Badminton and running are two of the most popular cardio activities for burning fat and staying comfortably fit. Both involve sprinting, jogging, jumping, and fast changes of direction.
However, there are crucial differences between these sports that will impact your performance as well as your safety.
For example, when started playing badminton you need to be light on your feet so you don’t break the floor tile or smash a window with the racket; you cannot run in badminton shoes because they would get ruined very quickly, and you definitely cannot wear running shoes when playing badminton because they would slide all over the court (unless you have super glue on your soles).
Now, I’ll explain why one type of shoe is better suited to each sport than another.
What is the best shoe for badminton?
Badminton is a game played on a rectangular court with a net in the middle, usually indoors. Best Badminton shoes are specifically designed for such a court and are usually the lightest possible footwear that is still safe to play in.
Good Pairs of Badminton shoes are usually either made from synthetic materials (e.g. nylon) or real leather. Badminton shoes have very soft soles and are often low-cut or completely open.
Why are badminton shoes low-cut? Since you have to run to different parts of the court often, having high-cut shoes might lead to getting your ankles caught in the top part of the shoe.
Since the standards of the badminton game are different in different parts of the world, badminton shoes may also be low-cut or high-cut depending on where they’re made. indoor shoes have open backs to allow the foot to breathe.
You may have seen players lifting their legs really high when they jump to hit the shuttlecock. This is almost always because the soles of their shoes have filled with sweat and become heavy.
Badminton shoes are usually white in color to avoid being mistaken for the shuttlecock (i.e. the yellow ball).
What is the best shoe for running?
Running shoes are designed to have a wide and stable base, and to make it easy to transition from one foot to the next.
The soles of running shoes are hard and made of a very dense material that provides enough friction to keep you moving forward, but is sturdy enough to protect you from slipping.
Running shoes are usually made from synthetic materials. Some are lightweight and breathable, whereas others are extremely heavy and stiff.
The sole of a running shoe is usually made from a dense, sticky rubber compound. This rubber is strong enough to protect your feet from the impact of running, but also has enough elasticity to bend as your foot hits the ground.
Running shoe soles are designed to stay flat, whereas badminton shoes are designed to flex. Running shoes are usually high-cut, to protect your ankles from any potential injuries.
Most running shoes also have an orthotic device to stabilize the arch of your foot.
Running shoes for badminton
Badminton is a high-intensity sport requiring many movements and athletic feats.
You have to run fast, jump high to smash the shuttlecock, and stop suddenly to avoid smashing into the net.
Running shoes come with very stiff soles that will make it hard to move quickly, jump high, and stop suddenly.
Badminton shoes should be flexible and light enough to allow you to move freely, yet strong enough to protect your feet from getting hurt.
Badminton shoes are often made of synthetic materials that are light, flexible, and strong enough to protect your feet from getting hurt.
However, it is important to make sure that your badminton shoes have a durable rubber sole that will not get hurt when you are smashing the shuttlecock.
Badminton shoes for running
Badminton shoes are usually made of synthetic materials and often look like running shoes, but with a thicker and more durable soles.
Badminton shoes usually have reinforced soles that are more protective than running shoes. Badminton shoes are often made from high-quality materials like leather, synthetic leather, or mesh.
They also often come with a waterproof coating on the upper part to protect the shoe from getting wet when playing on a badminton court that is humid or rainy.
Badminton shoes are often made with a single-layer or a double-layer of leather, or a synthetic material that has a similar appearance to the leather.
The sole of badminton shoes is usually made with a synthetic material that is durable enough to protect your feet from the shuttlecock.
Similarities Of Badminton Shoes & Running Shoes
Differences between badminton shoes and running shoes
It is clear from the above that badminton shoes and running shoes are designed for different sports.
The two types of shoes have different goals, different materials, and even different colors (running shoes are usually black, while badminton shoes are white).
Badminton shoes have very flexible soles to let you move quickly, jump high, and stop suddenly, while running shoes have very stiff soles to provide enough friction so you can move forward.
Badminton shoes have open backs to let your feet breathe, while running shoes have closed backs to protect your ankles and lower leg muscles.
Badminton shoes are white because they are the same color as the shuttlecock while running shoes are black so they don’t get dirty as easily.
Soles
The sole of a shoe is the part that comes in contact with the ground when you walk or run.
Badminton shoes and running shoes both have thick and durable rubber soles that are durable enough to protect your feet from the shuttlecock and heavy enough to provide enough friction so you don’t slip.
Badminton soles are usually flexible enough to let you quickly jump high and smash the shuttlecock, but strong enough to protect your feet from getting hurt by the shuttlecock when it hits the floor.
Badminton shoes often have an SBR rubber sole with an EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) midsole to protect your feet and provide enough cushioning.
Flexibility
Badminton shoes are designed to be as flexible as possible. The soles should be soft enough to let you move quickly, jump high, and stop suddenly.
They should also be strong enough to protect your feet from the impact of smashing the shuttlecock.
Badminton shoes are usually made of synthetic materials that are flexible and durable enough to protect your feet from the shuttlecock, but soft enough to let you move quickly and jump high.
Wearing running shoes when playing badminton will make you less flexible. Running shoes are designed to provide enough support and stability, so they are usually very stiff and inflexible.
Center of Gravity The center
Have you ever noticed that your running shoes make you taller? Running shoes have tall soles, especially at the heels.
When it comes to badminton shoes, this isn’t the case. The soles of these shoes are usually flat and do not have a high heel. The purpose of this is to give badminton players a lower center of gravity, so they can balance more quickly.
Having a low center of gravity does not matter much when running shoes are used since you are only moving in one direction. This requires less balance and more cushioning.
Can I Wear Them Interchangeably?
Badminton and running are two very different sports that require different skills and types of footwear.
While it is possible to play badminton in running shoes or vice versa, you will be at a significant disadvantage compared to those who are wearing the proper shoes.
Badminton shoes and running shoes have different materials, different designs, and different purposes.
By wearing the wrong type of shoe for your sport, you will be putting a lot of stress on your feet and much more likely to get injured.
Badminton shoes are designed for quick and sudden movements. Running is a slow and continuous movement.
Badminton shoes have flexible soles with a fragile layer of cushioning designed to protect your feet from getting hurt when smashing the shuttlecock, while running shoes have dense and thick soles that provide enough cushioning and stability.
Badminton shoes are designed for a high-intensity sport, whereas running is a low-intensity exercise.
FAQS
Can running shoes be used for badminton?
No, running shoes are not suitable for badminton. However, if you are a badminton player and need to replace your old shoes, you can use rubber or synthetic soles instead of the traditional leather ones. For example: If you’re playing badminton with your friend’s son, he has new rubber shoes that look really nice. You can use those instead of the old ones.
What is the difference between normal shoes and badminton shoes?
Normal shoes are those shoes that you wear every day. They are made of leather and have a heel, toe and forefoot that are all the same. They are comfortable and can be worn for long periods of time without getting hot or sweaty.
Badminton shoes are shoes that you wear every single match of a badminton tournament. The sole of the shoe is covered in hard rubber so they don’t slip or move during play. They also have a heel, toe and forefoot which are all the same as normal shoes but with different textures so they stay on your foot better over longer periods of time.
Normal shoes last for years while badminton shoes last only weeks or even days!
Do running shoes actually make a difference?
If you’re running errands or doing yard work, then it’s probably not a good idea to wear running shoes with them. Running shoes can help you move more easily, but they definitely don’t make a difference in terms of running.
