Pickleball shoes: court shoes, soles, fit and ankle braces

Pickleball is played in short bursts forward, backward and sideways. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises choosing "shoes designed for pickleball or tennis to ensure proper support and court traction," and a surgeon quoted by the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) says running shoes "may not be the best for side-to-side activity like pickleball." This page sets out what those and other medical and rules sources say to look for. It does not review or recommend brands or models.

Court shoes versus running shoes

The shoe does not have to be sold for pickleball: Cirino suggests tennis or squash court shoes, and OrthoInfo names pickleball or tennis shoes. OrthoInfo warns that cross-trainers with running-style treads may not work on indoor courts. Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) recommends "high lateral support and durable soles" for players who move side to side a lot and says reinforced side panels improve lateral stability.

Why the sides matter: OrthoInfo says about 90% of ankle sprains are inversion injuries, with the foot turning inward, and lists shoes that lack foot and ankle support, and slippery soles, among the risk factors. The AOFAS page advises shoes that support quick stops, starts and sideways cuts, to limit the risk of sprains.

1. Heel counter: should hold the heel firmly (OrthoInfo); replace the shoe when it bends when squeezed side to side or leans to one side seen from behind (AAPSM).
2. Toe box: at least ½ inch between the longest toe and the end of the shoe, with room to wiggle the toes (OrthoInfo).
3. Upper with reinforced sides: lateral support for side-to-side movement (LTA; AOFAS).
4. Midsole: cushioning that wears out with use, about 45–60 hours of tennis or basketball by AAPSM's figure.
5. Outsole: a solid, flat tread rather than a curved running sole (OrthoInfo; HSS).
6. Sole material: must not mark or damage the playing surface (USA Pickleball Rule 18.B.2); indoor gyms ask for non-marking soles.
7. Wear check: replace when the outsole is worn through to the midsole or the heel shows more than 4 mm difference from its other side (AAPSM).

Indoor and outdoor soles

Grip is a balance. A 2013 Sports Engineering study by Clarke, Dixon, Damm and Carré measured shoe traction on acrylic hard courts, which it notes "have been reported to have increased injury occurrence." The authors write that high traction during the impact phase may lead to injury, while insufficient static traction may lead to an unwanted slip, and that uneven court wear can leave traction differing across one court. The study tested one shoe in a machine, not injuries in players. Coatings and court types are covered on the court surfaces page; cold-court traction is on the winter pickleball page.

What the rulebook says

Beyond the sole requirement, Rule 18.B does not set a shoe type, height or tread. How equipment time-outs fit with the other time-out types is on the time-outs page; paddle and ball rules are on the paddle specs and ball specs pages.

Fitting checklist

AAOS OrthoInfo's athletic-shoe guide gives these steps:

1. Try shoes on in the evening or after a workout, when feet have swollen.
2. Wear the socks you play in.
3. Leave at least ½ inch between your longest toe and the end of the shoe; the toes should be able to wiggle.
4. Check that the heel counter holds your heel firmly.
5. Lace both shoes snugly, walk on different surfaces, and check that the shoes sit straight on a level surface.
6. Avoid shoes that have sat in a store a long time; cushioning can weaken without use.

The LTA adds matching the shoe to the foot: motion control and arch support for flat feet, extra cushioning for high arches, balanced support for neutral feet.

When to replace court shoes

The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM) guide by Ayne Furman, DPM, says replacement depends on use, signs of wear and age. It names tennis and basketball, not pickleball; they are the closest court sports it lists.

Worked example: three 2-hour sessions a week is 6 hours, so 45–60 hours arrive in about 7½ to 10 weeks. For comparison, OrthoInfo says running-shoe EVA cushioning shows structural damage at about 120 miles and has lost about 45% of its shock absorption by about 500 miles.

Ankle braces and taping

These points summarize published guidance; which support suits a given ankle is a question for a physician or physical therapist.

• Strength first. OrthoInfo: "The best way to prevent ankle sprains is to maintain good muscle strength, balance, and flexibility." It adds that an early return to sport may require taping or bracing.
• Trial evidence. In a randomized trial of 1,460 high school basketball players at 46 schools (McGuine, Brooks and Hetzel, American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2011), lace-up braces cut acute ankle injuries to 0.47 per 1,000 exposures from 1.41 in the unbraced group, in players with and without a prior injury. Severity was not reduced.
• Reviews. A 2017 British Journal of Sports Medicine overview of systematic reviews (Doherty and colleagues) found strong evidence for bracing and moderate evidence for neuromuscular training in preventing a repeat sprain.
• For pickleball players. AOFAS: if you tend to roll your ankle, a brace or other support may help, especially with a known injury. A 2024 AOFAS meeting presentation (Kingston and colleagues, reported by Healio) counted 198 pickleball foot and ankle injuries from 2015 to 2023, mean age 58, a 6.5-fold rise from 2019 to 2023, and Achilles tendon rupture as the most common diagnosis (78). Presenter Jeremy T. Smith suggested court shoes and, with instability, a brace or taping. It was a conference presentation, not a journal article.

Injury counts from emergency-department studies are on the pickleball injuries page; older players' tips are on the seniors page.

Before you play

• Court shoes (pickleball, tennis or squash type) with a flat, solid tread.
• Non-marking soles for indoor floors, and a dry second pair in winter.
• Heel held firmly, ½ inch of toe room, laces snug.
• Outsole not worn through, heel counter still firm, shoe under a year old.
• Brace or tape on if a clinician advised one for an unstable ankle.