What Are Non-marking Shoes?

I don’t know about you, but when I first started playing Badminton and walked into a badminton court, I first noticed the sound that the players’ shoes were making.  I was wearing my normal sports shoes, and no matter how hard I rubbed them, they never used to make the squeaky sound that badminton shoes make. I tried to step into the court, and I was denied entry under the pretext of not wearing “Non-Marking Badminton shoes”

For most first-timers just starting out on the side of a  Badminton court, the term “Non-marking Badminton shoes” sounds absolutely weird and “out of the dictionary” new. A few of my regular badminton-playing friends had mentioned that you are allowed on the court only if you have “badminton shoes”. Well, I wasn’t expecting the rules to be so strict. 

Thus, if you plan to visit a badminton court (courts with synthetic turfs or wooden courts), read this article completely. It will help you avoid the court’s entry denials and learn which non-marking shoes would work best for you. Remember, just like most gyms, most badminton courts would want you to carry those shoes to the court and wear them only while you are playing.

Why do you need Non-Marking Shoes for Badminton?

Just like every average Indian kid, I grew up watching cricket. One of the things that used to fascinate me was the spikes at the bottom of the cricketer’s shoe. As a kid, I did not understand the importance of those spikes, but I considered it a sign of professionalism. In my mind, any player needs to have shoes with spikes if he wishes to be serious about his game.

On some basic research, I understood that there could be wet surfaces, greener grass, and chances when you have to stop and wait for the catch to come to you. Spike shoes help you get a greater and firmer grip while running on wet surfaces. 

On the other hand, wearing regular shoes/shoes with spikes on the Badminton courts will leave marks since much pressure and movement is experienced there. Ultimately, this will result in scratches or shoe marks on the surface, which damages the turf and spoils the game. In order to tackle this, the venues recommend wearing shoes with non-marking soles.

Badminton non-marking shoes are shoes with flat and comparatively soft soles, with no cleats or spikes and minimal texture. This ensures that you are not leaving any marks or scuffs on the surface of the play. 

But as a player, you would always ask, if the soles are made of plastic, or not so hard material, won’t I fall on the court? The soles are soft; what if I injure myself while jumping? Can these shoes help me avoid those injuries? 

The answer is YES.

So these flat, soft soles are made of non-marking gum rubber. This rubber quickly sticks to the flat surface it is getting underneath. The rubber helps you have a firm grip, maximum friction with a synthetic court and a smooth riding experience. The friction creates those squeaky sounds when a player drifts and changes position rapidly. Because the rubber has set up a firm grip on the synthetic surface, it reduces your chances of slipping, falling and twisting an ankle. 

Thus these non-marking badminton shoes are great for both the courts and the players.

How to figure out if a shoe has Non-Marking soles?

There are two ways to identify whether your shoe is a badminton non-marking shoe:

1) Flip your shoe and use your fingernail to press the sole. If the sole is dented, soft and won’t cause any marks, then your pair is most likely non-marking shoes.

2) Place a piece of white paper on the floor. Try rubbing the shoe sole on the paper. Check the paper for scuff marks. If there are no marks on the paper, then your shoes are badminton non-marking shoes.

What other things should you check when you are buying non-marking badminton shoes?

1. Cushioning – Badminton is a game of jumps. You need shoes that can absorb the shock of jumping and landing on the surface. A good cushioned pair of shoes can help avoid shocks passed to your knees, ankles or other body joints. Cushioning is a vital parameter when trying to select your pair of “badminton non-marking shoes”. (P.S. Did you know that shoes lose their cushioning capabilities if bought and unused? Cushioning undergoes a lot of wear and tear on its own. So if you are not wearing your cushioned badminton shoes, they might still lose the cushioning)
2. Ventilation – You will run a lot, venting out a lot of body heat. You wouldn’t want your shoes to trap that heat, sweat and become stinky. Hence, always ensure that your badminton non-marking shoes are breathable.
3. Heel cap – This is a good-to-have feature. You would be experiencing many twists and turns while playing badminton. These twists and turns put some stress on the joints within your feet. The heel cap provides support by absorbing the shock which would have otherwise passed to other joints. The most luxurious badminton non-marking shoes also have a carbon plate to stabilise you when you land after a jump.

Where can you find them online?

Non-marking shoes are available in Decathlon Sports – The Biggest sports retailer in the country, Amazon India, Flipkart & Snapdeal.

Badminton non-marking shoes have become a necessity today. Not only Badminton but most sports with a synthetic playing surface also recommend using non-marking shoes so that your footwork is intact and does not result in immediate damage.

With the evolution of the recent trends in sports, the equipment used has also come a long way. Non-marking shoes are used on dance floors and in gymnasiums.

Best Non-marking Shoes for Badminton:

Badminton shoes are available in various colours, brands and over a wide price range. If you are a beginner who has recently started playing badminton, it is not necessary that you need to buy an expensive pair.

If you are looking for cheap badminton shoes, you must check out this list:

1. Best for speed and agility – These are the list of non-marking badminton shoes that will help you be agile.
   1. Li-Ning ultra speed non-marking badminton shoes
   2. CW’s men’s Firefly speed non-marking badminton shoes
2. Best for stability and support
   1. Yonex Eclipsion Z3 non-marking badminton shoes
   2. Victor P9200 Hang A non-marking badminton shoes
3. For all-round performance
   1. LiNing yun ting YT-01 non-marking badminton shoes

You can also get a detailed review about all the best non-marking badminton shoes you can buy online in our blog: 6 Budget Non-Marking Shoes That You Can Get Online

These shoes are not priced more than 1500 bucks and totally fit your budget.

For the best shoes for beginners, check out: 5 Must-Own Shoes For Beginners

While beginners will be comfortable with budget shoes, the intermediates and the experts might need much more. Since they have been playing the sport for quite a long, it is more appropriate to find marginally expensive shoes with greater longevity. Yonex, Li-Ning shoes are absolutely professional and also expensive on that note.

But if you are looking to take up badminton professionally and you are looking for shoes that will stay with you for a longer time, then here’s the best bet for you: 5 Shoes For The Intermediates Of Badminton

The e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart have a pool of these non-marking badminton shoes. And the best part of these sites is that they offer the shoes at a huge discount as compared to the retail prices. 

It is all about having the right racket and the right shoes. Sometimes, they can influence your game on the whole and change the way you play the sport. So make sure you try on a few non-marking shoes before you settle for one, as this might greatly impact your footwork and help you become better at badminton.

Conclusion:

If you are looking at some serious game of Badminton, investing in non-marking shoes is advisable. Good shoes not only cushion your feet, but also protect the courts. A win-win situation, isn’t it? Check out our blog section to learn more about Badminton and its requirements.