Best Racquetball Shoes

Racquetball is a high intensity, fast sport that requires the right footwear to be able to play and compete in. The constant switch between forward, backwards and lateral movement along with the special coating the indoor courts have mean you definitely need some of the best racquetball shoes to play in.

Choosing the correct footwear is vital and will really help you progress within the game. Bearing this in mind, it is worth giving special consideration to the racquetball shoes that you wear when playing.

There are various brands and designs of racquetball shoes on the market currently so you will have plenty to choose from. One thing they all have in common is that they are geared specifically towards racquetball and the exact needs of the game.

The best racquetball shoes will give you protection and also allow you to move better and play to your maximum potential.

Top 5 Best Racquetball Shoes

The market is crowded for shoes for racquetball and I recognize that. I’ve been through the looking process and was very confused about how to choose the best ones.

We have a guide below, but to make things easy, I chose my top 5 racquetball shoes in the market today. Give them a look and let me know what you think!

1 Ektelon NFS Classic II

Click Here for Additional Reviews of the Ektelon NFS Classic Racquetball Shoe!

Ektelon is a big player in the racquetball footwear market and with good reason. Their products are always well designed and made with the specific needs of racquetball in mind. Not only that but they look great – these NFS Classic II shoes are no exception.

With a gum rubber sole, they give you maximum traction on the indoor court surface. This is so important and allows you to move naturally or change direction with no problem. T

he shock absorption of these shoes is superb with the lightweight moulded EVA mid-sole giving lots of protection. A good amount of support is provided for your ankles too so you can turn safely when playing.

I can say that these Ektelon racquetball shoes are really comfortable to wear with the removable sockliner being in place for extra comfort. The padded tongue and heel collar also helps greatly in making them a pleasure to wear and play in.

2. Dunlop Ultimate Tour

Click Here for Additional Reviews of the Dunlop Ultimate Tour Racquetball Shoe!

In a similar way to Hi-Tec, Dunlop is a well respected company within racquetball and tennis with a proud history. Their Ultimate Tour Indoor Racquetball shoes are very striking in design and will appeal to the more outgoing player.

Boasting a Dunlop Performance Rubber outsole for enhanced traction, they give a nice feel when on your feet and lots of grip. Also contained is Dunlop’s D30 Protection technology that gives you optimal cushioning and injury prevention. The Hot Melt upper design of the shoe allows for breathability and lightweight performance.

The Anti Drag Zone on these shoes is a nice touch as it combats abrasion and scuffing to protect both shoe and court. They feel very flexible and agile when in use and really allow you to get around the court well.

Coming in at the middle of the market for the best racquetball shoes, these Dunlop racquetball shoes look great and feel great on your feet. They are a great fit for any promising racquetball player.

3. Prince NFS Indoor II

Click Here for Additional Reviews of the Prince NFS Indoor II Racquetball Shoe!

The lightweight yet strong Nubuck material allows this shoe to give great comfort and stability especially around the upper section of the shoe. There is also a padded collar around the back of the foot to make it even better to wear and play racquetball with. The engineered speed lace design gives a customized fit so it will feel great to move around in.

A breathable mesh tongue enables air to circulate and keep your feet cool on the court. The Prince Indoor shoe sole has a good amount of cushioning and will protect your feet and ankles from any impacts or shocks when playing.

As with all the best racquetball shoes, it has non-marking gum rubber soles to give better grip and traction on court.

This is a fantastic shoe and one that has a nice balance between responsiveness and protection. At a mid range price in the racquetball shoes market, it’ll keep your feet safe and last you a long time.

4. ASICS Gel Blast 6 Indoor Court Shoes

Click Here for Additional Reviews of the Asic Gel Blast 6 Racquetball Shoe!

Containing innovative Dynamic Wrap technology, the Gel Blast 6 from Asics is a superb shoe for playing racquetball in. It gives you a great ability to push off quicker and move faster due to its lightweight yet agile feel. The Dynamic Wrap technology replicates taping around your foot and locks your midfoot securely in place for better stability.

The brand new midsole and A-Truss design of the shoe also helps give maximum support and responsiveness to your game. I particularly like the cool, ergonomic design of this shoe as it allows you to look good while moving around the court rapidly.

You do have to be a little careful with these ones though as they can be a little harder to break in. Once done though(it usually takes less than a week) they feel amazing, look great, and are perfect to play racquetball in.

5. Hi-Tec Infinity Flare

Click Here for Additional Reviews of the Asic Gel Blast 6 Racquetball Shoe!

Hi-Tec is a well-known company within the racquetball sport in general and their Infinity Flare shoes are top of the class. The V-Lite Infinity Seamless 1 piece construction upper feels great and makes the shoes really nice to wear.

In terms of cushioning they deliver too with the multi density mid-sole technology in the shoe directing any received force downwards. This eliminates unwanted impact from playing to your foot by around 35%.

Hi-Tec is particularly proud of the Peak Force Outsole on this shoe which gives loads of grip and traction. They do feel really grippy and give you the confidence to move around the court at full speed.

The ESS lateral reinforcement inserts at the forefoot also give you lots of scope for any lateral movements and protection when doing them.

Pick a pair of these up and you will be storming to victory in no time!

Choosing the Best Racquetball Shoes

With the number of the racquetball shoes on the market today, it can be hard for the average person to find the best shoes for them. I know I was confused when I was looking for my first pair.

But now that I’ve been through that process, I’ve written up my experiences. Below are what I think the key aspects in buying the best shoes for racquetball are.

Get A Grip

One of the key things you need from great racquetball shoes is an excellent grip. This will give you maximum traction on the smooth court and avoid any injuries from slipping. Usually racquetball shoes have a gum rubber sole to achieve this purpose.

This gum rubber sole gives you superb grip but also protects the court surface, making sure that your shoe won’t streak or leave marks. This non-marking aspect is very important as leaving streaks on the court surface is a definite no-no and can even get you kicked out of racquetball courts in some places!

Great Fit

This is true for all shoes(like the best tennis shoes) but is especially important in racquetball. If you have shoes that are too big they will be cumbersome and lead to falls or injuries.

However, if they are too small your feet will be uncomfortable and cramped within the racquetball shoe. The ability to move freely and quickly in racquetball is absolutely crucial

Therefore, it is worth taking the time to try a few pairs on and be sure you get the right fit for you. Doing this could be the difference between enjoying the sport for a long time and giving it up altogether.

Optimum Protection in

As racquetball as a sport places unique demands on players, then the shoes you wear should be designed to meet these demands. Your shoes should have ample cushioning in the mid-foot, heel and forefoot which will protect your foot from jarring and allow you to push off easily. They should also give your ankles plenty of support.

As mentioned above, please do not make the mistake of wearing running shoes, tennis shoes or regular sneakers. In fact, some racquetball courts even have signs outside that say NO TENNIS SHOES ALLOWED! The managers aren’t trying to inconvenience you, they just want to make the game safer and keep the court clean.

The jumping and leaping involved in racquetball mean you need specific shoes that absorb the shock for you.

Lightweight and Flexible

Racquetball as a sport constantly asks players to be changing direction or be on the move across the court. The ability to travel across the court fast and in any direction is absolutely critical to success and your shoes should help you do that!

The best racquetball shoes are lightweight and flexible enough to allow you to easily change direction no matter where you are on the court. This combined with the grip and great fit, will give you a huge advantage over your competitor on the court.

If you get a pair that does these 3 things: has a great grip, fits your foot well, and is lightweight and flexible, then your racquetball shoes will be able to give you that much needed agility on the court allowing you to easily best your opponent.

 General Advice Picking the Best Racquetball Shoes

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can wear running or tennis shoes as these are designed for entirely different needs than racquetball. In fact, wearing these traditional shoes can cause you to wear them out extremely quickly! Not only that, but many courts have specific signs outside that say NO TENNIS SHOES ALLOWED.

Another piece of advice  to always remember though is to keep your indoor court shoes just indoor! You don’t want to pick up dirt or gravel on the sole that can scratch the court or cause you to slip while playing racquetball.

Choosing the right pair of racquetball shoes is an important step in your journey within the game. It is worth spending the time and money to make sure you get the best ones you can.

After all, one of the key aspects of any sport is having the right equipment for what you need to do. Doing this will enable you to move freely around the court while helping to prevent injuries.

Any of the ones on our list are a great option whether you’re picking out your first pair or upgrading from your current ones.