What to Look for in Basketball Shoes

Basketball is a physically demanding sport. Its play is constant, with all players actively engaged on both offense and defense. With rules such as the 24-second shot clock specifically instituted to promote more rigorous, relentless play, the game requires an abundance of running full lengths of the court.

While games can be played on carpet or on the street, the optimal example environment features indoor conditions on a hardwood court. On this firm, minimally yielding surface, basketball players are expected to maintain constant motion. Moves used may include fast sprints, big jumps, sudden pivots, and others. Considering all the above elements involved, there are a few traits that should especially be sough in a pair of basketball shoes: durability, comfort, and bounce.

Durability

Basketball can be rather rough on a pair of tennis shoes, additionally so for streetball players. The extensive use of a player's "pivot foot" sets roundball apart from other sporting endeavors, in its relentless emphasis on sharp turns, hard pivots, quick cuts, firm screens, and other movement tactics, each putting a notable measure of demand on the feet and stress on the shoes with each execution. Many boys and girls have grown up notorious for wearing out their shoes quickly, and often, from playing basketball; before others learn that lesson the hard way, it is valuable to note that durability is a characteristic of paramount importance.

Comfort

This is almost a no-brainer, since every type of footwear for any conceivable activity should, ideally, be as comfortable as possible. However, in terms of basketball, additional considerations must be taken into account. They are fairly straightforward, though, when following the same guideline for any other sporting choice: The same movements necessary in the game should be comfortable in the shoe. For basketball, this would mean practice should be given to sprinting, pivoting, sideward motion, and jumping both stationary and forward while running.

Bounce

Although it is definitely an asset in other sports as well, basketball is perhaps the game in which a person's vertical jump is most often and most effectively utilized. Whether a player is leaping forward for a lay-up, springing straight up to defend a shot, popping up while turning for a jumper, or ascending repeatedly for rebounds, there is a lot of jumping in basketball. This can vary player to player and position to position, but many people will be jumping on almost every single play, on both offense and defense, even just to attempt rebounds. For this reason alone, the "bounce" of a pair of shoes is important. This means it must offer superb support, with an arch that best facilitates a player's vertical. Also, some models have specialty features that allow for an increase in jumpability; for an elite or developing player, this premium may be worth the investment for the positive impact it will have on every game. Although, before this consideration, players must individually evaluate how integral this component will be.