A Guide to the Best Pickleball Shoes for Women

Did you know some pickleball shoe manufacturers suggest changing your shoes after about sixty hours of play? If that sounds self-serving, you may want to check out this article on the USTA website that supports the theory that you should change tennis shoes after sixty hours of play or at least once a year. With the increasing popularity of pickleball and rising instances of player injuries, it is a notion worth considering.

The right gear is crucial to perform well and prevent injuries on the pickleball court. According to recent stats, 40% of the pickleball players in America are women. While most focus on their paddle and attire, players often overlook the right pair of pickleball shoes. Before looking at the top pickleball shoes for women, you must understand the factors to consider when buying a pair.

If you are interested in women’s pickleball clothes, check out the post, New in Women’s Pickleball Apparel: From Affordable to Designer Ware.

Do you need dedicated pickleball shoes?

The simple answer is no.

However, Indoor and outdoor courts have different characteristics, and your shoes must adapt accordingly. Indoor court shoes like squash and badminton shoes typically have non-marking soles to protect the wooden court surface. On the other hand, outdoor court shoes have more durable outsoles to withstand rougher terrain. A good pair of non-marking tennis shoes can work well for outdoor and indoor play. Gum-soled indoor shoes tend to wear out quickly on abrasive court surfaces. If your budget permits, owning one for indoor wooden courts and another for outdoors, is not a bad idea.

So, why consider dedicated pickleball shoes?

Whether you are shopping for pickleball shoes for women or men, proper fit and support would be the two main reasons to consider a pair of dedicated pickleball shoes. Players have different support needs based on their playing style and foot structure. Ill-fitting shoes can lead to discomfort, jamming of toes, blisters, and ankle injuries. Some movements and footwork are specific to pickleball. Lateral movements for cross-court dinks, require additional support to keep your feet stable. You need ample room and cushioning to absorb impacts to toes and feet as you do stop-and-start moves on the court. Pickleball shoes with reinforced ankle collars and sides can add stability.

Picking the right pickleball shoes

Unless you have the luxury of trying out many different pairs of shoes before purchasing, you have to rely on the feature descriptions provided by the manufacturer. While choosing shoes based on their appearance may be tempting, it’s crucial to prioritize functionality over looks. Investing in high-quality shoes that offer support, durability, and comfort while not breaking the bank is the right approach.

So, here are the top pickleball shoe brands for women you should consider when buying your next pair.

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Skechers

The American footwear company Skechers has become the fourth-largest shoe brand in the United States. From its roots in utility-style boots and men’s street shoes, the company has grown to offer footwear products targeted at the pickleball-playing community. With prominent event sponsorships such as the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Tour and the Pickleball Canada National Championship, Sketchers has become one of the best-recognized dedicated pickleball manufacturers today. Skechers is the official footwear partner of USA Pickleball.

Skechers offers a range of pickleball shoes for women featuring durable, non-marking Goodyear rubber outsoles, Arch Fit technology for support, and soft Ultra Flight cushioning for comfort and speed on the court. The design of these shoes provides maximum movement, reduces fatigue, and offers excellent support and stability, making them a stylish and functional choice for female pickleball players of all levels.

Asics

Asics is a Japanese footwear and sporting goods manufacturer famous for its shoes and apparel. Already popular with tennis and squash players, Asics has jumped into the pickleball fray and launched a series of dedicated pickleball shoes under its GEL series. While Asics tennis shoes would work well for pickleball, you now have a choice if you are a stickler for dedicated pickleball gear.

ASICS offers a variety of women’s pickleball shoes, including the GEL-DEDICATE 8 and GEL-GAME 9 models, designed for performance and comfort with the patented GEL cushioning system, making them ideal for long matches on outdoor hard courts.

Fila

Fila is a South Korean athleisure brand producing sportswear and other equipment. The company was founded in Italy and later acquired by Fila Korea. Fila sells its pickleball shoes under the Volley Zone series. To avoid any confusion with its tennis and lifestyle footwear, Fila has “Pickleball” printed on some of their pickleball shoes.

Fila offers a range of women’s pickleball shoes, such as the Volley Zone and Double Bounce models, featuring herringbone rubber outsoles for added traction, pivot areas for enhanced maneuverability, and energized midsoles for extra cushioning, making them ideal for performance on the court.

K-Swiss

With a formidable presence in the tennis industry, K-Swiss has been around for nearly seventy years. South Korean company E-Land owns the Los Angeles-based K-Swiss. The company has introduced a limited range of dedicated pickleball shoes for both men and women and priced them similarly to their popular tennis shoes.

K-Swiss offers a range of women’s pickleball shoes, including the Express Light model, known for its stability, lightweight design, and breathability, making it a popular choice for female pickleball players seeking comfort and on-court performance.

Wilson

Chinese sporting equipment giant Anta Sports owns Chicago-based Wilson. Wilson is a multi-sport brand that has launched pickleball paddles and shoes. Wilson’s pickleball shoes, marketed under its Rush Pro series, are affordable. Unlike other tennis brands pitching shoes for pickleball, Wilson manufactures a range of footwear models dedicated to pickleball.

Marketed under the Rush Pro model, Wilson pickleball shoes come with a wider toe box, breathable mesh, and cushioned heel-toe drop, offering maximum comfort and support on the court.

Acacia

Acacia is a pickleball shoe brand based in Canada. The company has been manufacturing sporting equipment for over 25 years. Acacia has office locations and distribution centers in the USA and Canada. Two of its popular pickleball shoe models are DinkShot 2.0 and its pro-player signature shoes, Acacia Ultrashot.

Acacia offers a variety of women’s pickleball shoes, including the DinkShot and ProShot models, known for their lightweight design, improved performance, and optimal support for female pickleball players.

Tyrol

Canadian company Tyrol does not pretend to be anything other than a pickleball footwear manufacturer. According to Tyrol’s FAQ page, their shoes come with a wider toe box to account for the start and stop movements required in pickleball. If your tennis shoes are causing sudden jamming of the toes, you may want to look at Tyrol as an alternative. Tyrol pickleball shoes are priced in the mid-tier range.

Tyrol’s women’s pickleball shoes, such as the Smash and Drive V models, are designed to provide enhanced performance, comfort, and support, with specific attention to lateral stability and the option to accommodate custom orthotics, making them a top choice for female pickleball players of all levels.

Li-Ning

The athletic footwear and apparel manufacturer Li-Ning, is a Chinese sports brand that offers a limited range of pickleball shoes. Most of Li-Ning’s pickleball shoes come with non-marking gum rubber soles, making them more suitable for indoor pickleball courts in multi-purpose sports facilities and Community Centres than outdoor courts.

Li-Ning’s women’s indoor pickleball shoes are affordably priced and designed to provide stability and durability for pickleball players. You can find them here.

Selkirk

A family-owned and operated business headquartered in Hayden, Idaho, Selkirk Sport is the first pure-play pickleball manufacturer to launch its line of shoes. Selkirk pickleball shoes are relatively new in the market. The company appears to be positioning its S01 and S02 Pro Court shoe models as unisex. Selkirk pickleball shoes are not actively promoted on their website.

As of the time of writing, only sizes ten and up are available from Selkirk, making it less than ideal for female pickleball players.

Tennis brands in the mix

Many popular tennis shoe brands such as Head, Babolat, Adidas, and Nike have rebranded some of their shoe models as pickleball shoes. While tennis shoes work perfectly well for pickleball, they are not purpose-built for pickleball as the ones covered above. You can check them out on the companies’ websites.

So, there you have the top pickleball shoe brands for women you should know.

I have avoided recommending any specific brands or models of pickleball shoes since only you know what works best for you. Hopefully, this post helps you narrow down your search.

Choose wisely and enjoy your game!