One of the hardest decisions to make in the game of racquetball when it comes to equipment is purchasing racquetball shoes. Note that I say racquetball shoes because many players play in regular tennis or track shoes that are not optimized to give you the specific performance you need on a small court area that requires constant directional changes, good grip support, etc. .
A player’s best bet when making this decision is to order it online and risk it not fitting true to size and/or not being comfortable. Ordering online is a great option to save time and to ensure you order the correct size… here are some suggestions.
Here are 6 steps to help you make the right decision the first time.
1. Know what you are looking for in a shoe.
– Do your feet need special attention?
– Do you experience pain in the arch of your feet? You may need more arch support.
– Do your feet pronate (apply most of their weight on the inside of the sole of the foot)? This can be corrected and proper footwear can help.
– Do you need templates for more support? Are you flat footed? Do you have high arches? Is comfort your main concern or is it the weight of the shoe?
– What is your budget?
– How much would you pay for a good pair of fronton tennis shoes? (Note: High-quality racquetball shoes are often less than half the price of the best athletic brands, and in most cases, they cost about the same as quality sneakers (seriously). The shoes Higher-priced racquetball shoes are under $100 and many high-top shoes are $60 or less.
2. What shoes do most high caliber players play in? Ask their opinion on the shoes. What shoes are other players talking about? Is there a particular brand that most gamers talk about? Are you loyal to a brand and they offer shoes?
Testimonials from personal experiences are as good as they come.
3. Talk to a knowledgeable person about the indoor shoes you want to buy and whether they are right for you. Someone who sells racquetball shoes on a regular basis would have some good ideas about what works for you.
4. Know your size. I can tell you from personal experience that having a shoe that is not the correct size can cause pain in the long run. As you get older, your body changes, including your feet.
We just got back from a tournament where we set up our pro shop and strung racquets and sold equipment to players. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that more than half of the players who looked at the shoes were wrong when they told me their shoe size. I measure your foot before putting on a shoe and more than half of the players who tried on their shoes were at least a half or a full size. One player was wrong by a whole size and a half and now he knew why his big toe was hurting.
Be careful with the size differences. If you’re shopping online, be sure to read the descriptions carefully to find the closest possible shoe size. Shoe sizes can be different between each shoe company and from one country to another.
A couple of ways to measure your foot could be to go to a shoe store and have your foot measured. They will have no problem with this, since you are a potential customer for future purchases. You can also measure your feet from the comfort of your home.
If you prefer to measure your feet at home, follow these instructions from an about.com article: http://shoes.about.com/od/fitcomfort/ss/measurefeet.htm
Choose a shoe that gives you a thumbnail clearance from the front of your shoe to your longest toe. Have someone (family member, friend, partner) check your fit while you stand with your shoes on and your weight on your foot. It must be one thumbnail length in space.
How do the sides feel? They’re new and they’ll fit, but they know when a shoe is too narrow. A good way to tell… Ask yourself… Are they REALLY tight at the sides?
5. Order from a secure website if you are online; otherwise, call them.
6. Do you know the return policy if you are not satisfied with the shoes? Don’t keep shoes you’re not happy with. As long as a retailer can resell them for full value (repackage them properly and make sure he hasn’t marked them or hit the streets with them, etc.), he’s sure he won’t have a problem returning the shoes. . A good way to try them out to be sure of shoe happiness is to wear them around your house for a few hours.
Check out my other article on what to look for in a good supportive shoe for your indoor game.