The soles of the padel shoes are the connection between the player and the carpet. They stabilize the player, facilitate their movement and maintain their grip. The lower part of the shoe is one of the fundamental criteria before buying sports shoes. Multiple reasons justify it, but injury prevention takes the cake.
On other occasions, in Padel ProShop, we have addressed the criteria for selecting the correct footwear to play Padel, today we will focus on what we have considered the central element of a shoe: the sole.
What is the sole of a Padel shoe like?
All Padel shoes have three forms: the mixed sole, the herringbone sole or the omni sole. The morphology of the sole allows each one of them to be categorized, although the truth is that their distinctive feature is found in the grip.
On the other hand, the floor is another essential factor before choosing footwear. If the player is used to practicing Padel on cement courts, the priorities will be different than if he does it on courts with excessive sand.
Types of soles of Padel shoes
The needs of each player will dictate the most suitable padel shoe sole for him. According to the adaptation to each terrain and player, the mixed, herringbone or omni sole will be one of the chosen ones.
Omni sole padel shoes
It is enough to take a simple look at an omni sole to recognize it instantly. Its distribution of points is unmistakable.
The shape of its sole gives the player an almost perfect grip. This is one of the main criteria why many Padel players opt for shoes with an omni sole. However, its grip capacity does not respond the same on all terrains.
On cement courts, shoes with an omni sole are not recommended. On hard terrain, the abrasion is much greater, thus accelerating the change of footwear.
One of the best-known models with an omni sole is the one used by Juan Lebron. The Babolat Jet Premura shoe , with which "the wolf" has played all these years, contains omni soles on its exterior.
Padel shoes with herringbone sole or clay sole
The herringbone sole or clay sole is another of the most popular in Padel. It inherits its popularity from Padel, a sport in which the herringbone sole is the most common. The clay sole is easily identifiable thanks to its zig-zag lines.
These types of soles allow the player to move and slide without stopping the movement in its tracks. In this way, the herringbone sole makes it easier to reach balls that are a little further away through the slide while maintaining adherence to the court.
Another advantage of this type of padel shoe soles is their durability. Lack of relief favors that its wear is inferior to the rest of the soles. However, the depth of the parallel lines of the sole determines the duration of the shoes.
Finally, its resistance to abrasion makes it one of the favorite options for advanced players. It adapts to any type of terrain and has a strong grip. Although, as the corrugations wear down, the grip also decreases.
Some of the brands that opt for the herringbone sole are Adidas or Asics . GameCourt, Adizero Ubersonic, Gel-Padel or Barricade hide the spike format on their sole.
Mixed sole padel shoes
Padel shoes with a mixed sole collect the best of each type of sole. The mixed models are built with a herringbone-shaped sole on the outside and with an omni shape on the inside of the shoe.
Versatility is the star feature of the hybrid sole. Having two types of sole in a single shoe improves the ability to adapt to any type of terrain. Adherence, durability or resistance come together in a single sole.
What is the best sole for Padel shoes?
racket and shoes, two very personal choices. Weight, terrain, comfort, level or frequency of play interfere in the decision.
When choosing a type of padel shoe sole, adherence must be one of the priority criteria. Based on this rule, if you are looking for a sole that adheres to the grass, the best option will be the omni sole. On the other hand, if you want a shoe that makes it possible to slide without losing grip, the herringbone sole is the candidate. And if you are looking for a hybrid model that responds adequately to all kinds of solutions, turn to the mixed sole and its great adaptability.
