Badminton is a very interesting and fascinating sport that combines technique, wisdom and physical fitness. It can not only improve physical health through leisure and entertainment, but also serve as an artistic expression to pursue and enjoy. Of course, it is also a very high-intensity sport, as the saying goes, "if you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools", if you want to play steadily on the court and control the chance of injury to a minimum, a professional badminton shoes are essential!
So, how to choose badminton shoes for novices? In fact, as long as you remember these five words, you can quickly choose the most suitable shoes for yourself, these five words are: head shape, last, cushioning, stability, wear resistance. Below, let's explain in detail the meaning of these five words and how to buy them.
- Head shape
The head shape, which refers to the shape of the toe cap, is mainly of three types: beveled, round, and pointed. Different head shapes are suitable for different foot shapes, so when choosing badminton shoes, you should choose the right head shape according to your foot shape. In general, there are three types of feet: Egyptian, Roman, and Greek.
- Egyptian foot: The big toe is the longest, and the other toes become shorter in turn. It is suitable for oblique shoes, because the toe of the oblique toe shoes is gradually narrowed from the big toe to the little toe, which can wrap the toe of the Egyptian foot well and avoid gaps and friction.
- Roman Foot: The big toe, index finger, middle finger are about the same length, or all five toes are about the same length. Suitable for round-toe shoes, as the toe cap of round-toe shoes is loose enough to accommodate the toes of the Roman foot without crushing and abrasion.
- Greek Foot: The second toe is the longest and is suitable for pointed-toe or round-toed shoes, as the toe of pointed-toe or round-toed shoes provides enough space for the second toe of the Greek foot without compromising the comfort of the movement.
- Oak type
In addition to the head shape, another important factor is the last, which is the width of the shoe. Badminton shoes with good wrapping properties can largely avoid ankle injuries, so when choosing sneakers, you should first choose a last according to your foot shape. The lasts of badminton shoes are divided into V-SHAPE, U-SHAPE, and F-SHAPE (lasts designed for women). In addition, depending on the width of the foot, it can be subdivided into standard, narrow and wide lasts.
- V-SHAPE: Suitable for Egyptian feet, because V-SHAPE's last is wide at the front and narrow at the back, which can fit closely to the foot shape of the Egyptian foot and improve the wrapping and stability of the shoe.
- U-SHAPE: Suitable for Roman feet, because the last of U-SHAPE is relatively uniform, which can adapt to the foot shape of Roman feet, increasing the comfort and breathability of the shoes.
- F-SHAPE: Suitable for women, because F-SHAPE's shoe lasts are specially designed for women's foot shapes, which can better fit women's foot shapes and improve the aesthetics and fit of shoes.
- Standard last: suitable for people with moderate foot width, generally between 2.0 (2E) and 2.5 (3E). The last is the most common type of shoe, which is neither too tight nor too loose, and fits the width of most people's feet, making it a more balanced choice.
- Narrow last: suitable for people with small foot widths, generally 2.0 (2E) or less. Shoes with a narrow last can fit snugly on the foot and improve the fit and stability of the shoe, but it can also cause pressure and airtightness on the foot.
- Wide last: suitable for people with large foot widths, generally 2.5 (3E) or more. Shoes with a wide last can provide enough space for the foot, increasing the breathability and comfort of the shoe, but it can also affect the wrapping and support of the shoe.
- Cushioning
Cushioning refers to the shock-absorbing performance of shoes, which is mainly reflected in the material and design of the sole and insole. In badminton, there will be a large number of jumping, changing direction, braking and other actions, which will cause a lot of impact on the feet and knees, so cushioning is a very important indicator to effectively protect the health of the feet and knees and reduce sports injuries.
Different brands and styles of badminton shoes will use different cushioning technologies, such as Li Ningyun, BOUNSE+, etc., POWER CUSHION, POWER CUSHION+, etc., Yonex's POWERMAX, ENERGYMAX, ENERGYMAX 3.0, etc., are some of the more well-known cushioning technologies, and you can choose the right cushioning technology according to your preferences and budget. Generally speaking, the more advanced the cushioning technology, the higher the price of the shoe, but the better it also provides.
尤尼克斯 POWER CUSHION
- stable
Stability refers to the stability performance of the shoe, which is mainly reflected in the structure and design of the sole and upper. In badminton, there will be a large number of side movements, turns, emergency stops and other actions, which have high requirements for the stability of shoes, so stability is a very important indicator, which can effectively protect the stability of the ankle, prevent sprains and rollovers, and improve the safety of sports.
Different brands and styles of badminton shoes will use different stabilization technologies, such as Li-Ning's carbon plate, Probar Loc, Heel Loc, etc., Yonex's ToughBrid Light, Syncro-Fit Insole, Power Graphite, etc., Victor's CARBON POWER, BRACE TEK, etc., are some of the more well-known stabilization technologies, and you can choose the right stabilization technology according to your needs and budget. Generally speaking, the more advanced the stabilization technology, the heavier the weight of the shoe, but the better it will provide stability.
- Abrasion resistance
Abrasion resistance refers to the abrasion resistance of shoes, which is mainly reflected in the material and design of the sole and toe cap. In badminton, there will be a large number of actions such as dragging, braking, and rubbing, which have high requirements for the wear resistance of shoes, so wear resistance is a very important indicator, which can effectively prolong the use of shoes.
Different brands and styles of badminton shoes will use different wear-resistant technologies, such as Li-Ning's wear-resistant rubber, Yonex's Endurance Rubber, Victor's VSR Rubber, etc., are some of the more well-known wear-resistant technologies, and you can choose the right wear-resistant technology according to your frequency of use and budget. Generally speaking, the more advanced the abrasion technology, the higher the price of the shoe, but the better the abrasion resistance can be provided.
summary
How to choose badminton shoes for novices, remember these five keywords: head shape, last shape, cushioning, stability, and wear resistance. These five words cover the main performance indicators of badminton shoes, which can help you quickly pick the most suitable shoes for you, making you more confident and comfortable on the court. Of course, in addition to these five words, there are some other factors, such as the weight of the shoe, breathability, color, style, etc., which can also be considered according to your preferences and needs. Hopefully, this article can help you understand the characteristics, purchase and maintenance of badminton shoes, so that you can enjoy and relax more when playing.