Racquetball is an intense and high-energy game; the right tactic for the best results is good, and so is having the right shoes. Therefore, whether you are a beginner or pro player, a male or female racquetball player, you must choose the best racquetball shoes as an all-important part of the game.
As much as footwear for the game has to do with preference, think of comfort and durability. These are the essentials for an enjoyable game without injury to your ankle while playing. Light shoes are suitable for speed, and an excellent sole size may not be light. Plus, the trade between comfort and weight is something to remember.
Tips to Find the Best Racquetball Shoes
Finding the right racquetball shoes for you, whether it’s men’s shoes or women’s shoes, is not an unmanageable task. However, by applying a few interesting tips, you can discover the best-fitting pairs for your feet. Follow the next:
- Check Racquetball Shoe Style
- Know Your Court
- Understand Your Skill
- Check the Right Features
- Consider Materials and Durability
- Know Your Foot Type
- Flat Feet
- Natural Feet
- High Arches
- Know the Right Size for Your Feet
- Trial Before You Buy
- Do Your Research
Check Racquetball Shoe Style
It is vital to note that any court shoes, including racquetball shoes, are made differently from the regular shoes we wear. This is because the court movements impact the design with the starts and stops we make when we play.
Racquetball shoes have a flat solid sole designed depending on the court surface on which you play. Therefore, the patterns drawn are for specific surfaces for different courts.
Other shoes have a thick cushion on the heel that’s useful and comfortable when walking, whereas athletic or running shoes consider constant motion when running or walking. Think about your style of play, the surface of the court, and your preferences when checking out racquetball shoes. These will inform you of the shoe style that best fits you.
Know Your Court
The best type of indoor or outdoor court shoes directly correlates to the material used to make the court you’re playing on. Accordingly, you should consider whether the court is made of clay, grass, or any other hard material.
For instance, you cannot play your best game on a grass court if you use shoes made for clay surfaces and vice-versa. For example, you can’t use tennis shoes to play racquetball. Using the wrong type of shoe will impact your performance even if all the other things are in the right place. You should only invest in turf-specific shoes when you’ve settled on a court type that meets all your preferences.
If you have not decided yet, you can use regular court shoes with a rubber sole, which has enough cushioning for comfort. The racquetball courts are made of wood, so the rubber outsole best suits both maneuvers and a firm grip plus traction. Plus, rubber soles will not harm the wood turf.
Understand Your Skill
Choosing a court for racquetball is the first step to bringing the best out of you, and it means you’re ready to work on your skills. The same rules govern all the courts, and their measurements are the same. Also, know that the courts are unique in their strengths and weaknesses.
The right tools and equipment and making an effort every day will lead to improved skills. Losing or winning a game depends on your skill and the amount of training you have.
Constant practice leads to improvement in skills. Using average shoes for training, you can take it to the next level when you’ve laid the foundation so that you don’t spend a lot of money when you are just a newbie in this field. And when you want to take your performance to the next level now, you can invest in good, high-end premium shoes.
Check the Right Features
Shoes with the right attributes will make the game enjoyable, especially considering your feet. The special features include well-cushioned soles for comfortable play. And it should have an added space to put inserts that enhance support. In addition, light-material shoes encourage better mechanics in terms of performance; you maintain your level, and there is room to improve the game.
Top-level performance has to do with shoes and skill. You should feel light and swift when playing because the design of the shoes is to spur you on to better results. These features check all the right boxes for you to perform, play harder, and still be strong.
Consider Materials and Durability
Shoes are designed for specific courts, so even materials are selected to
suit the court. You must consider how long the shoe material can last.
- Hard Court Shoes: Most racquetball shoes guarantee six months of durability. The shoes are designed not to scrape the surface, absorb shock, and cushion the feet on this hard surface.
- Clay Court Shoes: Clay court shoes are light for speed and have better flexibility than any hard-court ones. These are designed with synthetic on the upper part and have a chevron weave that provides grip and does not clog.
- Grass Court Shoes: The shoes have a synthetic upper and web fusion. The blob design gives it a grip, which prevents it from sliding on the grass and does not damage the court simultaneously.
- All Court Shoes: Most shoe companies have designed multipurpose shoes to be used for all the courts. These will help those who use different surfaces to play racquetball.
Know Your Foot Type
Playing racquetball when you have not only the right shoe, but it should be for the right feet. Consider these when buying:
- Flat Feet: You might have flat feet when the standard arch is not seen at the feet when you stand. Those with flat feet are flexible and need shoes to provide stability. Shoes with good heel support and a well-built middle part are perfect for flat feet and are comfortable.
- Natural Feet: Natural feet are between flat and high, and most shoes fit well. There is no need for any unique features.
- High-Arched Feet: There are high arches with rigid feet and a notable gap between the floor and the feet. Shoes with good midsole support cushion the feet and provide flexibility when running.
Know the Right Size for Your Feet
When evaluating the shoes to wear, the right size is essential depending on the design of your feet:
- Stability Shoes: These shoes are for people with an average arch. The shoes provide stability for the heel and flexibility for the foot.
- Motion-Control Shoes: The dense foam and stiff plastic lining of motion-control shoes help when running to control the feet. It is ideal for those with flat feet. When you have flat feet, you tend to roll your feet inward more than usual when running.
- Cushioned Shoes: Cushioned shoes have added support for the arch, which helps players with high arches. It is good to use these shoes if you tend to roll your feet outward more than usual. The shoes are good and are light compared to others.
Trial Before You Buy
You will understand how you feel when you try the shoes on and walk in them. It will not be for the price or a referral you got, but if it has a personal touch, you are making an informed decision.
Most shoe shops have an area to try them, and you should do the movements and the turns there no matter how uncomfortable it may be. You want to walk out of the shop confident and sure you got the best.
If the local shop’s price seems higher than the online one, you can try it first and then purchase it online. It is best practice to do so to get the best benefits.
Do Your Research
Part of the research involves trying the shoes at a shop. It is a hands-on approach to check on several things and evaluate them as you see them. It is where it assures you that you’ll get what you see, or it also offers you a feel and taste of the shoes—seeing aids when researching to gauge what you want.
You can do online research by checking reviews. You will find tons of reviews where people have shared their experiences with different models, including the new ones and how they perform. Make sure you also check the disadvantages or negative reviews that people share.
It is a longer route to getting the best shoes for racquetball, and sometimes it may involve going back and forth before settling on one. However, combining hands-on and online will help you have the one that fits your tastes and preferences.
Check Shoe Size
Women’s shoe is usually 1.5 sizes smaller than men’s shoes. It’s crucial to understand the men’s shoe sizes, as well as the women’s. USA men’s shoe sizes have a list of 4 to 15, while the women’s have 5 to 13. Carefully check the shoe description, or you might leave with purchasing the undersized shoe.
Washable or Not
Washing is essential for shoe care. Usually, leather and fabric court shoes are washable in plain or soapy water. Remember, most racquetball shoes are washable at the washing machine, but you should check the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
How to Choose the Right-Fit Racquetball Shoes
- Size: To avoid blisters and other injuries to your feet, there is a need to have some breathing room for your toes. There should be a half-inch gap from the toes to the front of the shoes. It should not be too hard to cause blisters either.
- Width: Most people have standard wide feet, and wearing regular shoes solves their needs without pain or discomfort. However, if you have a different size, like wide feet, it is crucial to find the right shoe for yourself.
- Ankles: Most people do not have a challenge here. It is worth noting that when the upper part of the shoes touches your ankle, it is good to watch and see if it causes any discomfort, for the game will amplify.
- Soles: Soles are combined with:
- Heel: The heel counter offers stability at the back of the feet and is made of rigid material.
- Outsole: The bottom layer of the shoe with the thread.
- Midsole: The part that offers shock absorption on the shoes. It is the part between the upper shoe and the thread.
- Comfort: Generally, racquetball shoes are hard and stiff and designed for motions in the game. Some have more cushioning than others, which adds extra solace. Also, you can replace the insole for those that are removable.
- Durability: The endurance of any equipment is essential. For shoes, the most critical part is the outsole, which is in contact with the court. These need to survive the groundstrokes that come during the game. The toe cap will also help the upper part since it sometimes encounters the ground.
- Weight: Light shoes are for speed, but there is usually a tradeoff between durability, stability, and weight.
What kinds of shoes are best for racquetball?
How do I make sure my shoes fit?
What is the perfect shoe fit?
Should you be able to fit a finger in your shoe?
So you need special shoes for racquetball?
Final Thoughts
Having the best shoes and playing the best game are two crucial factors in any court sport. The two depend on one another for the best results. You cannot depend on the best shoes alone for the best results. And neither can you count on just skill for the best results.
Keep in mind that the best results require all the right things to be in place. Just like any other, racquetball is a game to be enjoyed, so as you play, ensure you have fun.