Are there any Shoes that make you Jump Higher in Basketball?   by Phil Rosser

in Sports / Basketball    (submitted 2011-05-03)

Now it is true that the right shoe can make a difference in your performance. But, the benefits of the correct shoe are limited, so don’t think the right shoe will make you into a star.

A basketball shoe is not going to make you jump higher in basketball or run faster than your muscles are capable.

It might be better to look at it the other way around. You do not want to impair your performance with the wrong shoe!

The shoe definitely does not make the player. Who hasn’t seen the worst player on court sporting Jordan’s shoes? Here’s what you should consider when purchasing a new pair of shoes.

1. How does it feel and how does it make you feel.
A comfortable shoe is probably the most important consideration when purchasing a shoe. If it ain’t comfortable just forget about it. A shoe that is uncomfortable and not shaped to your foot, or maybe even the wrong size is going to be nothing but a distraction.

The shoe must not be smothering and constraining, but it should be tight fitting. It should feel like just a part of the foot.

Now think about how the shoe makes you feel. If you feel like a dope in the shoe, it’s won’t help you play like an all star. But if the shoe makes you feel like an all star, it is going to give you a confidence boost.

You might want to use an insole. Theses can really help to add comfort to the shoe. Avoid the super cushy insoles made of gel, these just make your shoe slide around. Try a firm but padded insole, preferably one that you can heat in the oven and form fit to your foot.

2. Will High tops help ankle stability?
A high top will not prevent your ankle from rolling. If you like high tops fine, but if you have ankle problems get an ankle brace. Your high tops will only give you a false sense of security. You should strengthen your ankle with specific training.

3. Are there any light shoes that make you jump higher or run faster?
Shoes vary between around 11 to 20 oz. The difference between the lightest and heaviest shoe is not going to make a significant difference in your performance. If you change from a relatively heavy shoe to a very light shoe, you may be able to feel the slight difference in weight, which may make you feel lighter and so feel like you can jump higher in basketball. But in fact those few ounces will not make any significant difference.

4. Special insoles, rubber, springs, lunar foam etc…
There has been a lot of publicity about this type of feature in a shoe, and a lot of athletes have tried them. The only level on which this might deliver is through the placebo effect where the wearer believes their new shoes are jump higher shoes and believes they will benefit them. And even if a shoe were capable (which they are not), if your body is not trained to support the extra boost it won’t do you any good anyway.

5. Carbon fiber shank plate in the sole
Some shoes have a fiber plate inserted in the sole so that your “toe off” isn’t weak. This is supposed to allow you to push with your entire foot and not have to worry about your toes. Most basketball shoes already have stiffer soles with a large slab of padding on the bottom and they don’t need additional support.

Conclusion: Are there any Basketball Shoes that make you Jump Higher

We must realize that the benefits to be found from different shoes are limited. New shoes may inspire you to run faster or jump higher in basketball but there is no such thing as jump higher shoes, the most important thing is that they are comfortable and a good fit. There are no basketball shoes that make you jump higher, that will turn you into a star. Any serious improvements must come from a properly structured training program.

About the Author

If you want to learn more and pick up some free help then visit the jump higher in basketball website. And you can see how to test your vertical jump by clicking this link.