How to Choose the Best Basketball Shoes for Your Position: Guard, Forward, or Center
Put your best foot forward and look for a pair of basketball shoes that fit your position and playing style. A comfortable, high-performing shoe for a center is often different than a comfortable, high-performing shoe for a forward or guard. Some shoes are better for speed and traction while others could offer more support and stability. Which shoe you decide to use is a personal choice based on how they feel and perform and how you feel about the shoe. Players typically want shoes that not only fit comfortably, but that look good. Below are some styles that can help you decide which basketball shoe is right for you.
Key Basketball Shoe Types & Features
The length of a shoe collar determines whether it’s a low, mid, or high-top shoe.
Low-Top: Low-tops are designed for players who need more flexibility around their ankle. They’re built for speed, sharp cuts, and are generally lighter than mid- and high-top shoes.
Mid-Top: Mid-top shoes have collars that extend just beyond your ankle bone. Mid-tops are an intermediate cut between low- and high-top shoes. They offer some ankle support. Mid-top shoes are designed to offer some flexibility for quick, lateral movements and ankle support.
High-Top: High-tops extend beyond your ankle bone. They’re designed to offer the maximum amount of ankle support. High-top sneakers were invented for basketball players in the early 20th century to help “keep players’ ankles from knocking together” on the basketball court.
When you’re trying on different shoes, you’ll want to know how much they weigh, what kind of traction they provide, and how much cushioning they have.
Weight: Lightweight shoes weigh between 12 and 15 ounces, and heavier shoes can weigh up to 30 ounces. High-tops are typically the heaviest shoes, and low-tops are the lightest.
Traction: Your shoes need to be grippy. The type of traction you need can depend on the type of surface you’re playing on. If you play outside, a heavier shoe with a hard outer rubber sole could be preferable to a lighter shoe with a softer outer sole. Look for shoes that have hexagonal or herringbone patterns on the outer sole. They provide the best grip.
Cushioning: Cushioning helps reduce the shock to your feet from running and jumping. The cushioning should feel springy and bouncy. There are several types of cushioning: foam, air, gel, and a hybrid that can use different elements of foam, air, and gel.
Shoe Needs by Position
The most important aspect of picking out a shoe is finding one that’s comfortable and made of quality material. There isn’t a rule about what type of shoe each position player should wear, but there are some guidelines.
Point Guard: Because a point guard runs the offense and is often one of the quickest players on the team, they’ll want a lightweight shoe, which will allow them maximum freedom of movement. The shoe should have good traction and cushioning. Point guards often wear low-cut shoes.
Shooting Guard: A shooting guard must elevate to get their shot off. They’ll need a well-cushioned, lightweight shoe that allows them to make sharp cuts to get open for shots. Shooting guards often wear low-cut shoes.
Small Forward: Most modern small forwards are versatile players who are expected to pass, rebound, score, and defend effectively. They might need a shoe that offers a balance of support and flexibility. Small forwards often wear low- or mid-cut shoes, depending on their preference.
Power Forward: Because a power forward typically plays near the basket on offense, where there can be jostling and physical play, a sturdy, durable shoe is often the best option. Power forwards need a shoe that holds up against rugged play. High-cut shoes are often the option for power forwards.
Center: Centers often wear the heaviest shoes with maximum support. Because centers are expected to rebound and block shots, they’re often the tallest and heaviest players on the floor. A shoe that feels supportive yet doesn’t weigh them down is ideal for a center. Centers typically wear high-cut shoes.
Basketball Shoe & Fitting Size Tips
Try on a variety of shoes to get an idea of what works best for you. At some point, you’ll want to narrow down whether you want low, mid - or high cut shoes. Different brands might fit your feet differently. You could be a 10 in one brand and 10.5 in a different style. There shouldn’t be much of a break-in period for new shoes. They should feel comfortable immediately.
Measurements: Measure your feet. You can do this at home by placing your heel against a wall. Using a ruler, measure the length of your foot from your heel to your longest toe. Write down the length of your foot in inches. For your width, step on a ruler at the widest part of your foot. Write down that number. Then check the length and width of your foot on a shoe chart, which will give you your corresponding size.
Fit: The shoes should fit comfortably with some room for your toes to wiggle. Your feet shouldn’t feel scrunched up. If they are, your shoes are likely too narrow.
Midfoot & Heel: Your shoes should fit comfortably around your midfoot and heel. They shouldn’t be tight or too loose.
How to Take Care of Basketball Shoes
To maximize the performance of your shoes, you should clean them after every use. Below is a cleaning guide.
Outsole: Use a cloth with soap and water to wipe the outsole of your shoe. This should loosen the dirt that has been built up. After you’ve finished wiping down the outsole, take a toothpick to remove any specks of dirt left in the treads. The last cleaning step is to scrub down your outsoles with a toothbrush that has been dipped in soap and water. Finish by drying the bottom of your shoe with a paper towel.
Outside: Brighten up the outside of your shoes with a soapy toothbrush. Finish it by wiping down your shoes with a damp cloth. Let your shoes air dry.
Insoles: Remove your insoles and clean them with a soapy cloth. Let them air dry separately from the rest of your shoes.
Buying the right pair of basketball shoes is a critical part of the process of learning how to optimize your performance on the basketball court.