The Best Shoes for Pickleball (and Why Running Shoes Get You Hurt)

If you take one piece of gear advice before your first lesson, make it this one: don't play pickleball in running shoes. It's the single most common mistake we see, and it's behind a lot of preventable rolled ankles and sore knees. Here's why, and how to pick the right pair.

Why running shoes are the wrong choice

Running shoes are built for one thing: moving forward in a straight line, with a tall, cushioned heel that pushes you along. Pickleball is the opposite — constant side-to-side movement, quick stops, and pivots at the kitchen line. That raised, soft heel becomes a liability the moment you plant and change direction, rolling your ankle outward. Court shoes sit lower and wider for exactly this reason: lateral stability.

What to look for in a court shoe

• Lateral support — a low-to-the-ground, stable base that resists rolling when you push off sideways.
• A non-marking gum or herringbone outsole designed for court grip, not road tread.
• A reinforced toe — all those split-step stops chew through soft running uppers fast.
• A snug, locked-in midfoot so your foot doesn't slide inside the shoe on quick cuts.

Indoor vs outdoor soles

The surface changes what you want underfoot. Indoor court shoes (think volleyball or squash shoes) use a softer gum sole for grip on gym floors. Outdoor play on asphalt or concrete needs a harder, more durable outsole — an outdoor tennis or pickleball shoe — because a soft indoor sole wears out in weeks outside. Dedicated tennis and pickleball shoes work well for both; a true indoor shoe should stay indoors.

You don't need to spend a fortune — any proper tennis, squash, or pickleball court shoe will protect you far better than the priciest running shoe.

Do you need pickleball-specific shoes?

Not necessarily. Pickleball-specific shoes exist and are excellent, but a good tennis shoe does the same job — the movement patterns are nearly identical. If you already own court shoes for another racquet sport, you're set. If you're buying fresh, tennis or pickleball shoes are the safe pick, and matching indoor vs outdoor to where you play in Vaughan will make them last.

Good footwork is the other half of staying injury-free — the right shoes only help if you're moving well. We build safe, efficient movement into every session, from the beginner Learn-to-Play program to private lessons. Get the shoes right, and we'll handle the footwork.