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How to make basketball shoes grip
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.
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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!
high tops VS low tops
When it comes to reducing ankle and ankle injuries, high tops are not as important as people think.
The March madness is upon us, full of siren hits and tournament draws, surprise winning teams and great players. Anything can happen during the men's and women's NCAA tournaments. The difference between victory or defeat directly depends on the unpredictable rebound of the ball or ankle sprain.
Sprained ankle is the most common injury in basketball. According to statistics, such injuries make up a quarter of all injuries. Just ask Stephen Curry what injury he's worried about the most? Often victories are attributed to his unstable ankles, which he tapes and securely fixes before each game with ankle braces.
All of this is done in connection with his documented injury history. Further protection is, in principle, provided by the Under Armor Curry high-top sneakers.
"In any sport, I think athletic shoes play a very, very important role," says Joseph Gamil, a biomechanic at the University of Massachusetts. "The running shoe itself is designed to try and mitigate specific factors in terms of minimizing the risk of injury."
From the classic Chuck Taylors to the modern Air Jordan, basketball shoes are usually made in a high-top design that is supposed to provide support and protect against ankle injury.
Over the years, basketball shoes have evolved from a simple canvas to a complex of high-tech modified technologies and bold designs. With the development of sneaker culture, which manifests itself as a complex combination of fashion, concentration of capital, politics, culture, race and public, basketball shoes continue to hold the cutting edge of technology in their field.
Whether it's cushioning air cells in the outsole, new rubber varieties for better traction, lighter materials, or even a smarter inflatable support piece on Reebok Pumps. Basketball shoes have always been a skillful combination of form and function.
"These must be shoes," said Spike Lee as he played his character Mars Blackmon in Nike's iconic Air Jordan ad campaign that dates back to the late 1980s. Yes, shoes are very important. But when it comes to various injuries, shoes alone will not help to avoid them.
High and low basketball shoes?
At the very beginning of the development of basketball, it was customary to enter the court only in high shoes. But almost immediately after the invention of basketball, in 1891 year, Spalding developed the first high ankle basketball shoe. They were made from canvas and had thinner soles compared to the Converse All-Stars that first hit the market in 1917 and became known as the Chuck Taylors in 1943.
Even though the safety of high-ankle shoes was supposed to be the main selling point, budding shoe designers did not attach much importance to this. “The real reason we had tall shoes was because they were very similar to the high-top shoes that men wore in those days,” says Elizabeth Semmelhak, senior curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. Ankle boots were the standard, and basketball shoes just repeated this style.
In 1969 adidas introduced the first low ankle basketball shoe. It was all leather and was called the adidas Superstar. But throughout the 20th century, tall shoes remained the standard. Then, in 2008, Nike released a low-top basketball shoe called the Nike Zoom Kobe, and thanks to an ad from the Los Angeles Lakers star, the low-cut shoe has been gaining popularity ever since. Players claim that they feel more freedom of movement in low ankle shoes.
Today, about half of NBA players wear low-ankle shoes, according to Howard Osterman, an orthopedic doctor for both Washington basketball teams, the Wizards and the Mystics women's team.
According to Patrick Telly, athletics coach for the UCLA women's basketball team, most players also opt for low-top basketball shoes. .
Conventional wisdom says that most injuries occur in those who play in low basketball shoes. But the leading number of ankle sprains, like the ones Curry suffers from, happen when one player lands hard on the foot of another. The result is incredibly high impact force, so no high-ankle shoe can prevent sprain.
"There is no evidence that different types of basketball shoes can prevent ankle sprains," says Jay Hertel, professor of athletic training at the University of Virginia.
In general, the results of the conducted studies are rather ambiguous. In particular, two recent studies found no difference between high and low ankle shoes in terms of how the ankle rotates during jumps and landings.
According to the first study, high ankle shoes may even inhibit the natural muscle response to ankle rotation, increasing the likelihood of sprains.
The second study suggested that high-top sneakers increase strength, thereby increasing the risk of injury and stretching the Achilles tendon.
But these studies were biomechanical experiments. The researchers measured the strength and motions of the legs of volunteers who ran and jumped in the lab. Since it is difficult and expensive to conduct large-scale studies of basketball players, they are quite rare. And none of them had a full bearing on ankle injuries.
For example, a 1993 study of 622 college players found no difference between high and low ankle models. In a 2001 study of more than 10,000 basketball players in Australia, high or low shoes were not found to be a major risk factor for ankle injury. Instead, those with a history of injury are at high risk, whether the player has stretched before a game or not and whether their shoes have cushioning like the Air Jordans. But even the importance of depreciation is quite chaotic. A 2008 study of 230 varsity players focused on springy cushioning.
As a result, it was found that the frequency of ankle sprains does not depend on the shoe model.
Function, form and… science
However, the fit and cushioning of the basketball shoe is only one piece of design that has come a long way since the introduction of the Chuck Taylors. “Sneakers have always been intertwined with technological advances,” says Semmelhak. “Even the first basketball shoes were state of the art. It had a rubber sole and was made from the newest and most expensive materials at the time. And the ankle pads on some of the early Chuck Taylors shoes were also meant to cushion impacts.”
It can be hard to tell the difference between a real innovation and a marketing ploy, but in most cases, shoe companies do do extensive research on their products. Before joining adidas, Tobias Luckfiel believed that shoe companies were doing a lot of bullshit in terms of technology. “But I think we have a lot of people who want the best for the athlete,” said Luckfiel, who is now senior manager of sports research at adidas, based in Portland, where he helps develop new materials and test shoes.
measuring its coefficient of grip with the surface, shock absorption and strength.
Published research on basketball shoes is sparse, especially when compared to what has been done with shoes used in other sports such as running and football. But shoe companies do a lot of specific work that just isn't published. “For every publication, we need to produce 100 technical reports,” says Matthew Nurse, vice president of the Nike Sports Research Lab in Portland. He reports that Nike researchers are using motion detection systems, touch sensors, cameras and other devices to zoom in on the details to see how players move. They even used x-rays to gauge the effect the shoes had on the ankles during the turn. The Morgan Stanley report, which was published in 2017, states that Nike has invested about $2.5 billion in all R&D over the past 5 years.
This study helps designers understand factors such as traction coefficient, sole stiffness, heel height and foot stability during side to side movement.
Basketball shoes should be lightweight, comfortable, and provide soft support. It should allow the leg to make natural movements, but within the limits of what is permitted.
The problem is that playing basketball requires different movements: jumping, landing, running with a change of direction, sliding side to side. "It's really hard to take all these characteristics into account when designing basketball shoes," says Hamil, who, like many athletic shoe researchers, receives funding from shoe companies (he works with Brooks on running shoes and with FootJoy on shoes). for golf).
And all these factors have pros and cons. For example, a tighter upper can increase ankle support. But in the case of ski boots, extra support transfers force and potential injury up to the knee. “You can change one part and it will be better for one area, and unfortunately it may not work at all for another,” says Jeffrey Taylor, a physiotherapist and biomechanic at High Point University in North Carolina, who receives funding from Adidas.
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How to minimize the risk of injury?
Many factors indicate that the correct basketball shoe must be individual for each athlete. At the university level, coaches like Telly, who works at the University of California at Los Angeles, make sure every player wears the right shoes. In the National Basketball Association, about half of the players use custom-made insoles made from computer scans of their feet, says Osterman, an orthopedic doctor for the Wizards and Mystics teams. The other half uses the same insoles that come with the shoes. “Technology has gotten better, but running shoes by themselves may not be the ultimate choice. They need to be improved and this applies to the insole, especially if the player has had injuries in the past,” he says.?
At the highest levels of basketball, all players undergo mandatory strength and balance training to help prevent injury. And most of them are done with taped ankles or bandages. This is required to be done both in the training process and in games.
About 80% of professional players use taping and bandages. Some research suggests that taping has benefits, but not in the form you might think.
After a few minutes of activity, the tape begins to weaken and no longer provides structural support. According to experts, the benefits of taping are mainly proprioceptive, during which the contact of the tape with the skin encourages the muscles to respond better, thereby preventing injury. “If your ankle is in a vulnerable position, your body will be ready to sense it and contract the muscles to prevent the ankle from twisting too much,” Hertel explained.
Tapes and bandages may also benefit a recovering player who has recently sprained his ankle. But in general, strength and balance exercises are more important for preparing the ankle for stress. Hertel, for example, suggests you try brushing your teeth on one foot
When it comes to shoes, experts recommend wearing what feels most comfortable and supportive. As Hamil says, name brand shoes are likely to be of the best quality.
But you don't have to spend a lot, according to David Auji, an orthopedic surgeon at the Stanford Health Center who also works with Stanford University athletes. Cheaper shoes can also be just as effective as the more expensive option.?
More than a shoe
But the main purpose of basketball shoes has never been simply to reduce injuries. For top professional players, promotional deals can be the main reason why they wear these particular shoes. Shoe companies also make big deals with college players and have been embroiled in the adidas controversy at many universities.
For most people, shoes are style and comfort. Semmelhak argues that shoes are a style statement and allow men to express their natural masculinity.
Shoes can also be associated with politics. Dwyane Wade wore a special version of his signature Black Lives Matter shoes. Most recently, Curry donned custom-made shoes in support of former President Barack Obama's Barack Obama's My Brother's Keeper alliance.
Without a doubt, shoes protect your feet. But from social status to social justice, shoes have always meant something more - no matter who wears them.
The Lord of the Ring: how to choose basketball shoes
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 street 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.
