Top 7 Best Racquetball Shoes

So, why the need for the best racquetball shoe?

Any tennis/court shoes with gum soles will give you a better grip, especially on dustier courts. Shoes like Asics Gel 5, Gel 6, Gel 7, Gel 8, and Gel 9 will be more than enough for racquetball.

You will never feel the need for a specific racquetball shoe because you won’t miss out on anything. They have solid grips; you will feel stable and always be ready to move in whichever direction you need. A shoe like the HEAD Men’s Sonic 2000 is a perfect example.

But there are certain perks of wearing shoes made for playing racquetball. First of all, they are lighter than basketball shoes while still offering solid ankle support. They also last a long time only if you wear them when playing.

They do have some durability issues but considering the price, you could buy a pair every six months if you are into some tournament-level gameplay.

Indoor soccer shoes also do a great job and work wonderfully, but they are slightly expensive. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get back to the main focus of this article.

You are here because you need to find the best shoe for racquetball. A shoe more specific to the game certainly has more advantages. After all, in a stable shoe, you will hit better shots.

They tend to have more stability and traction while being lighter. Some are designed in a way that offers extreme mobility which is a must-have feature for any indoor shoes.

For fast stops, lateral movements, turns, or pivots, you can’t beat a racquetball-specific shoe. Now that you know why you need one, let us consider some options for the best racquetball shoes on the market.

(READ MORE: Step-by-step Guide for choosing the Best Racquetball Grips, Best Racquetball Goggles, Best Racquetball Glove, Racquetball Balls, and How To Choose Racquetball Racquets).

Top 7 Best Racquetball Shoes Review

HEAD Men’s Sonic 2000 Racquetball Court Shoes (Best Overall)

This is a well-made product from a well-known brand. Sonic 2000 is made exclusively keeping racquetball and squash in mind. So if you want a quality shoe specifically for this activity, you can’t go wrong with this shoe.

The shoe is breathable thanks to the synthetic leather material it is made from and a mesh upper. For a racquetball shoe, this is a fantastic quality that helps to prevent foot fungus or rancid smells.

The non-marking sole of the shoe is fitted with gum rubber that provides excellent grip while turning. It also features ankle support with a mid-cut design.

[amazon box=”B0716Q1ZGT”]

For added comfort and stability, the pre-molded heel comes with aH Frame. To top it off, the EVA midsole fitted in the product reduces foot strain in an intense sporting session.

This shoe performs well in a court as well as for daily use. It is stylish that can go well with your casual wear.

It provides excellent traction to keep you grounded during sports. What you get with this shoe is premium quality at a reasonable price.

ASICS Mens Gel-Rocket 8 Volleyball Shoe

The Asics Gel-Rocket 8 is a great value shoe for anyone practicing on-court and perfecting their skill. They are lightweight and come at a very reasonable price.

They are suitable for a range of sporting activities like volleyball, tennis, and racquetball

Due to the synthetic mesh upper part, the shoes are lightweight. The design of the shoe makes it so that you do not feel any extra weight when playing sports.

[amazon box=”B071VRL3J8″]

Additionally, the collar and tongue of the shoe are padded, which provides comfort when you wear it on your feet.

The molded EVA midsole gives players decent shock-absorption while striding. Furthermore, to reduce the weight of the shoe without compromising the structural integrity, they feature the Trusstic system R Technology.

You also get some customizable options with the removable insole. The fantastic grip at the heel of the shoe is unparalleled. You can also play table tennis with this shoe. If you want to check out more of them, see my guide on picking the best shoes for playing table tennis.

This product comes with plenty of modern features to make your sporting activities easier. Whether you choose it for racquetball or any other games, you will not regret the purchase.

Python Deluxe Indoor Racquetball Court Shoes

What sets this product apart from the rest is how it addresses the breathing issue. While you see shoes usually come with upper mesh to provide breathability, this product comes with leather exterior and an interior mesh.

Granted, this does not prevent smell as well as the upper mesh, but it significantly increases durability.

[amazon box=”B07Z8C8MPF”]

The non-marking gum rubber sole comes with an excellent grip to allow you to run indoors. The back heel of the shoe is thick to help improve stability and shock absorption while landing. The interior mesh keeps your feet dry and gives you increased mobility.

The inner soles in the shoe are removable so you can get them replaced when it gets old. But the chances of this shoe failing you are highly unlikely.

One thing that almost everyone who owned a pair of pythons would agree on is their durability, and this shoe is no different from the bunch.

The shoe is very lightweight as it is aimed mainly at racquetball. However, it does not mean you cannot use it for other sports like volleyball or basketball.

It has the capability of making you fall in love right out of the box. With a very reasonable price and plenty of features focused on your comfort, there is not much you can find worth complaining about.

Adidas Men’s Barricade Club  (Non-Marking, Best Value)

Adidas is a big brand name spread throughout the sporting industry. When you are getting an Adidas product, you know it is for sports.

Adidas Barricade club is a tennis shoe, but due to its comfortability and durability, it snuck its way into our best racquetball shoes review.

This top-notch product comes with a breathable synthetic upper mesh to prevent sweating and a rubber sole to provide excellent grip. The combination of the two allows you to move around the court with ease. With the supportive system of

[amazon box=”B010SQ8ZWU”]

Torsion midfoot, players can play aggressively without strain. You also get Aidprene under the heel to provide some extra cushion.

The insole is removable as you would expect with such a beautiful product. With low-top shaft design inches from the arch, it can support you in long training sessions.

To make lateral movements more accessible, you get abrasion-resistant Adituff wraps in the medial midfoot and toe areas.

The Adidas Barricade Club gives you all of the things you are looking for in a racquetball shoe and even more. It is well priced and will serve you for a long time even under rough use. This quality is what we look for in a shoe that is meant for sports.

Asics Men’s GEL-Rocket 7

Another excellent product from Asics, the GEL-Rocket 7 comes packed with superior comfort features and durability. Asics sports shoes are known for their reliability in extreme conditions.

[amazon box=”B07QF31BML”]

This shoe is stable to the Asics quality and held by many as a perfect shoe for racquetball.

The upper mesh featured in this product is very long-lasting, and you do not need to worry about it tearing to pieces.

The weight-reducing Trusstic system technology can be found in the midsole. The Forefoot Gel cushioning system keeps your feet relaxed and comfortable.

The non-marking rubber sole provides excellent traction while running around letting you perform quick turns and sudden stops efficiently. The shock absorption provided by the cushion allows you to jump while serving without feeling any strain.

This lightweight shoe by Asics is a very low-priced high-value product. It gives you maximum stability, increased durability, and fits like a charm.

Keep your opponents guessing your every move with this shoe as you move around the court with zero effort.

Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning Z4- Best Racquetball Shoes For Women

[amazon box=”B0782DZDR2″]

This product is a technological marvel in the sports shoe industry. It comes packed with amazing features to make your sporting activity easier, stress-free, and fun.

The world of sports is extremely competitive, and with this shoe, you don’t have to worry about ever falling behind.

Air mesh upper takes care of the breathability of the shoe along with a cool internal space that prevents heat and humidity build-up in your lower body. Dynamotion Fit upper moves with your feet to accommodate your tight movements.

SR touch midsole and advanced cushioning give this product unparalleled shock absorption capacity. A diagonal groove in the midfoot area gives you maximum maneuverability by using the natural kinetic energy accumulated in your body.

Another grove in the forefoot area allows increased agility and flexibility while reducing instability.

The suspension system connects the wave plate of the shoe to the ground to give you an enhanced grip. The outsole is non-marking and made with durable carbon rubber that can take all of your abuse.

Overall, this shoe is designed to give a woman maximum efficiency in any sporting activity.

Mizuno Women’s Wave Momentum Indoor Court Shoe

[amazon box=”B07JPHQYSK”]

One thing that Mizuno shoes never skimp out on is adding plenty of technological features. This is another of their women’s footwear that shows you the superiority that Mizuno has over other brands when it comes to providing you with extra comfort and flexibility.

First off, we have the three-layered no-sew upper that gives you a beautiful form-fitting shoe. Like the other Mizuno shoe mentioned in our list, it has the same Intercool system to keep your feet dry and fresh.

Wave technology lets you stomp around the court and with every step pushes hot air out of the shoe. This makes the shoe breathable and relaxed while playing.

It also has a Durashield toe to protect the shoe while dragging during a serve. The extra grade XG rubber sole gives you excellent traction and offers supreme stability in the court.

With the light and cushioned U4icX midsole, you can make sudden transitions smoothly. The midsole of the shoe is also shock-absorbing to make stomping around the court effortless.

It comes with several cosmetic color options. This is a beautiful shoe designed for women that allows you to partake in a different number of sporting activities, including racquetball.

What To Look For In A Good Racquetball Shoe?

Racquetball shoes tend to fall apart a lot quicker than basketball shoes. But as a sport, there is a lot more money in Basketball and it shows in the shoes. You can argue all you want but the quality difference is too much and so is the price.

However, if you know where to look and what to look, you can get yourself a pretty good deal. On a side note, avoid running shoes because they are made for running in a straight line and not suitable for lateral movements.

For those of you that had mediocre luck with racquetball shoes, I think it’s time to reconsider and give this buying guide a read.

(Read More: Step by step guide for choosing the best table tennis shoes, best table tennis nets, best table tennis paddle cases, and best table tennis table covers)

Why Racquetball Shoes?

First of all, let’s talk about why you should wear racquetball-specific shoes when playing racquetball. This very sport requires quick movement, the versatility of being able to move side to side in a quick manner, and also from front to back. You are doing all of these movements randomly and that’s why not sports shoes will be a good fit for this game.

Most of the time, you will be performing these moves from a static position. This also means that you need a certain level of protection from your shoes. The specific shoes made for playing racquetball will offer this kind of support and protection.

For this very reason, running shoes are a bad choice for playing racquetball. In this instance, they do not give you what you need. They are useful for sprinting or jogging in a straight line. Some of them have toes that point upward because they are meant to go forward.

This is why you should definitely avoid running shoes for playing racquetball. They are not made to be used with sports with quick movements. You can’t move from side to side with ease. They also lack a proper grip.

Basketball shoes are also a bad idea. They are a big no for playing racquetball because they are typically much more binding on the feet. And they are also heavier than most other court shoes. This is precisely why they are not a good fit.

You are likely to be playing 5 to 10 matches or even more. And that’s a long time for racquetball. You are probably going to have matches that anaerobic and aerobic exercise. In simple terms, they will be intense. Having that extra weight on your foot will not only slow you down but will also make you more fatigued and prone to ankle injuries.

They are better than running shoes, but the added weight of a basketball shoe can do a lot of harm and that is why they are still not preferred.

Tennis shoes are also not a good idea. In fact, I would say a big NO to them. Why? Because they have completely different-looking surfaces. Not just looks, they have different grip levels, different traction, and most important of them all, they are played in different environments.

Most likely you will be playing racquetball indoors, and tennis outdoors. Racquetball is played on a polyurethane sealed court. On the other hand, tennis is played on asphalt. Since they have completely different surfaces, so will be the shoes.

They won’t have the mechanism and features needed for the kind of sports you will be playing. More than likely, having a pair of tennis shoes on the racquetball court will cause you to slide around and slip.

The only type of shoe that you can wear and possibly get away with would be volleyball shoes. They have a similar type of shoe construction and both are made with the same material. The only thing they differ in its shock-absorbing qualities. Volleyball involves a lot of jumping and that is why they have better cushion and shock absorption capacity.

For this, you might have to pay a little more for this feature since you don’t necessarily need them for racquetball. But having that extra feature will be useful while playing racquetball.

Now, racquetball-specific shoes will be cheaper than volleyball shoes, but they won’t have the same durability. The latter will be much more durable and expensive too. Just keep this small info in mind when you buy the best shoes for playing racquetball.

Outdoor vs Indoor? Which One Do You Need?

Shoes that are made for indoor sports have gum soles while outdoor sports shoes have soles that look more like black vulcanized rubber.

However, you don’t need separate shoes. Your indoor shoes will hold up fine to occasional outdoor games. There are different shoes for different sports, but it is always a good idea to invest in a proper indoor court shoe.

It is better to use an indoor shoe for outdoor sports if you play indoor games a lot.

Get a pair that’s made for indoor hardwood. It doesn’t matter whether the pair is indoor specific or not. All you need to ensure is that the heel is stiff. Otherwise, you would end up twisting your ankle.

Avoid using outdoor tennis shoes. Since they are built with harder materials, they do not grip as well as soft gum rubber soles. Outdoor shoes are made to withstand concrete which has a lot of friction. But they do a terrible job on a hardwood surface.

If you are serious about maintaining the grip of indoor racquetball shoes, avoid using them too much on the hard concrete surface because the friction will tear apart soft materials on your shoe like gum rubber.

Keep your court shoes on the court. If it’s possible, avoid using them off the court because it will make them wear out fast and lose grip. They are also known to gouge court badly and hold on to pebbles like crazy. You don’t want to end up slipping on a pebble that you brought in.

Gum Rubber

One of the key features that separate a racquetball shoe from the rest of the court shoes is the use of gum rubber soles. Every sport that is played on an indoor court needs a shoe that has a gum rubber sole. It is widely used because of the grip that is provided on an indoor court. These shoes perform exceptionally well on wooden surfaces.

You can easily tell if you shoe you are purchasing has gum rubber soles. They are easy to spot; all you need to do is look at the bottom of the shoe. The substance will be either yellow or brown. You will also notice various little grooves and tiny design markers on them. And obviously the sole will be made out of gum rubber.

The only thing besides their grip that makes them so popular is their non-marking feature. Think of it like this, the court you are playing on especially the indoor ones are very expensive to make. For that reason, it is a huge deal in court sports.

Court owners want to make sure they can protect their precious floorings as much as possible. And one of the ways to achieve this by allowing players to only use non-marking soles. It will make sure that the black marks won’t ruin the color of the wooden floor. That’s why it is very important to use a shoe that does not mark the floor.

Weight

Racquetball is an intensive game and can tire you out quickly. That’s why it is important to consider how heavy or light the shoe is. If you don’t have any problems with ankle support, it is better to go with a low-top model.

You will notice the difference in weight when you are tired and working twice as hard to return the ball. Because a heavy shoe will feel like it is made of concrete.

Inserts

With today’s technologies & innovations, footwear has come a long way. Sports shoes have seen some dramatic changes over the past couple of years. Whether you are playing squash or racquetball, you need to pick a shoe that you can remove the insole from.

Most of the shoes in this list fall into this category. They will allow you to remove the insole and place your own inserts. Some of them are very lightweight and have enough space to put your own inserts.

However, there are some shoes that have their own built-in inserts and there is no way of removing them. They have different purposes, some are great at absorbing shocks, some are for specific foot types and some make you more comfortable.

Ankle Protection

For some players, ankle protection can be a big concern. That is why manufacturers offer different levels of ankle support. Most of the protection comes from the back of the shoe, that is why for most ankle protection, having a high-top shoe is preferable.

Typically, you will most protection in basketball shoes but those are not fit for playing racquetball. High tops are the most restrictive to your feet and they also offer the most protection for the ankles. Racquetball involves more agile movement and for that, mid-tops are preferable. They have less ankle support, but they will give you more freedom of movement.

The final type is low tops. In regard to ankle protection, they are very low-end. If you have a knack for twisting ankles, you should stay away from these types of shoes. While they have little to no ankle protection, they offer a lot of freedom of movement.

Socks and Blistering

As with most sports, blistering is also an issue for racquetball players if you pick the wrong shoe size. They can be very painful sores that make you turn red. They can even become irritated and even fester if untreated. It is something that you don’t want to happen because they just become more and more painful over time.

But they can be totally prevented if you follow some steps. The first thing you need to make sure of is to get the right shoe size. They can’t be too big, too small, too wide, or too narrow. Being scrunched up can cause blisters to occur. You don’t want to end having your feet slide inside of the shoes.

Another important thing to consider is to wear proper athletic socks. Compared to normal everyday socks, athletic socks can provide a better grip. Look for the best sports socks that you can find on the market. This is subjective for many, but you don’t need anything crazy like soccer socks.

Men’s vs Women’s

When it comes to racquetball shoes, there are a few differences between women’s shoes and men’s shoes. The first difference you will notice is the styling. Yes, this is something everyone would be quick to point out. In terms of colors and design, both tend to be total opposites for men’s and women’s shoes.

Now, most of the makers have unisex shoes but I find the specific ones more to my liking. This is a matter of personal taste; you are free to look for other designs. Now, the second difference is sizing. Men’s racquetball shoes run higher in size than women’s shoes.

You should also consider how they are constructed. Men’s shoes are meant to fit men’s feet while women’s shoes are made to fit a woman’s foot. On average, men’s feet are wider than women’s shoes. That’s why the shoes are wider. Now, if you are a woman and have wide feet, you should look into the men’s wide category to find a shoe that is your size.

Sizing

This is the most important part of this buying guide. It doesn’t matter how feature-rich or how expensive a shoe you get unless it fits properly, it won’t be worth a single penny. You will wear a pair to keep your feet protected and offer the necessary support you need to play racquetball at your best.

Having a properly sized shoe can have a huge impact on your gameplay. A large shoe will slide forth and back, a small shoe will bind your foot and cause blisters. Having a large shoe will make you slip on the court and can even change the way you move. Apart from a blister, a tight shoe will make you want to quit playing the game.

So, what’s the ideal size? Well, first and foremost, your shoes should feel comfortable. It will be a snug fit but not too loose or nor too tight. You will know what I’m talking about once you put on the right size. For sizing, there are hundreds of YouTube videos online. Do check them out.

Now, if your show feels uncomfortable, return it at once and look elsewhere. That is why when it comes to shoes, you should try a pair before purchasing. But most of us buy them online, I mean who has the time to go to a local sports center and try out a bunch of them?

If you already own a shoe, you know what size you need to get. If you don’t, consider watching some videos online and measure your feet to get the proper size. Keep in mind that the toe should be slightly behind the edge of the shoe.

You don’t want the toe to an inch away nor you want it pressed up against the top of the shoe. First check if you can wiggle your toes, if you can, then it’s a good start. You can also feel with your fingers how much space there is from the edge to your toe. As long as you keep these things in check, you are good to go.

Most of us won’t have any issue with finding the proper size. The only exception will be people with wider feet. If this is your problem, you should always try out a pair or two before attempt to buy any shoes online. Most of the time, shoe companies don’t have a wider version in their sizing.

If you can’t find one, try half or full size bigger to accommodate your feet. If they do have wide shoes available, definitely go for that. Most of the time, reading the reviews will help you make the right purchasing decision.

Just like any other shoe, a racquetball shoe size will be the same as your ordinary shoe. So, if you have a pair at home that you feel comfortable with, go with the same size.

Taking Care of Your Shoes

Now that we are done with the buying guide, it’s time to talk about something that is even more important. Shoe maintenance. The first thing you should make sure not to do is wear your racquetball shoes outside. You should only wear them inside the court.

You don’t want to take dirt inside of the court. Court shoes have gum soles that take up dirt and stick on the sole. This is a custom among players and is just good etiquette. It also shows a level of respect because other players will also be using the court.

If you have dirt stuck in your sole, you will be sliding around the court because you will have less suction. Aside from that, another reason to avoid wearing them outside is to protect the shoe. The rubber gum sole won’t last long outside. So, make sure to follow these two tips if you want your shoes to last much longer.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out which pair will suit your feet and playing style the most isn’t that easy. That’s why I have picked the 10 best shoes for playing racquetball and highlighted which shoes do best on the court. Most of the time, it will heavily depend on your physical abilities and playing style.

I hope you found what you were looking for in this best racquetball shoe buyer’s guide. If you think I’ve missed out on anything, let me know in the comment section below and I’ll make sure to add that in this article.