Jumping, running, lunging, and diving - these are standard moves for any badminton player, but those moves can put a lot of pressure on your feet. As with many sports, Badminton success starts with the right shoes! Good badminton shoes plays a vital role in preventing foot pain and even injury, and the right shoes for Badminton will up your game and lead to maximum enjoyment. Whether you’re a novice at the game or a seasoned veteran, your feet are at risk if you play in the wrong pair of shoes. While basic personal preference plays a role in any shoe you buy, there are some universal traits that are highly desirable in Badminton footwear. Below, you will find an overview of some of the best features to look for in athletic footwear for badminton, along with a brief explanation of each feature.
When it comes to athletic footwear, the soles of shoes are actually composed of several different parts. The outsole of the shoe is the part that actively connects with ground, and the importance of an effective, well-designed outsole cannot be overstated. Rubber non-marking outsoles provide excellent cushioning when your foot connects with the ground and absorb impact, and both are vital in protecting you from injury. Rubber also provides stability, while remaining lightweight and water-resistant. While there are other outsole materials that function well, few demonstrate the durability of rubber. For athletic wear, durability matters. Flexibility is another important advantage of rubber outsoles. Badminton means moving, and the last thing any player wants is to be slowed down by stiff shoes. Rubber provides a perfect blend of movability, cushioning, shock absorption, and protection. Rubber outsoles also provide great traction, making it the ideal choice for non-marking shoes.
The footbed, as the name implies, is the part of the shoe that your foot directly rests upon. As such, the footbed plays a very strong role in the perceived comfort of the shoe . However, footbeds also play an equally important role in protecting your foot from injury . Cushioning, as from foam, is essential in any athletic shoe, and badminton shoes are no exception. Cushioned footbeds are particularly effective when combined with non-marking rubber outsoles.
Playing Badminton means actively moving to get that birdie! Jumping, stepping, sliding - these all are part of the game, but they can take a toll on your feet. Midfoot support helps to alleviate the strain of the specific types of movement used while playing. Midfoot striking is when you land on the center of your foot, and it is common when playing badminton. It is generally healthier for you than landing on your heel or forefoot, but there are still risks if you’re wearing the wrong footwear. A good badminton shoe will include sport shoe technology specifically designed to protect against midfoot strain, shin splints, and other injuries that can occur when the shock is not evenly distributed across the shoe. This is sometimes achieved through special construction in the shanks of the shoes. The shank is the part of the shoe that rests between the outsole (bottom) and insole (the part your foot rests upon). Special materials in the shank of the shoe disperse the shock from a midfoot landing across the base, protecting your arches and knees. Look for shoes that include features like plate construction in the shank,
Few things are quite so uncomfortable as sweaty feet! Beyond the comfort aspects, however, there are health reasons that make it vital to ensure any sport shoe is built to provide proper breath-ability and moisture wicking. Well-made badminton footwear will allow your sweat to evaporate, which in turn will keep your feet cooler and dryer. One of the methods that sport shoe makers use to achieve this is through the use of open mesh uppers. Today’s materials allow a fully supportive mesh upper, and such shoes have the added advantage of allowing you to go sock-free, for ultimate cooling. For those who prefer socks, open mesh construction is still an excellent choice. The air flow advantages of open mesh still exist for sock wearers. Additionally, some badminton shoes incorporate a mix of traditional closed weave and open mesh fabric, giving the wearer the best of both worlds. The vented areas interact with the socks to provide a cooling advantage over traditional footwear.
It may seem obvious, but a proper fit is one of the most important factors for comfort and safety in any shoe, and nowhere is a proper fit more vital than in athletic endeavors. Unfortunately, many people wear improperly fitting shoes without even realizing it. This can lead to soreness or long term injury not only to feet, to but knees and back as well. This risk is amplified if badminton shoes are ill-fitting. The single best way to ensure that you have a proper fit is to first have your feet professionally measured, preferably at a location specializing in athletic footwear. Your feet will be measured by a trained individual using a Brannock device - you may not recognize this name, but you have likely seen one many times. This is the metal device with striated lines used as a standard in footwear. It is used to measure both length and width of the foot. If you have a medium width foot, then it will be fairly easy to find a badminton shoe that fits properly. However, if your foot is more wide or narrow than a standard medium width, then look for brands that manufacture varying widths. Do not compensate for width by moving to a badminton shoe that is too long, and do not “make do” with medium width if you have a narrow foot. Either of these will put you at risk for short term or long term injury.
Badminton combines both fun and sport to keep you active and healthy. Like other sports, Badminton requires the proper footwear. Following the guidelines above will help ensure you have just the right shoe to provide superior comfort - keeping you active, and injury free!
Try Badminton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.