Badminton, like squash, is an indoor game and pretty fast-paced so to play it well and avoid injury you need shoes that are built for the purpose.  There are a great many badminton shoes on the market and they’re a worthwhile investment. Good badminton shoes will enhance your game and significantly reduce the risk of injury whether you’re a recreational player or a serious shuttlecock smasher.

A good badminton shoe will be comfortable to wear, give you the stability you need to play and great grip against the indoor court’s surface.  If you’re new to the game don’t be deceived by the drag of the shuttlecock – ‘badders’  is fast and there are lots of sudden stops and changes in direction so if your feet are not properly supported injuries will ensue – twists being one of the most common – taking you out of play for significant periods.

The part of the foot that requires most support in badminton is the toes, they endure the most impact with all those lunges, so ensure that the shoes you pick have excellent reinforcement around the toes.

You’ll also notice that badminton shoes tend to be a slightly different shape to other sports footwear, this is to give the foot the support and movement it needs to safely stop, turn and start at speed. Accordingly you need decent support for the ankles and all those sudden lateral moves.

Don’t forget badminton is a high impact sport, consider the impact when you land from a powerful jump smash. The indoor floor surface is tough so cushioning is crucial and shoes that help absorb the shock will protect the knee joints in particular from taking the strain. Badminton shoes with shock absorbers are cushioned beneath the heel. Inserts are also available that serve the same purpose.

Depending on your playing style any one of the above factors will wear out before the others, so if you start to experience aches and pains it’s worth checking whether your shoes are the cause and replacing them before a niggle becomes an injury.

Needless to say a better quality shoe will generally have more mileage but even if they’re looking box fresh still and you’re noticing you’re beginning to slide admit the grip has gone and invest in a new pair for on-going, improved play.