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Basketball shoes are an important piece of sports gear for professional basketball players. They greatly affect the performance of those players on the court. Depending on the fit of the basketball shoes, they can lead to injuries or they can lead to an improvement in your performance.
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How Do You Know if Basketball Shoes Fit?
Basketball shoes should fit snugly on your feet. Your feet should not be sliding around in your shoes. You should feel like you have a strong grip on the court.
Basketball shoes are usually designed as high-cut shoes with the cut reaching above the ankle.
This helps protect your ankles from all the jumping involved in basketball. Basketball also involves high-speed directional change, which puts a lot of strain on your ankles.
Jump shots, lay-ups, slam dunks, alley-oops, and crossovers can put a lot of strain on your ankles. If you wear shoes that don’t fit right, you could end up with injuries.
There really isn’t the perfect fit for basketball shoes. It depends on your preference as a basketball player. Some basketball players have wide feet, others have narrow ones, maybe some have longer toes.
If you want the right fit for your basketball shoes, here are the important things you want to look for in your basketball shoes.
Lacing System
The lacing system is important for basketball shoes. Lacing system can help you adjust how your feet should fit in your basketball shoes.
It also helps keep the foot locked in place in the heel counter of the shoes. The lock helps reduce the forward pressure placed on your toes and allows the forefoot to function properly.
Broad Toe Box
The broad toe box helps prevent lateral compression or squeezing your toes. It alleviates tightness. If your basketball shoes are too narrow or shallow, it will lead to pressure applied to your toes. The pressure can lead to blisters, the formation of corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, and bruised toenails if left unchecked.
Thumb-space Clearance
If you don’t know what your shoe size is, take your size by standing up. When you’re standing your foot is elongated and spread out compared to sitting or laying down.
Have a thumb-space clearance on your toes to help your foot breathe a little. An insufficient toe room can cause nail and/or toe problems and may also affect your stability.
Make sure your basketball shoes fit the length of your longest foot. Have about ¼ inch to ½ inch of space clearance from the longest toe on your foot.
Forefoot Bend
Basketball shoes bend only on the toe bend area located at the ball of the foot. They shouldn’t bend through the arc.
Heel Counter
The heel counter is an important part as it provides stability in your shoes. The heel counter should feel snug. It should have the right amount of tightness and firmness so your heel and foot are stable.
The Upper
Leather-made basketball shoes can last you for a long time. Leather materials are known to be durable and of premium quality. Synthetic basketball shoes, on the other hand, are lightweight and flexible.
Leather basketball shoes are preferred by big men who like their basketball shoes padded with a lot of ankle protection. Synthetic basketball shoes are for fast and quick guards who want their basketball shoes as lightweight and comfortable as possible, they can be perfect for little kids as well.
Shock Attenuation and The Outsole
Basketball shoes commonly use flat soles. Flat soles are great for agility movements like a hesitation move or a rapid change of direction like a crossover.
Outsoles should have excellent traction and great response to sudden directional change. Outsoles have different traction pattern. Popular among them is the herringbone pattern which has been tested and produced excellent traction.
Torsion
The torsion should be present for low-cut, lightweight basketball shoes. These are good for maximum freedom of twisting motion to comfortably execute your killer crossover moves.
For big men, the torsion should be as minimal. There should only be a slight amount of twisting motion for a stable basketball shoe.
Heel Height and Base
The heel height should only be around 0.16 to 0.20 in. You want enough thickness while retaining court feel and stability.
The base should be broad for general use. A wide heel base is also great for big men who want their shoes stable and good for balance. Your heel shouldn’t slip up and down inside your basketball shoes. Only a slight heel movement should be possible as it may cause injuries to your feet.
Do Basketball Shoes Run Big or Small?
Depending on the basketball shoe you’re targeting, basketball shoes can run big or small. Some basketball shoes cater to wide-footed players while most basketball shoes stay true to size.
What does “run big or small” means in basketball shoes? When people say the basketball shoes run large then you’ll want to go half a size smaller. If it runs small, go half a size larger.
This is especially useful if you’re buying your basketball shoes online. Make sure you know the size of your feet before looking for basketball shoes.
If you have wide feet, you should be extra careful when buying basketball shoes online. Popular basketball shoe brands usually use the same standard sizing.
Are Basketball Shoes True to Size?
| Shoe Feature | Type of Players |
|---|---|
| Wider base | Players with wider feet |
| Longer shoe | Players with long feet |
| Narrow base and short shoe | Players with smaller feet |
Basketball shoes, in general, stay true to size. However, it doesn’t mean that it would be the right fit for you. Some basketball shoes are true to size but have features that affect your comfort fit.
A basketball shoe may stay true to size but has a wide base that’s good for people with wide feet. This will allow only a small clearance for your toes.
Most features of basketball shoes on the heel and forefoot are the ones that affect the sizing of basketball shoes.
Do Nike Basketball Shoes Run Small?
Nike produces some of the best basketball shoes. They make shoes for NBA all-stars like Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant. Nike shoes usually run true to size. Signature shoes may differ because they cater to athletes who sometimes have unique athletic bodies.
However, when it comes to width, compared to Adidas and other brands, Nike may feel small. However, Nike shoes take time to break-in and the materials used allow for your feet to fit in Nike basketball shoes.
Just keep this in mind, not all shoes under one brand may have the same sizing. Some basketball shoes are built differently than others. While basketball shoes may have the same size, they may have a different width or the other one has a larger toe box.
Related Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about basketball shoes.
Is It Better for Basketball Shoes to Be Tight or Loose?
None. When it comes to basketball shoes, they need to fit your feet comfortably, not too tight, not too loose. On top of that, it is recommended for them to be a bit longer than your feet. If not, your feet might have no room to move, which could lead to injuries.
Should You Wiggle Your Toes in Basketball Shoes?
Yes, you should be able to wiggle your toes in basketball shoes. If you can do this it means that your feet have enough space to avoid blisters and calluses. If you can’t wiggle them, the shoes lack space and might injure your feet.
How Long Does It Take for Basketball Shoes to Break In?
Basketball shoes usually take about two weeks to break in. However, you would have to wear them constantly during these two weeks for this to happen. After this period, you will be able to feel a more comfy sensation using your shoes.
Conclusion
Making sure your basketball shoes have the right fit ensures that your feet are well-protected. This lessens the chance of injury. A snug fit will help secure the basketball shoes on your feet for comfortable play on the court.
