How to Choose a Good Badminton Shoe

Before you run off to purchase a badminton shoe, here are some important tips to choose the best one.

The 2 main reasons why you need to choose a good pair of shoes:

It maximises performance during a badminton game
It prevents injuries

How a Good Pair of Shoes Can Maximise On-court Performance

Common technologies in badminton shoes are:

1. Ergoshape (for stability)

Provides comfort and stability at the forefoot area and toes.

Flexibility around the toes area is IMPORTANT for effective and organised badminton footwork.

For example when you’re in a ready position, you use your toes to help you spring forward or backward.

It helps you move more explosively to the front or back area of the badminton court (As explained in my tutorial on effective badminton footwork, your toes help you spring forward or backwards — that’s why a suitable pair of shoes is important)

2. Power Cushion (acts as a shock absorber)

This acts as a shock absorber and enables the wearer to perform quick reverse movements.

For example, when you stretch to the front area of the court to perform an underarm badminton clear, your front leg will be supporting your bodyweight. The Power Cushion will then act as a shock absorber (similar to a car break), absorbing the pressure of your bodyweight at the front area.

The shock absorber is excellent for helping you maintain body balance. This enables you to quickly move back to the centre of the court.

3. Double Russel Mesh (controls moisture)

This provides 8 times better air-exchange compared to normal shoes so that moisture/sweat does not accumulate around your feet. It’s also lightweight and durable.

Since the Double Russel Mesh avoids accumulation of sweat inside the shoe, you will feel more comfortable during your badminton game. Besides, you’ll be able to prevent blisters when there’s no moisture inside your shoes.

How a Good Pair of Shoes Can Prevent Injuries

1. Ankle Injuries

Shock absorber mechanisms are essential in preventing ankle injuries. Shoes with poor shock absorbers may cause you to end up with a sprained or twisted ankle. More extreme injuries include damages to your tendons or bones around your ankle area.

Serious ankle injury could keep you out of badminton or other sports for as long as 6 months. You don’t want that to happen right?

If you play intensely, there’s a higher risk of sustaining an ankle injury if you’re not wearing the correct shoes. So choose a suitable pair of shoes!

2. Blisters

Special soles for badminton are important in preventing blisters. Continuous friction against hard surfaces will lead to blisters on your skin.

Badminton shoes are designed in a way to prevent room for friction. The ergoshape is an effective solution to prevent blisters.

Besides, the Doubles Russell Mesh prevents accumulation of moisture inside your shoes. Without moisture, your feet will not rub against your socks or the inside of the shoes, thus helping prevent blisters.

We generally classify shoes to be low end, middle range, or high end. A middle range pair of badminton shoe should have the technologies (or similar technologies) mentioned above and its purpose will be well served.

If you want a pair of shoes that are sufficiently good for a casual badminton game, consider Hi Tec badminton shoe. They are not too expensive and their price reflects the true value of the shoes.

However, if you want to further maximise your performance in a badminton game, there’re more technologies available in the market today. They include Tough Brid, Lateral Claw, Hyper msLite and more.

Check out this website on Yonex’s shoe technology to find out more about the available technologies on badminton shoes today.

Other Things to Consider When Buying a Badminton Shoe:

1. Choose Shoes That Fit

If there’s extra space in your shoes (or your feet can move inside your shoes), the friction between your feet and your shoes will cause blisters.

2. Provide Room for Your Shoes to ‘Season’

It’s common for sports shoes to eventually loosen a little after wearing it a few times.

Therefore if you’re wearing the right size but it feels a little tight, bear with it and do not opt for the next size. It will season.

One good way to make sure you’re wearing the right size is to take the sole out and measure it to your foot. The inside sole should have the same size as your foot if it’s the right size.