Badminton is a challenging, complex sport that requires not only skill and precision, but also speed and agility. As a badminton player, you need to be able to move from one corner of the court to another in an instant to defend or smash the shuttle back to your opponent.
For these reasons you need good shoes… and not just any shoes, but a pair of real ones badminton shoes.
What should you pay attention to?
The right badminton shoes are therefore essential for a game of badminton, but what should I pay attention to and which brand or model best suits my foot and my game?
Anatomical Support
To prevent injuries and experience better walking comfort, it is extremely important that the shoes provide the right support during badminton. The joints of a human being are made to hinge in a certain direction(s). Badminton shoes must therefore prevent incorrect movements and ensure a better unwinding with good movements.
Cushioning of the sole and heel
The actual value of functional sports shoes (badminton shoes) is actually largely determined by the cushioning of the sole. The more cushioning, the better for your foot, ankle, knee and other muscles and joints. In explosive sports such as badminton, the cushioning of the sole must be optimal. The damping factor when stopping suddenly, lunging and landing after jumping is extremely important to prevent injuries.
The cushioning of a shoe deteriorates even when you are not playing. Compare the rubber with a rubber band, you buy a whole box but you only need 1 or 2. After a year you take the box out of the drawer and almost every rubber band breaks spontaneously when stretched. The rack is out. This also happens with shoes. It is therefore not surprising if the cushioning of shoes in the Sale deteriorates faster than that of new models.
Our advice: always start the season with a new pair of shoes and do not play too long in badminton shoes. Unfortunately, you only notice how far the cushioning of your current shoes has decreased after purchasing new shoes.
Supporting the foot movement
The sole of a badminton shoe is a combination of more and less cushioning material, in a shape that optimally supports the foot during both lateral and forward movements and that keeps the foot straight when landing after a jump or a lunge. The foot movement is also supported by the structure in the walls of the shoe.
In most badminton shoes there is a harder structure in the heel and on the side of the ankle there is often a cross structure, both prevent excessive rotation of the ankle. The slightly more expensive badminton shoes even contain a piece of carbon – a kind of built-in brace between the forefoot and heel to prevent the foot from turning over as much as possible.
Fit
The right fit is essential during badminton. If you have a narrow foot but a shoe that is too wide, the risk of blisters and sliding in the shoe is enormous. Do you have a wide foot but the shoe is too narrow? Then only injuries are very likely. Therefore, always try on your badminton shoes before purchase. In our badminton shop in Delft we can help you with that. We know exactly which models are narrow or slightly wider. At AllRackets.com we distinguish between a narrow, normal, brede en extra wide fit.
Ventilation
Badminton is an indoor sport. In addition to the differences in anatomical support, it is important to know that the ventilation of a badminton shoe differs greatly from that of outdoor shoes. Due to the fast badminton movements, it is possible that the temperature in an outdoor shoe can rise to 70°C.
With a badminton shoe, due to the correct ventilation, this temperature is considerably lower, which can significantly reduce blistering. The more Mesh (mesh structure) or holes in the fabric, the more airy the shoe is for your foot.
Grip of the sole
Depending on the floor of a room, differences can still be made, but in general a good sole will provide a good grip, on whatever surface.
The grip of a badminton shoe is slowly deteriorating, you often notice it when you play on new shoes… Hey I have grip again. You lose grip because of dirty soles. Shoes that are worn outside (even from car to sports hall) greatly increase the chance of an injury.
Replace shoes
In case of intensive badminton it is necessary to replace badminton shoes in time. If you normally don't have any problems after exercise, irritation of the shin membrane, sore muscles or painful joints are often the first symptoms of a reduced cushioning.
The feeling that you have less grip when playing badminton can also be a reason to purchase new badminton shoes. In general you can say that someone who plays 3 times a week at an intermediate level can play with the same shoe for a maximum of 6 to 9 months.
If you play once a week, an annual replacement of the shoes is sufficient.
New insole
In some cases, the shoe is still ok in terms of cushioning, but the insole is worn out due to sliding or excessive perspiration in the shoe. You can then postpone the purchase of new shoes by purchasing new insoles. We have a range of special soles with an anti-slip and/or gel cushion for extra grip and comfort.
Badminton Shoes Men and Women
All brands market badminton shoes for women and badminton shoes for men. In addition to the color, the fit and cushioning have also been adjusted. Some Victor badminton shoes even have a optimal ladies fit. For men with a wider foot, some brands supply men's badminton shoes with a brede or even extra wide fitting.
More information
At AllRackets.com, badminton shoes sell from: Adidas, FZ Forza, Mizuno, Victor en Yonex. You can buy all our badminton shoes here find.
If you want to buy new badminton shoes but need some help, please contact our specialized customer service. This can be done easily via the contact form. or you can send Whatsapp message to +31 (0) 640197739 or use our Whatsapp chat at the bottom right of the page. You can also visit our physical badminton shop to see, feel and fit the range.