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Xiao Hu
WRIT 340
Professor Ramsey
Basketball Shoe Technology: The Soul of Mobility and Comfort
With the popularity of Basketball expoentally increasing, so too has the the demand for
basketball shoes. The original athletic and player driven demand for a shoe designed
with optimal functionality regarding athletic performance has transcended athleticism
and entered pop culture through the demand of a shoe designs with optimal functionality
regarding comfort and accessibility. Thus despite their original intention, basketball
shoes have obtained two major designs for optimal functionality and have become a
staple for the athlete as well as the average American all while maintain specifically
engineered technology within the shoes’ specific design; whether for athleticism or
everyday comfort wear. This technology is often forgotten yet the engineering design of
the basketball shoe relies on its chosen optimal function: athlete or average person.
When designing the shoe, engineers desire to reach “optimal functionality”: the key to
any design’s current marketability. Marketability: 1. To provide maximum comfort
through utilizing a breathable and lightweight material.
2.
To prevent injury through
creating added support. Optimal Functionality: Athletics In order to increase an
athlete’s performance level, his probability of obtaining injuries must to be decreased.
Thus engineers design a show through critical analysis of the athlete’s foot structure and
kinesiology. The chosen design would feature an added support structure. Optimal
functionality is achieved through technological advancements in research and design all
while maintaining maximum comfort for the athletes. When dissected, every basketball
shoe has three essential components: the upper, the midsole and the outsole. The design
of basketball shoes relies on each specific to the athletes’ competitive and comfort needs.
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Thus, in order to design the perfect fit for optimal function, every element of structure
needs to be assessed through research of physical structure and athletic capabilities of
each individual athlete.
Introduction:
Considering the significance of shoes upon generations, referring to basketball
shoes simply as “gym sneakers” is a great understatement. The evolution of basketball
shoes has become a huge part of American pop-culture and has started a fashion style all
its own for the world’s stage. The design and style of basketball shoes range from the
one-size-fits-all design of the “Chuck Taylor” All-Stars, to the buzzing cultural
excitement of the Air Jordans. The origin of basketball shoes began almost a hundred
years ago, in 1917, when Converse released the “All-Star” style. As the first of its kind,
Converse enjoyed being the prominent shoe in the basketball shoe world until 1982 when
Nike introduced their new technology of the “air sole” in Nike’s “Air Force 1” [1].
Figure 1: (left) Original “Chuck Taylor” Converse All-Star 1917, (right) Nike Air Force 1982,
converse.com
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Continuing the evolution of engineering, the 1980s featured much technological
advancements for basketball shoes and their design. This started a renaissance of
engineering designs among the entirety of all shoe companies. In order to catch up with
Nike, Adidas and Reebok created their own air technology. In 1986, Adidas released the
“Adidas Attitude”. Mirroring Nike and Adidas rapid rate of engineering design, Reebok
released the “Pump” in 1989 [2]. Today, the basketball shoe business has become a
multi-billion dollar industry. In order to gain a competitive edge in the market, shoe
companies cater to “customer satisfaction” by attempting to satisfy the needs of
customers through searching for the design best for optimal performance. This desire for
“customer satisfaction” has resulted in a highly competitive industry where new
technology is constantly being innovated [3].
Breaking Down the Shoe
As a high energy sports game, the activity of playing basketball results in players
having spontaneous stress and pressure placed on their feet, ankles and knees. Bodily
stress and pressure are directly correlated to the kinesiology of the athlete while involved
in the movements of cutting, sprinting, jumping, landing and jarring stop and go motions.
With the intention of delivering optimal performance for athletes, the design of basketball
shoes was altered in order to best absorb the contact created with the athlete’s sudden
stops coupled with quick accelerations and decelerations. For these reasons, a basketball
shoe’s design must be constructed with the combined features of support, cushioning (in
order to absorb shock), flexibility, and stability [4]. Like other athletic shoes, basketball
shoes are made up of three primary parts: the upper, the midsole, and the outsole shown
in Figure 2.
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Figure 2: three main parts of a basketball shoes, store.nike.com
Fulfilling its design intention, the “upper” keeps the inserted foot locked in its
optimal place. With his foot stable and locked to the bottom of his shoe an athlete
experiences a type of “snug-fit” sneaker. The design resulting in a “snug-fit” shoe was
engineered in order to maintain foot stability during moments of a sudden change in
direction. When the foot is sliding, valuable seconds are lost, which consequently
decreases the responsiveness of the player [5]. Thus this “snug-fit” design results in
decreasing the foot slippage while inside the shoe and causing an increase in athletic
performance level as well as athlete safety. The design of the “upper” has the ability to
change and adapt to every foot, thus the marketability of basketball shoes with the
addition of the “upper” increased dramatically. The fit of the “upper” (how tight or how
loose the shoe fits) is directly controlled by the design of the shoelace system. The
firmness of the shoelace system controls how tight the “upper” is and subsequently is
constantly able to be adjusted in order to reach optimal functionality and secure the
athlete’s foot. Loose-fitting shoes often cause blisters, due to the constant rubbing action
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created when a loose “upper” causes the foot to slip and slide against the shoe insert. If
left unadjusted, gruesome injury could occur if foot were to strike the floor with
excessive force and pressure, thus leading to a stunt in athletic performance due to the
athlete obtaining a injury to the ankle, Achilles tendon or knee; the most common being a
sprained ankle. The loose fitting upper and the athlete’s adjustment of “upper” fit, per the
“tightness’ or “looseness” of the shoelace system, are dependent on injury prevention and
athletic performance levels. Generally speaking, the tighter the fit, the more likely the
athlete will be in refraining form injury. The design addition of an “upper” strap helps
further protect the ankle by securing the “upper” by both the shoelace system and the
strap, thus having two methods of obtaining design intention. Two different design styles
of a shoe’s “upper” include high cuts and low cuts. High cut “uppers” offer the athlete
with the greatest degree of support for the prevention of ankle injury. Whereas low cut
“uppers” offer more flexibility and turning capabilities for the athlete when in
competition [4].
The midsole of the basketball shoe was engineered in order to provide foot
stability and comfort to athlete with an advanced cushion. The addition of the cushion
aids the foot in its absorption of the shocks created while running and jumping; the
shocks created when the foot strikes the ground. A player has better ability to “explode”,
to move from low to high energy, with an increase in the stiffness of the midsole. The
material used to create the midsole affects the stiffness-desired in order to obtain optimal
athletic performance. However, a stiff midsole comes with a price- the stiffer the midsole
the less cushioning for the foot. Optimizing the ratio of the stiffness and amount of
cushion has been an essential part of designing the perfect basketball shoe. Research over
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the past 25 years has resulted in the testing of a great deal of materials. Various
compounds, including EVA (a synthetic rubber-like compound), air, gel, and different
combinations of synthetics, have been tested and utilized to the design technology of
basketball shoes [4].
The outsole, the bottom of the shoe, was designed in order to make direct contact
with the ground. The outsole helps protect foot from the shock of striking the ground and
helps eliminates foot slippage while exploding from the ground into movement. Per its
design intention, the outsole is usually patterned with wedges. These wedges are used to
create multiple contact points for the foot with the ground and these points help maximize
the athlete’s traction with the ground. The specific design of a basketball shoe’s outsole
depends on the condition of the area of play (the playground, court, etc). The ground of
the athletic performance location is vital to determine the type of outsole design. If the
ground was made of concrete or an indoor wooden floor the designs would very in their
engineering concepts. Playing outdoor basketball requires more durability from the
outsole; done in order to resist the greater tear and wear from the variable atmospheric
conditions of outdoor athletic performance [4]. Although their intention be to stop wear
and tear on the shoe itself, the more durable materials utilized often have less static
coefficient friction; meaning less traction for the athlete.
Figure 3: (left) indoor shoe outsole traction pattern/durability
vs (right) outdoor shoe outsole traction pattern/durability,
http://www.adidas.com/us/content/basketball/
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Support
Basketball is a fast paced sport; demanding quick response from the athlete in
order optimally performs. The movements of cutting, jumping, twisting, and turning rely
on the athletes’ ability to move in the shoes he wears. During the course of the game,
these maneuvers place significant stress on players’ ankle joints. Lateral ankle sprain is
the most common injury in basketball; it accounts for 38% and 45% of all injuries for
men and women, respectively. The mechanism of this ankle injury can occur when a
player lands on the floor at a bad angle or upon another player’s foot. Other situations
include sudden stopping, a sharp twist or turn, collision, fall, tripping or a change of
direction while running [6]. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take up to one
to six weeks to rehab a sprained ankle [7]. Thus when choosing the right pair of
basketball shoes, athletes often search for ways to protect their ankle joints.
One intention of basketball shoe design is to reduce the probability of ankle
injuries. Ankle injuries are avoided by providing proper support to the feet. Primarily the
design comes with two basic styles: the high tops and the low tops, each with its strengths
and weaknesses. High tops basketball shoes are more preferred among athletes because
them offer the most ankle support and stability. The “upper” contributes the most ankle
protection during play actions. It provides a support system that locks up the ankle joint.
When tied tight with shoelaces, the support prohibits any abnormal turning of the foot.
With the extra support material they are generally heavier; thus, high tops can be a good
choice for players seeking maximum support and don’t mind little extra bulk. Recent
shoe technology has greatly improved upon this area. A newly developed mixture of
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leather and lightweight mesh are used in today’s shoes allowing more breathability while
sustaining protection at the same time [8].
Low-top basketball shoes much are lighter in weight and provide a greater
mobility. With the removal of the ankle support, the low cut design exposes ankle joint
and does not restrict its movement. Although low tops give players more flexibility in
their range of motion, many fear the risk of injury from the lack of ankle protection by its
low height [7]. Figure 3 shows a picture comparing the high and low tops of Nike’s
Hyperdunk 2012. A study in 1993 from University of Oklahoma in the American Journal
of Sports Medicine found no correlation between the shoe height and ankle injury. In
fact, soccer players, who put just much amount of stress on their ankles if not more, wear
low cut designed shoes [9]. Many basketball players admit that when ankle is rolled high
top shoes will not prevent it from being sprained.
Figure 4: (left) high top vs (right) low top basketball shoe, store.nike.com
The modern of design of basketball shoes has implemented engineering
technology to prevent awkward landing and establish stability. With the introduction of
“LunarLit” foam and “Flywire” technology in 2008, Nike elevated the design shoe
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technology into a new level. “LunarLit” foam is a damping technology used by NASA
engineers to create cushion in seats of space shuttles. Installed inside the outsole for safe
landing, this foam is the lightest of all shock absorption material. “Flywire”; a strong
light weight fiber composed of Vectran and Nylon, was utilized in order to minimize
weight and maximize “upper” support. “Flywire” aided engineers in their intention by
creating more bounding structures with the midsole and outsole creating a conforming fit
around the foot.
Figure 5: Flywire, store.nike.com
Traction:
Apart from having a good support system, players seek shoes that have the ability
to improve their performance level. Quicker response creates the difference between an
average player and a good player. Great traction provided by the proper shoe design
allows a player to perform at his or her highest level. For example, the signature move of
“crossover” dribble in basketball is a great way for an offensive player to draw space
between defenders and score. During the motion of a “crossover” dribble, the offensive
player fakes one way and goes the other leaving the defender in behind. This move puts
enormous amount of lateral force on the outsole of the shoe during the split second of
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changing direction. According to Sports Science, a professional basketball player can
generate up to 1,800 pound of force during a “crossover” dribble [10].
Figure 6: moves such a "crossover" dribble put significant amount of stress on the foot,
espn.go.com
To handle the vigorous force of cutting and change of direction without slipping, the
outsole design must be engineered to reach the optimal function. Although the pattern of
outsole design varies greatly, they all serve the purpose to generate traction. When a
player propels himself the majority of force created is concentrated on his big toe/ ball of
foot region. Thus, air cushions have been constructed specifically for those pivot points.
Usually concentric curve tread patterns are created in reference to those pivot points; thus
resembling rings of water ripple. The functionality of concentric circular pattern is to
provide a 360-degree of acceleration. Depending on artistic of the design, the rest of the
outsole is made into herringbone tread patterns: a repeating pattern of fishbone like tread.
This technology not only increases the traction of the shoe with its multiple wedge
contacts, it has a feature of self-cleaning by releasing dirt and clay collected from the
ground when the shoe is flexed [11].
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Figure 7: outsole pattern of a basketball shoe, solecollector.com
Conclusion:
Despite being engineered with the sole intention of optimal athletic performance,
the technology of basketball shoes has been applied to the footwear of athletes and people
everywhere. Sports such as basketball, football, tennis and soccer all require the optimal
performance when utilizing the movements of cutting, jumping, running and turning. By
taking apart sections of the basketball shoes’ design; the upper, the midsole and the
outsole, an all-encompassing athletic and everyday footwear can be seen. These three
elements of the basketball shoe provide features for both the athlete and the everyday
person to enjoy. These features allow for injury prevention, performance enhancement
and optimal comfort. Through the timely advancement of the engineering design of
basketball shoe technology, optimal functionality has been highly improved upon. Thus
allowing the game of basketball to be enjoyed at its fullest as well as leaving the sport
with its audience; creating a shoe that has the ability to cross over to the viewers of the
sport and potentially increase the health and performance of the people of the world.
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Reference
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[5] "Kobe - Changing The Way Players Think About Basketball Shoes." YouTube.
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Apr. 2013. Available: http://hdl.handle.net/1853/37221
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http://www.livestrong.com/article/401312-are-low-top-basketball-shoes-safe/
[8] Sherwood, Chris. "Why Wear High-Tops in Basketball?" LIVESTRONG.COM.
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http://www.livestrong.com/article/386508-why-wear-high-tops-in-basketball/
[9] Drehs, Wayne. "Kobe's Feet to Feature New Low-top shoe." ESPN.com. ESPN, 11
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3761462
[10] "Sports Science: Stephon Marbury and the Cross over." YouTube. YouTube, 27 Nov.
2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2013. Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnegvRCderQ
[11] Blair, Roy D. Athletic Shoe Outer Sole for Improved Traction. Roy D. Blair,
assignee. Patent US 5203097 A. 20 Apr. 1993. Print.