Best Shoes for Pickleball? 10 Great Options!

Best Shoes for Pickleball

From rolled ankles to ruptured Achilles tendons and pulled hamstrings to sprains and strain, wearing the wrong shoes at a Pickleball game can cause various injuries. If you are planning to take on the sport of Pickleball, you must not opt for just any athletic footwear.

You must buy the best shoes for Pickleball that can be conducive to your backward, forward, and lateral movements on a Pickleball court. So, how do you choose the best pair of shoes for Pickleball? Let’s find out.

Indoor Pickleball Shoes Vs. Outdoor Pickleball Shoes

You can play Pickleball both indoors and outdoors. Therefore, Pickleball shoes are also divided into two categories which are:

Indoor Pickleball shoes

You play an indoor Pickleball game on a court made of wood or a flooring material similar to wood. Either way, the court is slippery and needs a pair of shoes with a strong grip. Therefore, volleyball shoes are a good choice if you can’t find indoor Pickleball shoes.

Outdoor Pickleball Shoes

Outdoor Pickleball courts are made of concrete or asphalt that can quickly wear your shoe soles down. Therefore, outdoor Pickleball shoes need durable soles. In this case, tennis court shoes are a good alternative.

In either case, you will need shoes that can offer outstanding comfort, ankle support, grip, and rubber soles with tread patterns conducive to your quick lateral movement.

Another quick tip: a good pair of Pickleball shoes won’t last a lifetime. Therefore, always remember to change your shoes after completing 60 hours of playtime or every 3 to 4 months. This depends on how often you play Pickleball.

How to Choose Best Shoes for Pickleball?

If you are considering buying shoes for a pickleball game, you must look for certain key characteristics. All the features mentioned below will help you stay safe and move quickly while playing Pickleball.

Choose Your Sole Wisely

Your shoe sole plays a vital role when it comes to choosing the best shoes for pickleball. The thicker the sole, the more support, and protection it will provide against impacts. As you play Pickleball, you will be jumping and running from point to point. These movements can cause a lot of stress on your feet and knees, especially if you aren’t wearing the right shoes. The best shoes for Pickleball have stiff and thick soles, usually made from rubber.

Look for Solid Ankle Support

A twisted ankle and broken Achilles tendon are the two most common injuries caused during a Pickleball game. Therefore, you need a shoe with a solid ankle construction.

You will be springing right to left and back and forth across the pickleball court. Therefore, you must ensure that the shoes you are wearing provide sturdy support to your angle. This will protect your ankle from any injury while you quickly change directions as you play.

Sole under Your Ball of Foot

The part of the sole under your ball of your foot should be responsive and light. This will help you with quick movement because the pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, making it a fast-paced game. If you want to ensure your feet’s safety while moving around the court or shifting directions swiftly, then you will need a pickleball shoe with a light sole near the front or ball of the foot.

Non-Marking Feature

Many courts don’t allow you to step on the indoor or outdoor court if you aren’t wearing pickleball shoes with non-marking features. The reason is simple; the court maintenance team doesn’t want your marking shoes to ruin the court while you play. So, buy pickleball shoes with non-marking features.

If you can’t find pickleball shoes, you can always look for good tennis or volleyball shoes because they come with a non-marking feature as well.

The Weight Counts

When choosing the right pickleball shoes, always check their weight. The weight of the shoes varies according to their size. However, as a reference, a typical volleyball shoe will weigh around 9 oz, and a tennis shoe will be 1 lb or higher.

A heavy shoe will provide more support, whereas a lighter shoe will allow you to move faster on the court. Therefore, you must find a shoe that is the right balance of providing adequate support to your feet and bearing your weight while light enough to allow quick movement.

5 Best Pickleball Shoes for Her

Here are five of the best pickleball shoes for men and women. The selection mentioned below includes pickleball shoes, tennis shoes, and volleyball shoes for both genders. So without further ado, let us dive right in.

·       K-Swiss Women’s Express Light Pickleball Shoe

For those ladies who want a lightweight pickleball shoe, a great name brand, and a good price, this might be the shoe for you!

DRAGGUARD: These features are in the higher wear and tear areas of the toes and heels and give allow the shoe to be more abrasion-resistant.

·       ASICS Upcourt 4 Court Shoes

One of the best pickleball shoes you can buy for women in 2022. These are perfect for indoor pickleball games. These are the lightest volleyball shoes that are designed for indoor gym floors. The ASICS Upcourt weighs around 9 oz.

The shoe is a perfect fit with comfortable ankle support for women and a durable sole to protect your feet against any impacts.

·       Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6

The Wave Lightning by Mizuno has cushioning and shock absorption system that offers immense support to your feet, ankles, and ball of foot area against quick movement and change of direction. Many times used for volleyball, the parallel wave design provides lateral stability that you will need as a pickleball player on an indoor or outdoor court. The shoe is probably the best version compared to its predecessors, such as Z2 and Z3.

·       ASICS Gel-Resolution 8

If you are searching for outdoor pickleball shoes, then you can try ASICS Gel Resolution 8, which is a perfect specimen of tennis shoes. This one is lightweight footwear built using Dynawall and Dynawrap technology to keep your foot locked to the ground and offer security against sudden slips, trips, and turns. There is a padded tongue and collar, and the fabric for the shoe is breathable mesh lining.

·       Head Tennis Shoes

If you are looking for a pickleball shoe with exceptional support, cushioning, and energy transfer, you must buy head tennis shoes. This pair offers excellent traction, while an integrated climate control feature helps maintain ultimate breathability. This shoe will provide maximum flexibility, optimum lateral stability, and maneuverability.

5 Best Pickleball Shoes for Him

If you are a guy looking for the best shoes for pickleball, here are some fantastic options for you to choose from.

·       ASICS Gel-Challenger 12

These great pickleball shoes have a defense that keeps the player from dragging the toes too much. Also has a thermal plastic Plantar Support Chassis that helps keep the middle part of the foot stable. Has an ortho lock shoe liner. The superior open-cell makeup of OrthoLite foam helps manage the moisture, keeping your feet more dry.

·       ASICS Gel-Challenger 12

This one is one of the most popular best men’s shoes for pickleball. The shoe has a seamless design that reduces friction and irritation, while the rubber sole provides durable support and cushioning. The shoe has an exceptional shock-absorbing feature and allows you to move swiftly as you move back and forth and change directions.

The Trusstic System technology helps reduce the weight of your sold unit while maintaining the structural integrity of your shoe. You can even remove the sock liner to accommodate your medical orthotic.

·       K-Swiss Light Pickleball Shoe

This shoe weighs around 12.8 oz and comes with an ortholite sock liner for moisture management to keep your feet cool at all times. The high-density outsole offers durable protection from heel to toe. A Durawrap located on the shoe’s upper region provides an extra protective layer against excessive toe-dragging. Being lightweight, durable, and comfortable makes this one of the best shoes for pickleball in 2022.

·       Head Men’s Revolt Pro 3

If you are shopping for a premium pair of shoes suitable for all types of pickleball courts, then this one is for you. The Revolt Pro 3.0 promises optimal comfort and stability during your game time.  The upper part of the shoe is made from strong but lightweight mesh material with durable chassis made from PU.

The high heel offers added support and dampening of impact, and the sole comes with a non-marking feature. With Revolt Pro 3.0, you will be able to play many games of pickleball with confidence and peace of mind.

·       ASICS Gel Rocket 9

If you cannot find a good pickleball shoe that suits your tastes and preferences, you are probably going to love ASICS Gel –Rocket 9. These shoes are a perfect combination of synthetic and mesh material. The rubber sole is non-marking, and the EVA-midsole offers enhanced bounce and cushioning upon impact.

The sock liner keeps your feet dry and cool for hours, but you can remove it to accommodate your own medical orthotic. The gel cushioning system provides shock absorption during impact, and the Trusstic technology reduces the weight of your sole while maintaining the structural integrity of your shoe.

Conclusion

Thanks so much for stopping by All Points Pickleball Whether you are a seasoned pickleball player or a newbie, you must invest some time and money in finding the best shoes for pickleball. This will not only help you move quicker and turn faster but also alleviates the risks of any type of injuries associated with the game. Just keep the above-mentioned factors in mind when choosing the right shoes for pickleball.

Get the right size, and ensure the shoe sole is durable, comfortable, and provides adequate ankle support. Consider the comfort of your ball of foot area and make sure that the sole of the shoes is non-marking, or the court may now allow you to step on the court. Take care of all of these features and see yourself fly on the pickleball court with your new pair of shoes.