As I was looking for basketball shoes for my fifteen-year-old son, I came across very nice shoes. I bought them for him, but upon reaching home, he refused them, saying they were volleyball shoes.
It was a dramatic experience that left me displeased. So, before you get such an experience, keep reading and learn a few things you never knew differentiated these sports shoes.
What makes volleyball shoes different from basketball shoes
The soles
With basketball shoes, the soles will be made of rubber, therefore lightweight. This weight facilitates faster movement and turning. So because the shoes I bought for my son had a thinner sole, and although the sole was rubber, he felt that they would be uncomfortable.
The volleyball shoes, on the other hand, have a thicker sole with a gum rubber sole. This gum rubber helps in preventing them from sliding because most volleyball courts are very slippery.
When moving laterally, the volleyball shoes provide a firm grip too. The sole makes volleyball shoes unique for playing volleyball.
Cushioning
The basketball shoes have a thicker cushioning compared to the volleyball shoes. The cushioning of basketball shoes looks like that in running shoes. On the contrary, volleyball shoes need to be light to facilitate swift movement to and fro the playing ground. They have a thin cushioning layer.
If basketball shoes get used for volleyball, it would only take a short period before the cushioning deteriorated. Thus, the volleyball shoes get a thinner cushioning for comfort and landing, therefore, more emphasis is on the shoes’ sole.
Weight
When it comes to these two games, the interests of making both shoes seem to intertwine. Although both shoes should be light in weight, volleyball shoes need to be the lightest.
Light shoes will help the player when making swift movements on the court. The thick cushioning in the basketball shoes make them slightly heavier than volleyball ones.
Volleyball shoes have a mesh or nylon upper material to ensure air movement into the shoe. This mesh allows air movement into the shoe.
Midsoles
Basketball shoes have a generous share of the midsole section. This midsole is mainly made soft, and comfortable cushioning allows for comfort in the basketball court. Since basketball requires a lot of running and dripping, the basketball player requires comfort and stability. So, this midsole guarantees the player all that.
On the contrary, volleyball shoes don’t have a thick midsole section. Much emphasis with volleyball shoes is on the gum-like sole, which makes an impact on the ground. The comfortable landing surface makes volleyball shoes the best for the game. You will get volleyball shoes having a thin midsole.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can basketball shoes be used as volleyball shoes?
Although people interchange these shoes, every shoe should be used for its purpose. The comfort when playing volleyball will not be the same as comfort from basketball shoes. So these shoes should not be interchanged.
2. Can you wear a pad while playing volleyball?
Yes, you can wear a pad while playing volleyball. Since the knee pads protect against injury, wearing them in addition to proper volleyball shoes, you will play safe.
3. Why are volleyball shorts so short?
Volleyball shorts get made short to facilitate comfortable leg movement when playing. You won’t want shorts that hold your steps or creep into uncomfortable places and prevent you from playing.
4. What do female athletes wear under their shorts?
Most female athletes wear leggings or sliders. Sliders allow for easy sliding while gaming and work as compression shorts.
5. Why do volleyball players wear leggings?
Volleyball players wear leggings and compression shorts because it helps in holding muscles firmly while playing. Athletes use them to facilitate blood flow into their muscles, and this improves their gaming performance.
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