Are Basketball Shoes Zero Drop? The Ultimate Guide
Have you ever experienced wearing a very low shoe to the ground with only a single foam layer that acts as a barrier between you and the floor? That’s what we call a zero-drop shoe.
Zero drop shoe term is used alternatively with barefoot or minimum shoes. Zero-drop shoes boost the natural movement of the muscle and ligaments of your feet.
Are Basketball Shoes Zero Drop?
Are basketball shoes Zero drop? No. Professional basketball shoes are not Zero drops and are minimalistic. If there’s any basketball shoe that claims to be zero drops, I am afraid the qualities of a basketball shoe will be at odd in that shoe. Basketball shoes have special features like traction, cushion, support, and great fit. But Even the best fitting zero drop shoe would not be able to save you from slipping on the clean and slippery hardwood surface.
Zero-drop shoes are well known for their minimal cushion that can give you excellent speed in one direction. They are relatively less comfortable but make it super easy to make short sprints with their lightweight design and low-to-the-ground feel.
With that said, basketball shoes are on the bulkier side. They are made of heavier cushions with high-quality support for multidirectional movements.
Are Zero Shoes Safe for Basketball
A basketball player’s feet are the most important tool, and basketball shoes are the only gear a ball game player needs.
Basketball is a game where you change your direction every 2 seconds of the game according to a rough estimation.
Therefore they need profound support on the ankle while going full speed across hard outdoor concrete surfaces or indoor hardwood floors.
Zero-drop shoes cannot compensate for all those qualities. Barefoot shoes are just enough to save your feet from a hard surface. They are extremely grounded.
You can like those shoes for all that you want. But these are not safe for a basketball player.
Moreover, a player has to make all the jumps to shoot the ball in the hoop and protect their position on defense low on the court. For that, they need a perfect shock-absorbent cushion. That keeps them safe on high jumps.
Which they can’t find in zero-drop shoes. Additionally, they lack a solid grip over the player’s pivoting moves and stops.
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Why Zero Drop Shoes are Not Good for Basketball?
Basketball shoes are one of the most tech-packed shoes. Players are the most demanding athletes in terms of their footwear.
They choose their shoe carefully that serve their need rightly with supportive material, low to the ground yet lightweight and bouncy cushion, and traction that bites the floor. A zero-drop minimalistic shoe cannot take its place for the following reasons.
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Does Not Offer Support and Stability:
Zero-drop shoe designs use minimum material on the upper and sides. Anyone who plays basketball must know how essential it is to have lateral stability and lateral containment in the shoe.
In minimalistic shoes, there is no extra material on the sides to make them stable and durable for plenty of side-to-side moves on the court.
Moreover, the midfoot area lacks any shank plate. Thus you will get a smooth surface to speed up your steps on the court. The back area is not beefy and plush to protect the ankle bone. It’s where most athletes get hurt when landing wrong on the court. All these lacking make the zero drop shoe a big no-no for the ball game.
Dead Cushions:
Zero-drop shoes promote your natural foot mechanism. It is said that if your sprint and jump in a thick cushion, your brain would get the message that the cushion won’t let your feet hurt. At the same time, your knee and foot bone get the same damage as with minimalistic shoes.
So you would be more careful when you jump in a zero-drop shoe.
The above discussion would apply to a scenario when someone plays basketball once after months. Regular basketball players need great impact protection because he jumps a lot on the basketball court. He will most likely hurt his bone if he regularly wears zero-drop shoes with the dead cushion.
No Grip to The Floor:
Barefoot shoes give very minimal grip on the floor. These need to be better to bite on the hardwood surfaces on a basketball court. A zero-traction shoe is only going to give you injuries sooner than later. So avoid such shoes as much as you can.
Who Should not Wear Zero Drop Shoe/ Minimalist Shoes
Basketball would top my list of games where players should not wear zero-drop minimalistic shoes.
Other than that, please get a proper running shoe if you are a trail runner. That will keep you fit for a longer period.
The benefit of Zero Drop Shoe
One thing you will feel right off the bat when you get a minimalistic shoe is the breathability and lightweight dress.
Zero-drop shoes stimulate our muscles, bones, and tendons and promote their natural mechanism. They don’t have any artificial support. These are very popular among hikers and barefoot runners right now.
Examples of Zero Drop Basketball Shoes
Many famous brands are making barefoot shoe lines. Right now, Nike has introduced its Free 5.0 shoe, which is fifth in line with minimalistic shoes. It is designed to give you an exceptional experience of a natural ride. The shoe design and features promote your most natural footwork while you run or walk.
Injuries Caused by Zero Drop Shoes
These are the common injuries caused by zero-drop shoes.
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Stress Fracture
- Shin splints
- Achilles Tendonitis
Zero-drop shoes have been proven efficient for many athletes. But you can switch to them overnight. Before running in them, you must learn to run in a new way.
According to an expert, this transition takes three to six months, explaining it in a way that is like you are going to learn a new way to run.
Zero-drop shoes affect the floor, hip, and back mechanism. Many experts claim that this shoe promotes natural foot mechanisms and improves an athlete’s long-term fitness. However, these discussions are not backed by research.
If an athlete is learning this new way to run, they should consider shortening their stride before changing their gait.
Conclusion
Zero drops, minimalistic, or barefoot shoes are great for people who believe that their running style could be more efficient in this kind of shoe.
However, basketball players need the most demanding pair of sneakers, which can stand the pressure of multi-direction complex movement and protect the player’s muscles and bones on hard sprints. Which zero drop shoe cant do. Therefore, barefoot shoes are not zero-drop shoes.
