What to Look for When Shopping for Pickleball Shoes

What you wear while playing sports is almost as important as your skills, with your shoes being the most significant factor in your performance. Pickleball players need a shoe they can trust, feels comfortable with, and can handle the rigors of what a court game brings. Here is what to look for when shopping for pickleball shoes. 

Importance of Court Shoes

The simplest way to describe why pickleball players should always opt for a court shoe is because manufacturers design them specifically for court sports. Other activity-specific sneakers like running, cross-training, or walking is conducive to moving forward. In contrast, a court shoe's intended purpose is safely moving in every direction. The most crucial component of shopping for pickleball shoes is to avoid running shoes at all costs.

Furthermore, court shoes have additional cushioning that lessens the blow your knees and back take while playing pickleball. Ultimately, choosing a shoe that fits, is comfortable, and keeps you safe is the perfect pickleball shoe. 

Surface Differences 

While it would be helpful to have a do-it-all court shoe that gives you equal protection and performance boost for indoor and outdoor courts, the two different surfaces require the appropriate shoes. 

Indoor court shoes are wonderful for court games like squash, racquetball, and badminton because the shoe’s outsole has less rubber than the outdoor alternative. Outdoor hard-court surfaces are less friendly to shoes than gym floors you'll play on inside.

Outdoor court shoes, otherwise known as tennis shoes, need a thicker outsole for durability. Since these kicks have a thick outsole, their weight may tire you out. If you usually play inside and are accustomed to playing at a certain speed, a readjusting period may take some time to acclimate to the tougher outdoor surface. 

The Shoe's Anatomy

The Upper

Pickleball shoes have leather, synthetic leather, or a mix of the two with a mesh or fabric top. Because of the trend in all athletics toward lightweight footwear for improved comfort, manufacturers try to avoid real leather when making shoes. Another reason traditional leather is fading away is it costs less to produce the synthetic version. 

The primary attribute you want in the upper is stability. Typically, court shoes have an area on the sides of the top that provide extra support once you tie your shoes. That added support can help protect you from an ankle injury. 

When you put on a pair of pickleball shoes, tie them as if you were going to have a match and do some side-to-side practice movements to see if they feel right. You won't get a true feel for them if you only slide your foot in or lace them loosely.

The Midsole

The midsole portion of your shoe is mostly a personal preference, considering it depends on your foot's arch and width. You may have an idea how a shoe will feel, but you never know until you try them on. Therefore, slide your feet in and tie your laces tight to make your best assessment.

You should feel some arch in your feet because the material in the midsole should contour to them. It's a personal choice because too much arch may annoy some players, while others prefer the additional support.

The Outsole 

The outsole is the tread on the bottom of a shoe. The durability of your shoes is a vital component when finding your ideal pair. However, pickleball shoes don't necessarily need as durable treads as tennis shoes, unless you predominately play outside. 

Novice or infrequent pickleball players often see wear and tear from their insole before the tread becomes an issue. If you notice excessive knee or back pain, the odds are your outsoles are the problem. It's the best practice to replace your shoes yearly to avoid the aches and pains that could occur from wearing unsupportive shoes. 

No tread pattern outshines the rest, so there's no need to stress over the various forms you will find. Every brand puts its unique spin on outsoles, even combining patterns to create one that boosts your performance.

Best Tips for Buying Pickleball Shoes

Prioritize Quality

The style of your shoes may matter for the first day of school or what goes well with your professional attire. Yet, the looks of your pickleball shoes should not take priority over their quality. If you find a pair of shoes that makes your feet feel like they are on pillows, that's the only thing that matters. Luckily, there's an abundance of shoes that look as marvelous as they feel. 

Stay Light

Pickleball requires players to be light on their feet to cover as much of the court as possible, and wearing heavier shoes will slow you down tremendously. Shoes weighing less than ten ounces for indoor matches keep you nimble and don't tire you nearly as much as a pair that weighs close to a pound. You should only go with a heavier pair if you're strictly an outdoor player, but you can keep those around 13 to 14 ounces for the best results. 

Added Gels & Cushions

We've made it clear that cushioning is critical to any pair of shoes. Air cushions and gels are kind to your joints, preventing you from relying on a pain reliever for your knees and back after every session. If you are dealing with chronic pain in either area, cushioning should be one of the first things you look for. 

Match the Playing Surface

As previously mentioned, the playing surface dictates the type of shoe you should wear. Thus, stick with the recommended shoe for the surface to continue playing at a high level. A basketball player wouldn't wear skateboarding shoes to play a game of pick-up hoops, so follow that same thought process. Since it is so important, we must reiterate that you should never, under any circumstances, wear running shoes when you play pickleball.

Don't Be a Cheapskate 

You can get away with generic brands over name brands for grocery items, but it's not wise to do that with pickleball shoes. Going with a cheaper route only guarantees you'll have to replace your shoes earlier than intended, and your performance will also suffer. 

With this comprehensive game plan of what to look for when shopping for pickleball shoes, there's no doubt you’ll take your game to the next level with the right pair of pickleball sneakers. Fromuth Pickleball has a fantastic selection of shoes that should please you. Our store has top-name brands like adidas, K-Swiss, Lotto Sport, and FILA, so we're sure you'll find something you'll love.