With regard to this theory, anybody who has ever played an indoor game will know how important it is to have good shoe grip. Again, whatever the kind of game you are participating in: basketball, volleyball, badminton, racquet ball or even fencing it is important that the foot remains rooted to the ground for sudden stabs and quick turns. But what would you do when your shoes just failing to give you the required grip and traction?

New comers usually desire to know how to enhance the grip or traction on basketball shoes or other sport shoes. Although ideas like sweeping the bottom of your shoes with your hands or using gel/hairspray can help, they are not long lasting. In this guide, you will learn everything that you need to learn about how to enhance grip or traction on basketball shoes, as well as the things that you need to avoid to to keep your basketball shoes grippy for as long as possible.

First, Why Are Your Basketball Shoes Losing Their Grip?

In your basketball sessions you might have figured out that your basketball shoes are not providing the traction they used to. This can be as a result of the friction, dirt and debris, the intensity of movements, or the type of floor used in the court. We can arrange these factors into three classes that might make your basketball shoes more slippery as time passes.

The first type is persuasive and shoe-stressing factors that negatively affect the external layer of the outsole. This is so when the upper component of your shoes are exposed to constant rubbing on rough court surfaces or while players perform some vigorous movements. The second category is discussed in a poor cleaning, and lack of maintenance in the general environment. This is due to the interaction of dirt, debris and bacteria, moisture, and even humidity on the surface as leading to a slippery shoe. The third category is made up of other, such as normal aging or various forms of material degeneration of the outsole of the shoe.

When you find out that your basketball shoes are slippery, then know the causes so as to correct them and make them have better traction. Regularity in cleaning and maintenance, choosing a suitable type of shoe for the court and replacement of worn out shoes can result in improved gripping ability of your shoe and you don’t slip and fall on the court.

How to Increase Grip or Traction on Basketball Shoes?

In the Game: What NOT to do!

Here are some activities you should ensure you do not undertake in order to enhance the grip or traction of the basketball shoes during play: You are warned against wiping your shoes with your hands or using a grip gel lotion hair spray or hand sanitizer on your soles. All of these methods only work in the short term and have no positive impact in the long run.

Rubbing the sole of a shoe with hands is known by basketball players to improve the overall grip and traction on the basketball floor. But this is not advised because of its several dangers such as skin irritation and dryness, prone to slipping and falling. It is also unwise to use a towel because the rubber soles can become slippery or some parts of the shoes remain dirty.

Some beloved remedies also include wearing a grip gel/lotion on the soles of the shoes as another means of making the shoe grip the court better. However, this solution also is not effective and practical. It takes some time to dry and it is temporary remedy which draws dust hence it becomes a menace since the shoes become hard-packed dirt, making the soles slippery. Applying hand sanitizers or hairspray on basketball shoes is however prohibited since they make the outsoles slippery rather than grippy, they have ingredients that are ideally meant for shoe materials, and offer a temporary grip that fades away rapidly.

WHAT TO DO INSTEAD: Get a Traction Mat!

Seasoned players are aware of how crucial it can be to remain upright during a game; consequently, they acquire a traction mat. A traction mat, sometimes referred to as a traction board or sticky mat, is a disposable adhesive sheet applied to a firm surface. Whenever during the game your shoes are not as sticky as they were in the beginnng you just jump on a traction mat and off. The sticky material will grab all the grease on the sole of your shoes then make them grip the floor within a very short time. When the upper layer appears to be dirty you just have to peel it off to obtain a clean adhesive layer for your traction mat.

Besides this, it comes with several sheets of these mats ranging from 30 sheets, 60sheets, or even 75 sheets. Additionally, these mats are constructed from strong materials such as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Terpolymer to provide shock absorption to the extent you can stomp on them with your feet during a game fearlessly. As a comparison with hairspray/ hand sanitizer / wiping bottoms of shoes during a game – these are miles better than any of those solutions. You don’t need to do them again and again every few minutes which could be irritating at times. However, the sturdy materials of the mats offer suitable friction and you do not feel you are slipping off the court as you exercise.

Or, Get a Grip Spritz Spray!

For individuals that would prefer not to clean the adhesive mess on the outsole after each game or simply do not like their shoes to be sticky, we have another option for you! Grip Spritz is a spray product whose use will make your basketball shoes have a better grip on the basketball court. You don’t have to use it repeatedly, and it doesn’t have the sticky film on the exterior. This means, it performs this cleaning and refreshing of the rubber soles of your shoe with out having to leave a mess at the end.

In fact, even when you own a pair of shoes that have become old, Grip Spritz can help clean the soles without affecting the material on the same. It doesn’t contain alcohol or any other harsh chemical that might dry the outsole (as is seen in the case of hair spray/hair sanitizer). The other accessory that comes with it is a cotton towel that you can use to dry your shoes or you can use it as a pouch for the Spritz Mitt. It can be applied by spraying it directly on the outsole of your shoes and then wiping it with the cloth while you prepare to play the game.

After the Game: Clean and Maintain Your Shoes Properly!

Once you are done with the game, you should clean your shoes properly and store them in a cool, dry place until the next use. This is how you can easily clean your basketball shoes to increase their grippiness after a game:

1. Get a soft brush or toothbrush, mild soap, and warm water.
2. Remove the laces and insoles from your shoes.
3. Dip the brush in the soapy water and gently scrub the outsoles of the shoes.
4. Rinse the shoes with warm water and dry them with a clean towel.
5. Stuff the shoes with newspaper or a shoe tree to help them maintain their shape while drying.
6. Once the shoes are dry, put the insoles and laces back in and store them in a cool, dry place.

Final Words

And finally, it is evident that you need to take some measures to make your basketball shoes last longer. Do not put gel, hairspray or hand sanitizer in the shoes as they will cause deterioration to the shoes in the long run. Also, another common practice is the use of a wet towel or sweat to clean the shoes, this is also discouraged. However, one should actually buy a traction mat or a Grip Spritz spray that will increase the traction of one’s shoes. Both are acceptable, take the one that pleases your conscience with the financial ability you have at your disposal. The above tips may help you in as much as; it will help you keep your basketball shoes as fit as possible for use in the court.