioning technology.
Below we will look at the models of basketball shoes that we recommend to take a volleyball player.
Adidas HARDEN VOL. 6
Basketball bestseller - model from James Harden Harden Vol. 6. Sneakers of medium profile, made of a dense textile top and leather inserts. For a more comfortable fixation of the foot, there are two loops on the tongue.
The inner heel area features soft pads for a comfortable fit and ankle protection. As a shock absorber, the well-known BOOST foam is installed. adidas Harden Vol. 6 with its characteristics are perfect for volleyball players!
Buy: Adidas HARDEN VOL.
6
Anta KLAY THOMPSON KT7
Golden State Warriors offensive guard Clay Thompson signature shoe.
The highlight is the Nitrospeed midsole, which provides powerful cushioning in a lightweight package. Smart S.A.M technology in the heel area absorbs shock, reduces pressure on the joints and provides additional heel support.
A durable rubber outsole with a unique wave pattern provides traction. Nike LEBRON WITNESS VI
The 6th model of famous basketball player LeBron James.
They are made of light synthetic material with a combination of dense fabric on the back. The main feature was - a pronounced lateral support in the form of a solid rubber plate smoothly passing into the sole.
This version of the shoe replaces the Zoom Air cushioning with the classic Max Air cushioning for superior shock absorption and responsiveness. The outsole pattern is made in the form of a classic herringbone, which has a good effect on traction.
Buy: Adidas TRAE YOUNG 1
Nike GIANNIS IMMORTALITY
Giannis Giannis Antetokounbo signature basketball shoes - Nike Immortality - Nike Immortality.
These low-top basketball shoes have a lightweight fabric upper made from thin, ventilated engineered mesh jacquard with fuse overlays in high-wear areas.
Full Phylon midsole with small cutouts to reduce weight and improve cushioning. A thick outsole with an original design, designed to dampen impacts and confidently keep the player on the court. The outsole is made of durable rubber with a classic herringbone pattern.
Buy: Nike GIANNIS IMMORTALITY
Adidas DAME 8
Damian Lillard's 8th signature shoe.
Sneakers made of textile and polymer materials. 25% of the upper elements are at least 50% recycled materials. Basketball style design with chunky padded collar.
Cushioning in the Dame 8 is handled by Bounce Pro instead of the usual Lightstrike.
The sole is made of durable rubber that prevents slipping.
Buy: Adidas DAME 8
Nike KD TREY 5 IX The 9th model of NBA star Kevin Durant's signature shoe.
Lightweight, layered mesh upper adds breathability and support. Cushioning comes from Nike Renew technology, soft foam wrapped in firmer foam for added resilience. Zoom Air cushioning absorbs shock and returns energy with every step.
Wave-patterned rubber outsole resists slips and rolls on the court. Nike KD TREY 5 IX
A-Flashedge midsole that is lighter, more flexible, stronger and more cushioning for longer. A specially designed lacing and harness system allows for a customized fit for any foot. The mid arch uses a TPU insert that protects the foot from twisting and tucking. Outsole with a racing track pattern provides durable traction on any surface.
