What do you get when you mix tennis, badminton, and table tennis? Pickleball!
Invented in 1965, this racket sport has been gaining popularity around the world over the past decade, mainly because it's suitable for all ages and skill levels and is a fast-paced, versatile game that many enjoy.
To play pickleball, you’ll need:
-
A pickleball paddle, usually made from composite, graphite, or wood.
-
A perforated polymer ball, with holes that slow it down, giving players more time to react and return shots and creating longer exchanges.
-
And of course, court shoes designed specifically for pickleball, because the right footwear is important for many reasons, ensuring your soles are up to the task.
Speaking of shoes, let’s dive deeper into everything you need to know about the benefits of pickleball shoes.
Do I need pickleball shoes?
Pickleball is a game of quick lateral movements, sudden stops, and sharp direction changes. To prevent injuries and enhance your performance, knowing what shoes to wear for pickleball is essential for choosing the right footwear. All this means that regular sneakers or even tennis shoes might not be your best choice when you get on the court, especially when you can choose shoes specifically designed for the pickleball game. Whether you need a pair for indoor or outdoor pickleball, there are plenty of choices available.
Unlike your regular running shoe, a pickleball specific shoe is designed to support the fast paced sport and its unique movements. For that purpose, one of the benefits of pickleball shoes is that their soles are built for maximum traction. One major benefit of pickleball shoes is their specially designed soles that provide superior traction. This helps you play with confidence, especially when making those quick stops and pivots, and prevent slipping so you can stay quick on your feet and move with precision during rallies.
Besides good traction, a pickleball court shoe is also designed to provide the stability you need for the typical quick changes in direction, helping with sliding and grip. With the right amount of support, these shoes reduce the risk of injury and even help minimize fatigue during the match, no matter which surface you play on.
Top 7 benefits of wearing pickleball-specific shoes
#1: Improved traction for better movement
The outsoles of pickleball shoes offer excellent grip on both indoor and outdoor courts. Whether you’re sprinting, pivoting, or making sudden stops, the special traction design helps you stay stable on your feet.
The right level of grip is especially important for making those fast lateral pickleball moves. Without it, you risk slipping and losing control and with it, you have a better chance of staying on your feet, making those quick changes in direction easier to execute.
#2: Reduced risk of injuries
As mentioned earlier, pickleball involves a lot of quick lateral movements, rapid stops, and changes in direction, all of which put a lot of strain on the feet and ankles that can lead to injury and other foot problems.
The following design features of a proper pickleball shoe help minimize the risk of common injuries like ankle sprains, heel pain, and knee strain:
-
Stability and support
Unlike running shoes or any other athletic shoe which is designed primarily for forward motion, one of the benefits of pickleball shoes is that they offer more lateral support to provide stability, especially during side-to-side movements. This helps prevent the foot twisting that is a common cause of ankle sprain.
Features like a non-marking outsole provide a solid base to support quick pivots, while quality arch support ensures that your foot stays stable and doesn’t roll inward or outward when you plant it on the ground.
-
Cushioning for impact absorption
Pickleball shoes are designed to cushion your feet and absorb shock, particularly in the heel and arch areas. This feature is particularly important in preventing heel pain, which is often linked to conditions like plantar fasciitis. The cushioning helps soften the impact from running, jumping, and sudden stops, reducing stress on the feet, joints, and lower back. If you already have existing heel pain or other joint issues, this feature can help keep you playing for longer, with less discomfort and fewer injuries.
-
Ankle protection
Some pickleball shoes include extra ankle support, like a reinforced heel counter or padded collars around the ankle area. This feature helps stabilize the ankle during rapid stops and direction changes, preventing it from rolling or twisting.
-
Shock absorption for joints
The design of pickleball shoes includes special midsole cushioning that helps absorb the shock from quick movements, reducing the impact on your knees, hips, and back. This feature helps prevent knee strain and joint fatigue, as it provides a protective layer between your body and the court surface.
#3: Optimized durability for pickleball courts
A key factor in durability is understanding the difference between pickleball shoes and tennis shoes, as they are designed for different court surfaces and movement patterns, impacting longevity and performance. Made with a durable rubber outsole, pickleball shoes are built to withstand the repetitive lateral movement and abrasions from playing on the court. Whether you're playing indoors or outdoors, this shoe is designed to last in spite of the pivots, sudden stops and frequent side-by-side movements.
#4: Support for specific foot conditions
There are specific design features of pickleball shoes that provide support for the pickleball player who is dealing with common foot conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions, or flat feet.
-
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia, a band of tissue in your foot, becomes inflamed due to overuse, strain, or injury. It often causes sharp, stabbing pain in the heel or foot, especially when you first get up in the morning or after standing for a long time [1].
Luckily, the right shoe can be used as your injury prevention measure and help lessen the impact of plantar fasciitis [2]. Choosing the right pickleball shoes for plantar fasciitis can provide the arch support and cushioning necessary to keep you pain-free on the court. For players with this condition, the cushioning in pickleball footwear is the feature that helps alleviate pressure on this sensitive area. Shoes designed for pickleball often have more responsive midsoles that absorb shock with every step, reducing the impact on the heel and arch. This helps to lessen the foot pain and strain that is typical when walking or running with plantar fasciitis.
-
Overpronation and flat feet
For players with flat feet or those who suffer from overpronation, shoes with built-in arch support are almost a must. By supporting the arch, pickleball shoes keep the foot in a more natural alignment and help reduce the inward rolling motion of the foot that can lead to stress on the knees and ankles. This not only improves comfort but also minimizes the risk of injury caused by improper foot mechanics.
-
Heel pain and joint issues
Shoes that feature advanced cushioning technologies provide the all-important shock absorption that is key for any player, but especially those who deal with heel pain or joint issues. This cushioning helps in dispersing the impact forces that result from the fast lateral movements and abrupt stops, preventing the shock from traveling up the leg and causing discomfort or injury to the knees and hips.
-
Injuries
The added support in pickleball shoes helps protect against injuries like sprains, which are common due to the rapid direction changes in pickleball. Features like a reinforced heel counter or extra padding around the ankle provide a secure fit, ensuring the ankle stays stable even during sudden pivots or jumps. For players who have experienced ankle injuries in the past, this extra support can be vital for both comfort and protection.
With these features, pickleball shoes are not only tailored to ensure the best performance but also to protect the foot and prevent issues.
#5: Lightweight design for agility
The best pickleball shoes are designed to be lightweight, helping you move quickly and with ease on the court. A lighter shoe reduces effort and fatigue during long matches to allow you to maintain speed and agility throughout the game.
But it’s more than minimizing foot and leg fatigue. Even compared to other sports shoes, pickleball court shoes are typically lighter to make quick acceleration and sharp turns more fluid and effortless.
#6: Breathability for comfort
Comfort is key during any sport, and that includes the long pickleball sessions. Part of that comfort is breathable, flexible upper materials.
Among the benefits of pickleball shoes is that they’re made with breathable materials that keep your feet cool and dry, helping to prevent discomfort and things like fungal infections from sweaty feet. Proper ventilation allows sweat to evaporate, reducing moisture buildup inside the shoe and keeping your feet feeling fresh throughout the game.
Upper materials that are also flexible adjust to any foot shape, providing a pressure free and non binding fit.
#7: Versatility for indoor and outdoor play
Whether you’re playing on inner or outer courts, the best pickleball shoes are designed to perform well in both environments.
With the versatility of pickleball outsoles, they offer the necessary grip and stability for different court surfaces, ensuring safe and stable movement on the harder outdoor courts or softer indoor surfaces. This adaptability gives the pickleball player freedom to switch between indoor and outdoor pickleball play without needing separate indoor shoes and outdoor shoes. This adaptability offers pickleball players the freedom to switch between indoor and outdoor play without needing separate shoes.
How Orthofeet pickleball shoes maximize these benefits
Orthofeet pickleball shoes are designed with the sport's unique demands in mind, providing advanced stability and even innovative hands-free wear. Investing in high-quality pickleball shoes for men and women's pickleball shoes ensures you get the right balance of traction, support, and durability to stay agile and comfortable during every match.
Our shoes are professionally and meticulously designed with orthopedic features, which focus on delivering exceptional support while accommodating a wide variety of foot conditions. Whether you're dealing with plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or any other foot health concerns, Orthofeet has you covered. Our pickleball shoes come complete with:
-
Patented slip-on technology for hands-free on-off wear, which eliminates the need to bend over to tie or untie the laces. This is helpful for anyone on the go, or people with knee pain, back pain or arthritis that find it hard to bend over.
-
Cushioning that absorbs shock during fast lateral movements, ensuring that your feet remain comfortable and well-supported, even during the most intense matches.
-
Breathable, stretchable uppers that ensure your feet are constantly aerated and the fit is customized to your feet’s unique shape and form.
-
Arch support that keeps your feet properly aligned with your legs and back, preventing any outward or inward rolling.
-
Pickleball court outsoles with non-marking rubber tread and a herringbone pattern for extra grip and court-ready traction.
By combining advanced design features with foot condition-specific support, our pickleball shoes maximize the benefits that matter most to you: comfort, stability, and performance. Shop for your perfect pair today and order with confidence, knowing you'll find the best pickleball shoe and price options available.
============================
[1] Jennifer Larson, medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH. What to Know About Plantar fasciitis. Medical News Today. November 14, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/health/plantar-fasciitis
[2] Umar Haddaya, Idrees Wajeeha, Umar Wardah, Khalil Anish, Rizvi Zuhair A. Impact of Routine Footwear on Foot Health: A Study on Plantar Fasciitis. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. July 2022. Accessed October 9, 2024. https://journals.lww.com/jfmpc/fulltext/2022/07000/impact_of_routine_footwear_on_foot_health__a_study.74.aspx