Volleyball Shoes
About Volleyball Shoes
An action-packed sport that requires a high level of agility and power, volleyball is an all-time favourite among men and women. Whether playing it with your friends on the beach is the highlight of your weekend or you are the serious type of player who competes in matches, you need to step on the court with a good pair of volleyball shoes that will help unleash your best performance.
Before you buy a pair of volleyball shoes, you should know why they are suitable for volleyball and how they are different from other types of shoes. The most distinguishing feature of volleyballs shoes is the soft rubber sole that provides a great deal of grip and traction on the court. Besides, they also serve the function of protecting the legs from injuries caused by shock. The thick padding inside these shoes acts as a shock absorbent. Before you start shopping for volleyball shoes, read this article to get a better understanding of them. It will help you make better choices when you are shopping.
A guide to volleyball shoes
If you ever watch a volleyball game, you will wonder if the players have spring underneath their feet. Well, none of them has real springs, as that will be a form of mechanical doping. But instead, all of them are wearing good quality volleyball shoes that allow them to bring out the best in their performance. We want you to be a star player in every game. So, we have compiled below the four most common types of volleyball shoes that you can consider. What’s more, you will also find on this page a few useful tips that you can use when buying the best pair online.
Things to look for in volleyball shoes
Not all volleyball shoes are the same. There are shoes designed for various positions and playing styles. But a few things are common to all of them. All volleyball games happen on slippery smooth indoor courts, except beach volley. As beach volleyball is played barefoot, you don’t need any special shoes for that. But in the case of indoor volleyball, the shoes should provide excellent grip on the court. Another must-have feature in a volleyball shoe is cushioning. The shoes that you wear should absorb the impact of jumping on solid surfaces. The shoes should provide lateral stability while allowing sudden changes of direction.
Shoes for defensive play
If you are a defensive specialist, a deep-digging player, or a smart setter, maintaining a firm footing is essential to help you win the game. The back row on the court is a position that requires strategic know-how and quick reactions. This is why it is important to search for footwear that enables stability and sudden direction changes even when at full stretch. So, what are the things to look for in such a shoe? Low profile shoes help with comfort and speed. It should have strong grips on the outsole that lets you change the direction without putting too much downward pressure. Apart from these, the shoes should also offer a great deal of stability and shock absorption to protect your legs.
Shoes for attacking position
If you are a skilled blocker or outside hitter, you need to possess excellent jumping power in order to get up above the net. The shoes that you were, therefore, should aid you. Lightweight materials are the best for you as it helps you to unleash your jumping power. The shoes should also provide optimal traction that ensures agility and enables rapid movements without slipping. The player who is closest to the net has to do most of the jumping. In order to protect the knees and heels from the impact of the landing the shoes should offer superb cushioning that can handle the demands of jumping on both indoor and outdoor court surfaces.
Men’s shoes vs women’s shoes
Women generally have smaller feet than men. Not surprisingly, like all other sports shoes, women’s volleyball shoes also tend to be smaller than men’s. But can a man and a woman use the same shoes if their sizes are the same? The answer is no because there are other differences between men’s and women’s shoes other than the size itself. Men’s shoes are usually wider than women’s shoes of the same size. You will also see some differences in the shape of the sole as well. Therefore, it is always advisable to stick to the shoes that are designed for your feet.
Tips on how to buy Volleyball Shoes online in the UAE
Finding the right pair of volleyball shoes is not rocket science. But it is not a walk in the park either. As there are different varieties of shoes with minor differences between each of them, it can be quite confusing to select the right one if you are new to it. But it gets easier if you know what to look for in them. Here are a few tips that you can follow when you are shopping for volleyball shoes. These tips, along with our retail search engine, will help you find the right type of volleyball shoes.
- Make the outsole a priority – If there is something that sets volleyball shoes apart from other athletic and sports shoes, that is none other than the excellent traction they offer. Harcourts can be slippery and smooth, which is why you need to have a great amount of grip for those rapid, precise, and challenging movements. Keep in mind also that outsoles must be made of slightly flexible yet fairly soft rubber to ensure good footing.
- Consider the cushioning – Volleyball is one of those sports that entail a lot of jumping around. Landing on the ground after a take-off or a high jump can cause shock and can take a toll on your ligaments and ankles over time. This is where cushioning in the forefoot or heel and through the insole or midsole comes into play in terms of impact absorption. Plus, it offers general comfort whether for an all-day or everyday tournament.
- Check the durability – Volleyball footwear must be hard-wearing in the right places to prevent the upper from getting worn out prematurely. To ensure that your pair of shoes will stand the test of time, check the quality of the upper and the outsole. You can also read online reviews to know which brand tops the rating when it comes to durability.
- Weight of the shoes – Having less weight on your body helps you to jump higher and move faster. That’s why all professional volleyball shoes are made of lightweight material. The actual weight of the shoes varies from brand to brand and model to model. But typically, women’s shoes tend to be around 300 grams while men’s shoes weigh around 500 grams.
These are just some of the tips on shopping for volleyball shoes. There are more than 500 shops and brands selling sports shoes here on Shops.ae, the largest product search engine in the Middle East. These include Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Reebok, Puma, Under Armour, and more. Check them out today!
Question & Answer
Can you use running shoes for volleyball?
Although running shoes might not look very different from volleyball shoes, at first sight, there are some significant differences between the two. The main difference is in the shape of the sole. Running shoes provide a smooth heel to toe transition but restricts side to side movement for the sake of stability. While heel to toe transition is great for volleyball, it also demands rigorous side to side movements as well. Therefore, wearing running shoes put you at a serious disadvantage while playing volleyball.
Can you use volleyball shoes as streetwear?
There is no harm in wearing volleyball shoes out on the street in and of itself. But still, you will not want to do so. For one thing, they have really soft soles. While they are great for indoor floors, they won’t last very long on rough surfaces. The soft sole of volleyball shoes will wither away fast if you wear them on the street. For the best performance, it is also important to preserve the tread patterns of the shoe. Therefore, never wear volleyball shoes on the street if you want to use them for a long time. Instead, get comfortable walking shoes.
Are basketball shoes similar to volleyball shoes?
You will find many similarities in the body movements if you compare both volleyball and basketball. Both of them involve a lot of jumping, running and fast side to side movement. Besides, the surfaces they are played on are also similar. So, there are more than enough reasons for a person to assume that basketball shoes and volleyball shoes are interchangeable. But you should also consider the minor differences that exist between the two. Basketball shoes tend to be heavier than volleyball shoes. They also tend to be more rigid and don’t allow as much flexibility that is necessary for volleyball.