Most volleyball players will tell you that basketball shoes are not the best option for volleyball. This is because the soles on basketball shoes are not made for stopping and starting on a hardwood court, so they can cause you to slip or lose your footing.
In addition, basketball shoes can often be too bulky or stiff for volleyball. If you don’t have a pair of dedicated volleyball shoes, there are some other options that you can consider. In this blog post, we take a look at whether or not can you wear basketball shoes for volleyball. Keep reading to learn more.
10 Reasons Why You Should Wear Basketball Shoes for Volleyball
1. Twisting
Wearing high tops helps with twisting on the court. Basketball shoes have high tops, thicker than sandals or flip flops. Wearing sandals won’t protect your ankles from getting sprains. If you want to be safe, wear basketball shoes for volleyball.
2. Better Grip
Basketball sneakers have a better grip than sandals or flip-flops. For example, the rubber on the bottom of the shoe provides better grip when you have to run back and forth for a volleyball match than sandals that do not have very good grip.
3. Cover More Ground
If you want less skinned knees, then wear basketball shoes for volleyball. If you wear flip-flops, you might have a higher chance of getting scuffed knees when going for a volleyball.
4. Helps Prevent Sprains
Basketball shoes are thicker and have better ankle support than sandals or flip-flops. So if you want to prevent sprains, wearing basketball sneakers for volleyball is a good idea.
5. Better Support
Basketball sneakers have good arch support and ankle support, which prevents you from rolling your ankles compared to wearing flip flops or sandals. If you want better arch and ankle support, wear basketball shoes for volleyball.
6. Better Traction on Volleyball Court
Over the years, many volleyball athletes have complained about sandals not giving you enough traction to stop sliding on the court. The good news is that basketball spikes are better than sandals for volleyball because they give you more traction when running or stopping mid-court.
7. Better Ankle Protection
Wearing high tops provides ankle protection, which is important if you don’t get injured. In addition, many sports-related injuries can be prevented if athletes wear proper footwear, including basketball shoes for volleyball.
8. Lateral and Multiplanar Movements
Wearing proper shoes for volleyball is essential if you want better footing on the court. However, it doesn’t make sense to wear sandals or flip-flops because they don’t provide padding or support during lateral or multiplanar movements. Instead, if you want better support when playing volleyball, wear basketball sneakers, which provide a cushion for your feet.
9. Potentially Fewer Injuries
Wearing basketball sneakers can help prevent injuries because they have better ankle support, proper arch support, and the shoes provide more traction than sandals or flip flops. In addition, the right shoe can aid in weight distribution, which will lessen pressure on the joints, not only of the ankles but the knees and hips.
10. Warmth
If you want your feet to stay warm during a volleyball game, wear basketball shoes for volleyball. Although not everyone gets cold feet when playing volleyball in cooler temperatures, some feel the chill when wearing sandals or flip-flops. Since basketball sneakers are thicker than sandals, basketball shoes for volleyball keep your feet warm during colder months.
Can You Wear Basketball Shoes for Volleyball: Five Factors to Consider
1. Adequate Support
Basketball shoes provide less lateral support than volleyball shoes. One of the most common injuries in volleyball is an ankle sprain (Sprained Ankles, Volleyball Courts). Ankle sprains are ranked as one of the highest causes of time lost to injury. For this reason, it is important to have adequate support for the ankle.
Unfortunately, basketball shoes are not designed to provide adequate lateral support needed for volleyball. The only way to determine if your ankle is ready to handle high-impact activity is to have it evaluated by a health care professional.
2. Stability
Basketball shoes provide less stability for side-to-side movements than volleyball shoes. With the dual demands placed on your feet when jumping, spiking, blocking, and running in all directions, you need to wear shoes that help maintain proper foot position during lateral movements. In addition, wearing basketball shoes may result in added stress on your ankles and knee joints.
3. Traction
Traction on a volleyball court is significant, so you don’t slip and fall while jumping or attempting to block an opponent’s attack. Unfortunately, basketball shoes generally have smooth, flat bottoms that lack the needed traction for volleyball courts.
4. Comfort
Basketball shoes are not designed with comfort because they are meant for limited activity. They generally offer little or no cushion in the midsole and heel areas, lack arch support, and place too much pressure on certain areas of your foot. It is best to avoid wearing basketball shoes when playing volleyball for these reasons.
5. Appropriate Footwear
When choosing footwear for any sport, the appropriate footwear is important to prevent injury. However, the best way to determine if you are ready for high-impact activity is to have your feet evaluated by a health care professional.
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Some Tips and Suggestions When Choosing Basketball Shoes for Volleyball
- Determine if a cushioned or non-cushioned shoe is most suitable for you. Cushioning is best for running, jumping, and cutting movements. Non-cushioned shoes are better for digging, lateral movement, and back row attacks.
- Look at the shoe’s sole to determine if it has a profile with a high or low arch. If you have high arches, buy a shoe with a profile that supports your feet well.
- Check the shoe’s upper material to see if it is sturdy enough to handle playing on hard courts all day. Mesh will cause blistering, and leather will take too long to break in for some players.
- Figure out what ankle support you need. Some players prefer more, while others do not feel extra support.
- Determine if you want your shoe to be removable or not. If yes, it may be a good idea to wear another pair of shoes with arch supports when breaking in your new volleyball shoes.
- If you are serious about playing volleyball, buy an ankle brace appropriate for your needs.
- Do not wear high-top shoes to play volleyball! They will be too restricting and cause problems with your game.
Features Your Shoes Need to Perform Well in Volleyball
1. Traction
When you’re going up for a big spike, running across the court to cover a ball, or diving on the floor to make a save, having good traction is critical. You can get different outsoles on shoes, from flat and smooth to deep channels and serrated edges. Depending on what type of court plays host to your games, you will want to choose one of these.
2. Cushioning
When it comes to volleyball, your shoes won’t be covered with lines that show where you should land or pockets for rubber bars on the bottom of the shoe. However, some shoes do offer impact protection and correct pronation control. The problem when choosing shoes comes when deciding if it’s worth sacrificing traction for added cushioning.
3. Breathability
If you are playing in hot weather or spending an extended time on the volleyball court, removing excess heat is important. Look for a shoe with well-ventilated areas; breathable mesh or no tongue will help your foot stay cooler.
4. Material
When it comes to the upper part of the shoe, you will want to consider what type of material is best for your game. Some shoes are made with leather or synthetic, and each has its upsides and downsides, which you should review before making a purchase.
5. Flexibility
One of the main benefits of choosing workout shoes for volleyball is that you want them to be flexible. The more flexible your shoe, the easier it will be for you to move around in it and play well.
Do Volleyball Shoes Make You Jump Higher?
The average volleyball player needs shoes that provide stability and cushioning. This is because of the quick digging and jumping involved in the game. Some players like to wear basketball shoes for this reason, but it is not a good idea: Basketball heels are too thin for sudden side-to-side movements or explosive jumping.
The best shoes are built for volleyball players, with extra support in the arch, and deep heel cups that keep your foot steady during sudden side-to-side movements called slides. In addition, shoes should be snug with good ankle support to prevent injuries like sprained ankles. And your toes need room to spread out when you land after a jump.
Conclusion
You can wear basketball shoes for volleyball, but you need the right size and type of shoes. In addition, volleyball players require a shoe with a good grip on the bottom to stop running when they jump into spikes or dive after shots, so there are specific features that make these types of sneakers perfect for volleyball play. Look for rubber soles with treads with deep grooves that provide traction during lateral movement without being too hard on your feet.
Your toes should also be able to move freely inside the sneaker because it will help keep your foot healthy while playing by preventing injury from overpronation or under pronation caused by tightness in the toe box area. We hope our blog post was helpful to give you the answer of can you wear basketball shoes for volleyball or not. If you still have any questions feel free to let us know!
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