I often get a chuckle when I see weekend athletes wearing all the expensive equipment. For example, there’s this overweight, middle-aged man who insists on wearing a spandex biking suit while he’s tooling through the neighborhood. It’s like, “C’mon man, is the spandex really necessary?” Probably not. But one area you should never compromise in when it comes to sports is footwear. Don’t be like the guys at my health club who wear tennis shoes on the squash court.
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Let me ask you; would you run a marathon wearing only beach sandals? Obviously not. They wouldn’t protect your feet over 26 miles. Likewise, tennis shoes don’t give you adequate support on the squash court. Squash shoes on the other hand, are specifically designed to help reduce the potential for sprained ankles and broken bones.
Now that you know you need a pair of squash shoes, here’s how to make sure you get the perfect one’s for you.
Consider Age, Weight, Overall Health
There are three types of squash shoes: slip-ons, standard lace, and high lace. Slip-ons are okay for the young and healthy, but they don’t provide as much grip as the other two kinds. Never buy slip on shoes if you’re prone to foot injuries.
Standard lace squash shoes are the type most people will buy. They provide good grip and foot support, and should be suitable unless you’re highly susceptible to ankle injury.
Lastly, high lace squash shoes provide the most grip and the most protection. These shoes go past your ankles and lace up just under your calves. For people who are older, prone to ankle injury, or overweight, high lace shoes are the best.
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Consider Your Size
It’s not uncommon for our regular street shoes to be just a little loose. But loose squash shoes could result in foot slippage and subsequent injury. On the other hand, shoes that are tight can also cause injury under certain circumstances. Your squash shoes should fit snugly and comfortably in order to keep your foot in place. If you can’t find a shoe that fits in this manner, you’re better off to err on the larger side and then just wear an extra pair of socks.
Consider Cushioning
One of the arguments made against wearing squash shoes, as opposed to tennis shoes, is the
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perception that tennis shoes have more cushioning. This simply isn’t true. Tennis shoes tend to have a heavier weight, giving the perception that they have more cushioning, but in reality the cushioning is about the same. You don’t need cushioning on the sides or top either. For my money, as long as there’s enough cushioning in the sole, I’m happy.
Try Before You Buy
Obviously, the store isn’t going to let you take the shoes to the squash court to try them out. But I always make a point of putting them on, lacing them up, and walking around the store for several minutes. After a few minutes of my own rigorous testing I’m can tell whether or not a shoe is right for me.
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