The Best Racquetball Shoes of 2011
There are numerous shoes designed for racquetball courts. Growing in popularity, racquetball now has a dedicated fan base, along with its cousin sport, Squash, which tends to have more international appeal and now more appeal in the United States as well. Racquetball shoes share many similarities with Squash shoes and can be worn interchangeably, since the court surfaces for the two sports are the same.
The Brands
There are now many brands that sell racquetball shoes. The top brands on the market are Ektelon, Head, Prince, Asics, K Swiss, New Balance and Dunlop. Racquetball shoes produced by these brands tend to range between $50 to $100. Be careful of cutting corners when purchasing Racquetball shoes, though. Just like Squash, when you purchase a shoe for a racquetball court, it must have a white sole. Non-marking black outsoles are not acceptable! They will scuff the court.
Ektelon OC-1
Ektelon has a hot new shoe out, called the OC-1. It is available in white with gray accents or black with red accents. The shoe looks great. It has a zigzag pattern on the outsole, produced by Goodyear, the tire maker, to provide good grip on the wooden court. Its calling card is a design that incorporates O shaped ports for better ventilation of your feet. This shoe tends to retail for around $89.
Head Super Sonic 1100
Head has long been a producer of equipment for many different racquet sports. They make everything from tennis to squash racquets to grips, playing balls and headbands. Head also makes a decent racquetball shoe. Their outsole is designed with many interlocking X's, which are in place to provide constant points of traction. This innovative outsole design is great for racquetball players who want maximum feel on the court surface. This shoe ranges around $60 in price.
Prince MV4
Just like Head, Prince is a long established company in the racquet sport world and produces anything related to racquet sports that you can think of. The MV4 is a low racquetball shoe, which means that it is lower around the ankle, allowing for more flexibility. More flexibility means an increased ability to pivot and turn directions at a moment's notice. Since quick pivoting is an essential ability of a good racquetball player considering the confined spaces the game is played in, the MV4 is an excellent shoe for the enthusiast. The MV4 is designed for maximum ventilation around the foot so that you do not suffer the effects of sweat on your feet. It has Dri-Lex lining, an Air Mesh tongue to wick away moisture and an antibacterial sock liner.
Asics Gel Volley Elite
Although Asics is known for their lightweight running shoes, they do produce a variety of racquetball shoes. The Gel Volley Elite is their top-of-the-line shoe and goes for about $110. For this price, you get a shoe with some interesting design features, including asymmetrical lacing, wet grip for increased traction, a mesh and synthetic leather upper, and gel cushioning. The wet grip outsole is excellent for keeping traction with the wooden court flooring and preventing falls.
