As players begin their pickleball journey, they often prioritize paddle technology. However, there is one critical piece of equipment also needed for court safety and performance: footwear.
Many assume that a quality running shoe is suitable for the sport, but the truth is, they're not designed to handle the demands of the sport or stand up against the hard court surface.
Wearing running shoes to play may be the reason why you can't reach the shots you think you should, or worse, why you are nursing a sore ankle.
The engineering gap between running and pickleball court shoes
To understand why your footwear matters, you have to look at the geometry of the sole. Running shoes are built for linear motion, meaning they are designed to help you move forward from heel to toe.
Because of this, they feature a thick midsole and a flared heel to absorb the repetitive impact of running.
Pickleball court shoes, on the other hand, are built for lateral stability. Pickleball requires constant side-to-side shuffling, quick pivots, and sudden stops. Court shoes feature:
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A lower profile: By sitting closer to the ground, you have a lower center of gravity, which reduces the risk of the shoe tipping over.
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Outsole wrap: The rubber often extends up the side of the shoe to provide traction and durability when sliding.
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Pivot points: The tread pattern often includes circular shapes or "squiggles" under the ball of the foot to allow for smooth rotation without catching on the grit of the court.
Why running shoes increase your risk of injury on the pickleball court
Wearing the wrong equipment is not just a performance issue — it is a safety hazard. Because running shoes have thick, plush midsoles, they create a high platform. When you suddenly change direction to chase a lob or reach for a volley, that height acts as a lever.
If your foot shifts inside the mesh upper — which is usually soft and stretchy in running shoes — the shoe can "bottom out" or roll over. This is a leading cause of lateral ankle sprains and Achilles tears.
Furthermore, running shoes lack the reinforced toe drags found on court shoes. As you lung forward, your toes can jam into the front of the shoe, leading to bruised toenails or "tennis toe."
The lack of lateral support also puts undue stress on your knees and hips as they attempt to stabilize the kinetic chain that the shoe is failing to support.
The importance of preserving your outsoles
It might be tempting to wear your new pickleball court shoes to the grocery store or on your walk to the park, but unless they are specifically marketed as a hybrid cross-trainer, you should save them for the court.
Walking on abrasive surfaces like asphalt or sidewalks wears down the specific tread patterns required for pickleball. Once the tread is smoothed out by daily wear, it becomes slippery on the court.
