Volleyball Shoes Vs Basketball Shoes – What’s the Difference
The current shoes are designed following the basic requirements of all sports. But some shoes are dedicated to particular sports like volleyball and basketball. However, both basketball shoes and volleyball shoes aid in similar aspects in both games. For example, you need shoes to accentuate your jumping, running, dodging, abrupt body movements, and much more. Therefore these shoes are made with dynamic support, structural elasticity, padding, and stability control to decrease the maximum risk of injuries. These shoes are made using soft gum rubbers which help the player avoid sliding on the floor.
So it’s a hard battle between volleyball shoes vs basketball shoes. But in this article, we will try our best to enlighten you from tiny to huge similarities and differences between both. So, let’s get in!
Volleyball Shoes
Volleyball shoes are likely to be similar to basketball shoes due to their gum rubber sole which provides traction on the floor. Volleyball shoes have decent tractions, are very lightweight, and accommodated wide feet. Furthermore, the soul is very soft and the heel-toe transition is smooth for jumping and the lateral movements are extremely responsive.
The lightweight of the volleyball shoes is very useful because a person does not want to play in large boots which some basketball shoes feel like. Volleyball shoes provide springiness along with stability and cushioning on impact. The upper and toe boxes are pretty flexible with a lot of cushions around the ankle with a reinforced strap. The upper and tongue are one piece that maintain a sock-like feel. It also has a very breathable mesh with a generally sung fit for the top half of the shoe which is very soft.
The insole is stiffer which maintains the shape of the shoe better and is very suitable for wide feet. It has a lot of extra space in the toe box to move around and allow the shoe to spread out. The lateral movement of a player is supported by volleyball shoes. To help reduce some of the shock caused by landing and jumping, the front of the shoe features additional padding and cushioning. Beach volleyball players can get away with playing barefoot and without shoes.
The best form of the shoes used in volleyball is athletic shoes which are light in weight and have a very good grip. These shoes have shock absorbers consisting of soft foam which enhances the flexibility of the shoe.
Gum Rubbers
It is a soft flexible rubber that provides traction to the player and helps the player to stick to the court while making quick cuts all in directions. This gum rubber is not used in many shoes, so keeping in view the nature of the game this gum rubber facility minimizes the chances of injury.
Midsole
The midsole of the shoe is flexible to prevent foot injury which occurs after jumping and landing back on the surface. It supports the player’s stance due to the gel foam mixture and cushioning in the midsole. It consists of airflow which helps to dry the shoe while and helps to avoid slipping.
Best Volleyball Shoes
ASICS Men’s Volley Elite Ff Mt Volleyball Shoes
These shoes are lightweight and have exceptional cushioning, grip, and flexibility. They are breathable having airflow in and out which keeps the foot dry and saves the player from getting slipped. Furthemore, these shoes have synthetic overlays which increase the structural outlook and provide better support to the foot These shoes have Flyte foam which makes them lighter as compared to other shoes having shock absorbing ability.
Fila Men’s Volley Zone Shoes
These shoed consists of premium fabric which allows maximum flexibility and performance.
Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning RX3 Volley Ball Shoe
These shoes are comfortable and have enough cushion for courts and are stable during quick moves. These shoes have a superb breathing feature which helps to fit the foot quickly well.
Basketball Shoes
Basketball is a sport that includes different types of side-to-side movements and requires peculiar positions during the play. Basketball puts continuous force on the feet, ankle, and lower leg of the player for which his shoes must absorb heat and direct the player to move abruptly. Basketball players are tall and heavy, which can cause serious injuries due to their heavy physique.
Basketball shoes provide proper support to the ankles because continuous movement may cause ankle strains, therefore the shoes are designed to meet the physical requirement of the sport. These shoes are made of gum rubber outsole which provides grip over treacherous surfaces and protects them from falling. Basketball shoes have a flow cushioning system which is super lightweight, on top of that they are extra grippy without being bottom-heavy with rubber.
These shoes have a top-tier cushion which is very responsive while jumping. Furthemore, they have nice padding in the tongue and ankle area. The traction in the basketball shoes is amazing and softer. The ventilation is off the charts to support some shoes. These shoes have good impact protection which saves the feet from getting hurt. Basketball shoes have nice compression and also nice bounce back which feels extremely good especially when you are doing heel-dominant strides down the court.
The basketball shoes help to increase footwork movements and allow the player to move abruptly throughout the court. Comfortable basketball shoes help the player improve game skills. The best quality of upper material of the basketball shoe helps in breathability to help the player stay fresh for long. The midsole is well cushioned having a shock absorption ability to avoid the risk of injuries.
The Upper
The upper keeps the foot secure to avoid any skin irritation. Such irritation occurs due to loose upper fitting which causes the player to fall across resulting in foot injury. The upper consists of three cuts which include high, mid, and lower cuts. These cuts provide support to the ankle of the player and flexibility helping the player to move in all directions.
Midsole
The midsole is designed in such a way that it absorbs the force required for jumping and running. The soft midsole provides the player with better cushioning.
Outsole
The outsole is designed with the physical requirement of the sport in mind. The outsole is made thick for durability of the shoe and to provide traction.
Adidas Men’s Hoops 2.0 Mid Basketball Shoe
These shoes have style, comfort, and durability. Furthermore, they are high quality and resistant to extensive wear.
NIKE Unisex’s Renew Elevate 2 Basketball Shoe
These shoe consist of responsive cushioning and comfort that can extend throughout the shoe.
PUMA Unisex’s Triple Basketball Shoe
These are lightweight shoes that provide instant cushioning and responsive rides along with proforma midsoles and rubber outsoles.
Similarities
Both volleyball and basketball shoes have gum rubber soles which provide better breathing and enhance the player’s game and speed and help the player from getting exhausted. Basketball and volleyball shoes are light in weight and provide stability. Both these shoes have amazing padding in the ankle and toe area. These shoes have better impact protection which helps to save the player from getting injured.
Differences
Basketball and volleyball shoes provide a similar function. To prevent excessive slipping, they are both meant to have strong traction. They are different in the sense that basketball shoes look different. They cushion your ankles and rise higher than volleyball shoes. In essence, volleyball shoes are traction-equipped runners. Basketball shoes offer better protection than volleyball shoes, therefore many people who play both basketball and volleyball merely wear them.
Basketball shoes are acceptable for playing volleyball, while volleyball shoes are not acceptable for basketball. Basketball ankle protection is not provided by volleyball shoes. For someone with ankle problems, wearing volleyball shoes while playing indoor basketball is generally not a good idea. Volleyball shoes may be too sticky and lack ankle support. Sprinting down the court with too much grip is bad.
Basketball games can get little harsh on toes and feet. Both lateral stability and ankle support are crucial for those bumpy landings. Basketball players frequently choose high tops because of this.
FAQs
Can you use volleyball shoes for basketball shoes?
Yes, volleyball Shoes offer smooth jumping, pivoting, and agile movements, and an entire heap of grip and artifact to do it right.
What is the difference between a basketball shoe and a volleyball shoe?
The main difference between both the shoes is their sole and weight. Volleyball Shoes are light in weight as compared to Basketball Shoes.
Conclusion
Keeping all the above in view it is concluded that both the shoes are amazing in their build and specifications. Both are light in weight, have great traction, amazing cushioning for moving in all directions, and lateral support. A volleyball shoe can be used in basketball due to its heap of grip and traction but relatively a basketball shoe cannot be used in volleyball because volleyball includes continuous jumping and basketball shoes are slightly heavy.
A few volleyball shoes come with a stiff sole which may lead to a serious foot injury, but basketball shoes are soft and are better to play for long hours. The breathing factor of these shoes helps the player from getting exhausted and playing for long.
