Basketball shoes are probably the most important things for any professional basketball player. They greatly influence their performance when on the court. In simple terms, subject to the fit, basketball shoes can either improve or ruin your performance.
Your shoes, irrespective of the time, should have a little squirm space for the toes. Note that feet are likely to sweat up a bit during exercise. While the shoe ought to be a little free in the toe box, the heel should feel somewhat snug too. After, you want to feel comfortable, safe, and stable during those haste moves.
Too tight shoes can lead to blisters, while too loose shoes can cause a rolled ankle. Therefore, the best thing is to make sure you the shoes are tight enough for ample ankle support but not so constrained that it compromises the blood flow and mobility of the joints.
How should Your Basketball Shoes Fit?
First off, men’s and women’s shoes are designed differently, at least when it comes to basketball shoes. They are typically distinctive and, in most cases, cannot be relied upon by members of the opposite gender.
Men’s shoes are based on a more extensive edge than women’s shoes. Of course, this is because women generally have narrower feet. That means a woman attempting to wear men’s basketball shoes would need to spread their feet excessively far over the midsole. Contrariwise, basketball shoes designed for women would be too tight for most men to wear.
With the right size, your toes should have enough room in an accommodative toe box. Be sure to stand up when you’re trying on new basketball shoes. Ensure that the shoe in question offers a thumbnail’s length of the room between the end of the shoe and the tip of your biggest toe.
Check whether the heel fits comfortably and with no slippage. Pay attention to the following aspects:
Width and Bend
This basically covers the middle of your foot area or the widest part of your feet. Make sure your feet fit comfortably around this area. There should not be much movement, but your feet should not be compelled to stretch to occupy any excess width.
The shoes should bend at the point where the toes bend- at the ball of your feet- and not at the midsole. Bending or bowing in other areas is an indicator that the shoe is too loose.
Toe Box
You may have been advised to leave some space in your shoes for growing purposes when you were a kid. Interestingly, that concept is still applicable when it comes to basketball shoes. Experts suggest leaving a thumbnail length of the room between the end of your longest toe and that of the shoe.
B-ball shoes should just curve close to the ball of your feet (where the toes bend) and not through the curves. An accommodative toe box is important to combat the toes from being pressed. Keep in mind that too-tight shoes can squeeze your toes, which could lead to blisters, calluses, toenails, and other problems.
Heels
The right fit for the heel area of a certain shoe is different from the midsole and toe box. The point is to make sure your heel feels firm and snug around the shoe. This will help to keep your feet stable during performances.
Your heel may have some slight motion, but they should not slide in the shoe. This motion should not be more than the thumbnail’s length in the toe section.
Also Read: Can You Wear Basketball Shoes Casually?
High Tops or Low Tops
The answer to this question can be attributed to whether you want more support or mobility. High top basketball shoes provide plenty of ankle support and stability. In particular, forward and centers are susceptible to ankle injuries and would benefit from such shoes.
As for the guards, you’ll be best with a lower top since you’ll be moving quickly. Ideally, you can try mid-top shoes. These are models designed to meet halfway on both support and mobility.
Ankle Height
Different people will have different opinions on the right ankle height and the associated benefit. However, the midsole tends to be the most important for both support and stability, not really the ankle.
The ankle height may not have any physical effect on whether your ankle will be rolled or not, but it can boost your mental security of greater stability. This is called proprioception.
How Tight Should You Tie Your Basketball Shoes
The shoes should be fairly tight for support but should not feel uncomfortable in any way. A loose lacing system will make your shoes look sloppy and easy to cause an accident. While you don’t want to be benched because you tripped over your shoelaces, below are two lacing systems that could help you.
For those with high arches, be sure to try the following:
- Lace your shoes in a crisscross pattern throughout to the bottom group of the holes.
- Do the left and right shoelaces straight up on both shoes to create higher arches for more stability.
- Crisscross the laces again after reaching the last arrangement of the openings close to the shoe’s highest point.
For those with wide feet, this lacing method might work better:
- Run the laces through the first pair of eyelets at the lower part of the shoe.
- Do the shoelaces directly up to the shoe for several of the next arrangements of the openings. Try not to bungle the laces.
- Continue lacing in this method until the shoelace reaches the upper part of the shoe. This will help the shoe to stay fixed without squeezing the foot.
- Crisscross the laces on the rest of the openings and then tie the shoes as usual.
Bottom Line
Some b-ball players believe it’s best to wipe the soles of your shoes before hitting the court. It’s a notion, but it may have some notion behind it. After all, clean shoes are likely to be less slippery. You can also increase your odds by making sure the shoes fit properly and are well laced. Basketball shoes mostly fall on the broadside, but they should be comfortable whatsoever. The feet are of great significance in the basketball sportive. So make sure they are carefully handled, and you will be free to focus on the game.