Indoor vs Outdoor Pickleball Shoes

Pickleball can be played on different types of courts, such as indoor or outdoor, hard or soft, and with different types of balls, such as plastic or rubber. To enjoy the game and prevent injuries, it is important to wear the right type of shoes for pickleball.

But what are the differences between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes? And how do you choose the best pair for your game style and court surface? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. We will also provide some recommendations for the best pickleball shoes for men and women, both indoor and outdoor.

Why pickleball shoes?

You might be wondering why you need special shoes for pickleball. After all, can’t you just wear any pair of sneakers or athletic shoes? The answer is no. Pickleball shoes are designed specifically for the demands of the sport, which include:

• Lateral movements: Pickleball involves a lot of side-to-side movements, as well as quick changes of direction and speed. You need shoes that provide lateral support and stability, as well as good traction and grip on the court surface. Shoes that are too loose, too tight, or too flexible can cause your feet to slide or roll inside the shoe, which can lead to blisters, sprains, or worse.
• Athletic pickleball players: Pickleball is a sport that requires agility, balance, and coordination. You need shoes that are lightweight and breathable, but also durable and cushioned. Shoes that are too heavy, too hot, or too stiff can slow you down, make you sweat more, or cause fatigue and discomfort.

Which type of pickleball court do you play on?

One of the main factors that determine the type of pickleball shoe you need is the type of court surface you play on. There are two main types of pickleball courts: outdoor or indoor.

Outdoor or indoor pickleball courts

Outdoor pickleball courts are usually made of asphalt, concrete, or other hard materials. They are exposed to the elements, such as sun, rain, wind, dust, etc. They can also have cracks, bumps, or uneven spots that can affect the bounce and direction of the ball.

Indoor pickleball courts are usually made of wood, vinyl, or other smooth materials. They are protected from the weather, but they can also have variations in temperature, humidity, or lighting that can affect the visibility and feel of the ball.

The type of court surface affects the type of shoe you need in two ways: the type of outsole and the type of upper.

Outsole

The outsole is the bottom part of the shoe that comes in contact with the ground. It is responsible for providing traction and grip on the court surface. The type of outsole you need depends on whether you play on outdoor or indoor courts.

Pickleball Shoes For Outdoor Court Surfaces

Outdoor pickleball shoes need outsoles that are durable and resistant to abrasion. They also need outsoles that have deep grooves or treads that can handle different types of terrain and weather conditions. Outdoor pickleball shoes usually have rubber outsoles that are thick and sturdy.

Some examples of outdoor pickleball shoes for men are:

• K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides excellent traction and durability on hard courts. It also has a synthetic leather upper with mesh panels that offer breathability and comfort.
• Adidas Barricade 2023: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a modified herringbone pattern that provides optimal grip and stability on hard courts. It also has a seamless mesh upper with TPU overlays that offer ventilation and support.
• New Balance Fresh Foam Lav: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a multi-directional pattern that provides traction and flexibility on hard courts. It also has a knit upper with synthetic overlays that offer breathability and comfort.

Some examples of outdoor pickleball shoes for women are:

• Asics Gel-Resolution 8: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a modified herringbone pattern that provides traction and durability on hard courts. It also has a synthetic leather upper with mesh inserts that offer breathability and comfort.
• Nike Air Zoom Vapor X: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides grip and stability on hard courts. It also has a textile upper with synthetic overlays that offer ventilation and support.
• Saucony Kinvara 12: This shoe has a rubber outsole with a triangular lug pattern that provides traction and flexibility on hard courts. It also has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that offer breathability and comfort.

What happens if I use an outdoor pickleball shoe on an indoor court?

If you use an outdoor pickleball shoe on an indoor court, you might experience some problems, such as:

• Slipping or sliding: Outdoor pickleball shoes have outsoles that are designed for rough and uneven surfaces. They might not have enough grip or friction on smooth and flat surfaces, such as indoor courts. This can cause you to slip or slide on the court, which can affect your performance and increase your risk of injury.
• Damaging the court: Outdoor pickleball shoes have outsoles that are made of hard and abrasive materials. They might leave marks or scratches on the indoor court surface, which can damage the court and make it less playable. This can also annoy or anger the court owners or managers, who might charge you for the repairs or ban you from using the court.

Upper

The upper is the top part of the shoe that covers your foot. It is responsible for providing breathability, comfort, and support for your foot. The type of upper you need depends on whether you play on outdoor or indoor courts.

Pickleball Shoes For Indoor Court Surfaces

Indoor pickleball shoes need uppers that are lightweight and breathable. They also need uppers that have enough cushioning and padding to protect your foot from impact and friction. Indoor pickleball shoes usually have synthetic or mesh uppers that are thin and flexible.

Some examples of indoor pickleball shoes for men are:

• Asics Gel-Rocket 10: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a gum rubber compound that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.
• Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide ventilation and stability. It also has a rubber outsole with a zigzag pattern that provides grip and flexibility on indoor courts.
• Adidas Court Team Bounce: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.

Some examples of indoor pickleball shoes for women are:

• Asics Gel-Tactic 3: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a gum rubber compound that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.
• Mizuno Wave Momentum: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide ventilation and stability. It also has a rubber outsole with a zigzag pattern that provides grip and flexibility on indoor courts.
• Adidas Court Team Bounce: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.

What happens if I use an indoor pickleball shoe on an outdoor court?

If you use an indoor pickleball shoe on an outdoor court, you might experience some problems, such as:

• Wearing out quickly: Indoor pickleball shoes have uppers that are made of soft and delicate materials. They might not be able to withstand the abrasion and wear-and-tear of outdoor courts, which can cause them to tear or rip easily. This can affect your comfort and performance, as well as waste your money.
• Getting dirty or wet: Indoor pickleball shoes have uppers that are designed for clean and dry environments. They might not be able to handle the dirt, dust, mud, or water that can be found on outdoor courts, which can cause them to get dirty or wet easily. This can affect your hygiene and health, as well as make your shoes smell bad.

Finding the Right Fit

Another factor that determines the type of pickleball shoe you need is the fit of the shoe. You need shoes that fit your foot size, shape, and width, as well as your game style.

How to Measure Your Foot

To find the right fit for your foot, you need to measure your foot length and width. You can do this by following these steps:

• Place a piece of paper on a flat surface.
• Stand on the paper with your heel against the wall.
• Mark the longest point of your foot on the paper.
• Measure the distance from the wall to the mark in centimeters or inches.
• Repeat the process for your other foot.

Find your shoe size & width

Once you have measured your foot length and width, you can use them to find your shoe size and width. You can do this by using these charts:

Men’s Shoe Sizing Chart

US Size	UK Size	EU Size	Foot Length (cm)	Foot Width (cm)	Width Code
6	5.5	39	24.1	8.9	D
6.5	6	39.5	24.4	9	D
7	6.5	40	24.8	9.1	D
7.5	7	41	25.1	9.2	D
8	7.5	41.5	25.4	9.3	D
8.5	8	42	25.7	9.4	D
9	8.5	43	26	9.5	D
9.5	9	43.5	26.3	9.6	D
10	9.5	44	26.7	9.7	D
10.5	10	44.5	27	9.8	D
11	10.5	45	27.3	9.9	D
11.5	11	46	27.6	10	D
12	11.5	46.5	–	–	–

The width code indicates the width of the shoe, where D is the standard or medium width, and other letters indicate narrower or wider widths.

Women’s Shoe Sizing Chart

US Size	UK Size	EU Size	Foot Length (cm)	Foot Width (cm)	Width Code
5	3	36	21.6	7.9	B
5.5	3.5	36.5	22.2	8	B
6	4	37	22.5	8.1	B
6.5	4.5	37.5	23	8.2	B
7	5	38	23.5	8.3	B
7.5	5.5	38.5	23.8	8.4	B
8	6	39	24.1	8.5	B
8.5	6.5	40	24.6	8.6	B
9	7	40.5	25.1	8.7	B
9.5	7.5	41	25.4	8.8	B
–	–	–	–	–	–

The width code indicates the width of the shoe, where B is the standard or medium width, and other letters indicate narrower or wider widths.

Your game style

Another factor that determines the type of pickleball shoe you need is your game style, or how you play the game. You need shoes that match your level of skill, intensity, and preference.

What kind of pickleball player are you?

There are different types of pickleball players, depending on how they approach the game and what they enjoy most about it. Some common types are:

• Beginner: A beginner is someone who is new to the sport or has limited experience playing it. They might not have a consistent or effective technique, strategy, or positioning, and they might make more mistakes or errors than others.
• Intermediate: An intermediate is someone who has some experience playing the sport and has developed some basic skills and knowledge of the game. They might have a decent or reliable technique, strategy, or positioning, and they might make fewer mistakes or errors than beginners.
• Advanced: An advanced is someone who has a lot of experience playing the sport and has mastered most of the skills and knowledge of the game. They might have a strong or refined technique, strategy, or positioning, and they might make very few mistakes or errors than others.

Depending on your type of player, you might need different types of shoes that suit your needs and goals.

Support and stability:

If you are a beginner or intermediate player, you might need shoes that provide more support and stability for your feet and ankles, as well as more cushioning and shock absorption for your joints and muscles. This can help you prevent injuries, improve your balance, and enhance your comfort.

Some examples of shoes that provide support and stability are:

• Asics Gel-Resolution 8 for men and women: This shoe has a synthetic leather upper with mesh inserts that offer breathability and comfort. It also has a rubber outsole with a modified herringbone pattern that provides traction and durability on hard courts.
• Nike Air Zoom Vapor X for men and women: This shoe has a textile upper with synthetic overlays that offer ventilation and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides grip and stability on hard courts.
• Saucony Kinvara 12 for men and women: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that offer breathability and comfort. It also has a rubber outsole with a triangular lug pattern that provides traction and flexibility on hard courts.

Lightweight and speed:

If you are an intermediate or advanced player, you might need shoes that provide more lightweight and speed for your feet and movements, as well as more responsiveness and agility for your actions and reactions. This can help you improve your performance, increase your efficiency, and enhance your competitiveness.

Some examples of shoes that provide lightweight and speed are:

• K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2 for men and women: This shoe has a synthetic leather upper with mesh panels that offer breathability and comfort. It also has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides excellent traction and durability on hard courts.
• Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6 for men and women: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide ventilation and stability. It also has a rubber outsole with a zigzag pattern that provides grip and flexibility on indoor courts.
• Adidas Court Team Bounce for men and women: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.

Durability:

If you are an advanced player, you might need shoes that provide more durability and resistance for your feet and shoes, as well as more protection and reinforcement for your toes and heels. This can help you prevent wear and tear, extend the lifespan of your shoes, and enhance your confidence.

Some examples of shoes that provide durability are:

• Adidas Barricade 2023 for men and women: This shoe has a seamless mesh upper with TPU overlays that offer ventilation and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a modified herringbone pattern that provides optimal grip and stability on hard courts.
• New Balance Fresh Foam Lav for men and women: This shoe has a knit upper with synthetic overlays that offer breathability and comfort. It also has a rubber outsole with a multi-directional pattern that provides traction and flexibility on hard courts.
• Asics Gel-Rocket 10 for men and women: This shoe has a mesh upper with synthetic overlays that provide breathability and support. It also has a rubber outsole with a gum rubber compound that provides traction and durability on indoor courts.

Shoes to avoid

There are some types of shoes that you should avoid wearing for pickleball, as they can cause problems or injuries for you or others. Some examples are:

• General running shoes: Running shoes are designed for forward motion, not lateral motion. They might not have enough support or stability for your feet or ankles, which can cause them to roll or twist. They might also have too much cushioning or shock absorption, which can reduce your responsiveness or agility.
• Lounge shoes of any kind: Lounge shoes are designed for casual or leisure activities, not athletic or competitive ones. They might not have enough traction or grip on the court surface, which can cause you to slip or slide. They might also have too little cushioning or shock absorption, which can increase your impact or friction.
• Hiking boots: Hiking boots are designed for rough or uneven terrain, not smooth or flat ones. They might have too much traction or grip on the court surface, which can cause you to stick or drag. They might also have too much weight or stiffness, which can slow you down or make you sweat more.
• Open shoes of any kind: Open shoes are designed for ventilation or comfort, not protection or performance. They might not have enough coverage or security for your feet, which can expose them to injuries or infections. They might also have too little support or stability for your feet or ankles, which can cause them to bend or twist.
• Trail running shoes: Trail running shoes are designed for soft or natural surfaces, not hard or artificial ones. They might have too much tread or lug on the outsole, which can cause them to catch or snag on the court surface. They might also have too little cushioning or shock absorption, which can increase your impact or friction.

The best shoe to wear for Pickleball Play

The best shoe to wear for pickleball play is the one that fits your foot size, shape, and width, as well as your game style and court surface. You need shoes that provide the right balance of traction, grip, support, stability, cushioning, shock absorption, breathability, comfort, lightweight, speed, responsiveness, agility, durability, resistance, protection, and reinforcement.

To find the best shoe for you, you need to:

• Measure your foot length and width
• Find your shoe size and width
• Determine your game style
• Choose your court surface
• Compare different types of shoes
• Try them on before buying them
• Break them in gradually

Conclusion

Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced sport that can be played on different types of courts and with different types of balls. To enjoy the game and prevent injuries, it is important to wear the right type of shoes for pickleball.

The main differences between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes are the type of outsole and the type of upper. Outdoor pickleball shoes need outsoles that are durable and resistant to abrasion, as well as uppers that are lightweight and breathable. Indoor pickleball shoes need outsoles that have good traction and grip on smooth surfaces, as well as uppers that have enough cushioning and padding.

The type of pickleball shoe you need also depends on your fit and your game style. You need shoes that fit your foot size, shape, and width, as well as match your level of skill, intensity, and preference.

Some types of shoes that you should avoid wearing for pickleball are general running shoes, lounge shoes of any kind, hiking boots, open shoes of any kind, or trail running shoes.

We hope this article has helped you understand the difference between indoor and outdoor pickleball shoes, and how to choose the best pair for your game. Remember to always wear the right type of shoes for pickleball, and have fun playing the sport! 😊

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about pickleball shoes:

What is the difference between indoor shoes and outdoor shoes?

Indoor shoes and outdoor shoes differ mainly in the type of outsole and the type of upper. Indoor shoes have outsoles that have good traction and grip on smooth surfaces, such as wood or vinyl. Outdoor shoes have outsoles that are durable and resistant to abrasion, such as asphalt or concrete. Indoor shoes have uppers that have enough cushioning and padding to protect your feet from impact and friction. Outdoor shoes have uppers that are lightweight and breathable to keep your feet cool and dry.

What to look for in outdoor pickleball shoes?

Outdoor pickleball shoes should have:

• Rubber outsoles that are thick and sturdy, with deep grooves or treads that can handle different types of terrain and weather conditions.
• Synthetic or mesh uppers that are thin and flexible, with enough ventilation and comfort for your feet.
• Lateral support and stability for your feet and ankles, as well as good traction and grip on the court surface.
• Lightweight and speed for your feet and movements, as well as responsiveness and agility for your actions and reactions.
• Durability and resistance for your feet and shoes, as well as protection and reinforcement for your toes and heels.

What shoes to wear for outdoor pickleball?

Some examples of shoes to wear for outdoor pickleball are:

• K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2
• Adidas Barricade 2023
• New Balance Fresh Foam Lav
• Asics Gel-Resolution 8
• Nike Air Zoom Vapor X
• Saucony Kinvara 12

Is it okay to wear indoor shoes outside?

No, it is not okay to wear indoor shoes outside. Indoor shoes are not designed for outdoor courts, which can cause problems or injuries for you or others. Indoor shoes might not have enough grip or friction on rough or uneven surfaces, which can cause you to slip or slide. Indoor shoes might also have too little cushioning or shock absorption on hard or artificial surfaces, which can increase your impact or friction. Indoor shoes might also wear out quickly or get dirty or wet on outdoor courts, which can affect your comfort or performance.

Can indoor shoes be used outdoors?

No, indoor shoes cannot be used outdoors. Indoor shoes are not suitable for outdoor courts, which can damage them or the court surface. Indoor shoes might have too much tread or lug on the outsole, which can cause them to catch or snag on the court surface. Indoor shoes might also have too soft or delicate materials on the upper, which can cause them to tear or rip easily. Indoor shoes might also leave marks or scratches on the court surface, which can damage the court and make it less playable.

What type of shoe is best for pickleball?

The type of shoe that is best for pickleball depends on your fit, your game style, and your court surface. You need shoes that fit your foot size, shape, and width, as well as match your level of skill, intensity, and preference. You also need shoes that suit your type of court surface, whether it is indoor or outdoor, hard or soft.

Do I really need court shoes for pickleball?

Yes, you do need court shoes for pickleball. Court shoes are designed specifically for the demands of the sport, which include lateral movements, athletic pickleball players, and different types of court surfaces. Court shoes provide the right balance of traction, grip, support, stability, cushioning, shock absorption, breathability, comfort, lightweight, speed, responsiveness, agility, durability, resistance, protection, and reinforcement for your feet and shoes.

Do pickleball shoes make a difference?

Yes, pickleball shoes do make a difference. Pickleball shoes can improve your comfort, performance, and safety on the court. Pickleball shoes can prevent injuries, such as blisters, sprains, or strains, by providing the right fit and support for your feet and ankles. Pickleball shoes can also enhance your performance, such as speed, agility, or accuracy, by providing the right traction and grip on the court surface. Pickleball shoes can also increase your enjoyment and satisfaction of the game, by providing the right breathability and comfort for your feet.