What is the right squash shoe for you?

It is essential in the game of squash to have the right equipment. Everyone is unique and we all certainly have different shaped feet, so it is crucial to have a squash shoe that suits you!
The more a player wears a worn out shoe for squash the higher the chance of injury due to a reduction in grip, stability and support. This will ultimately lead to unnecessary stress and pressure in your knees, hips, calf, around the foot (Achilles) and ankle. There are some clear signs of when to change your shoes and how to pick the right ones:

1. If you frequently slip or skid when lunging into the ball due to the rubber being worn.
2. Clear tares and rips to the upper material will reduce foot support.
3. Following a squash session your feet are regularly sore in the heel, the arch or the toes and you have regular blisters, this proves the shoe is not fit for purpose anymore.
4. The sole becomes visibly worn and you can’t see the rubber tram-lines of the grip.
5. If you leave your shoes out in the sun too long the sole & sides of the shoe will go shiny and no longer grip on court.  Scuffing them on concrete can bring back some grip but if this doesn’t work it’s time for a new pair of shoes.

Selecting the right shoe:
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Squash shoes are specifically designed for Squash! The sole of the shoe is designed to grip the floor and built to support the foot and ankle in a different way to a standard running shoe.
It is important the shoe is the perfect fit, too tight and this will be painful as the foot swells during play, too big and the foot will move when lunging into the ball causing the player to be unbalanced. This will increase the chance of injury and give you blisters.
It must be very comfortable and light on your feet so you can feel the court under your foot whilst playing.
Here are some important considerations that you must ensure to follow when you aim to get the perfect squash shoe:

1. Do you have narrow feet, wide feet, flat feet? Make sure the shoe fits the shape of your foot. The shoe must not be too thick or heavy.
2. Always try on both shoes, walk around in them even do some lunges in them as they need to be right before purchasing.
3. It will need lateral reinforcement to ensure optimal stability.
4. Look at the materials as they should be absorbent as the foot sweats during play.
5. The sole of the shoe must be made of non-marking rubber to create a firm grip on the court.
6. Push down on the heel of the shoe and if it caves in you know it doesn’t have the heel support you are looking for.
7. Twist the show from the front and back and if there is no restriction and lots of range of movement this shoe doesn’t have the support you are looking for. 
8. Bend the shoe front to back and test the range in the movement, it shouldn’t be easy to do this with the shoe.
9. Regularity on changing your shoe is dependent on how often you play but if you follow the signs above you will know when to make that purchase.

 
Below you can see an example of a new squash shoe against an old worn shoe.

New Shoe vs Worn Shoe