Are you an athlete? Then you will know that having the right shoes is vital to avoid injuries and injuries . In impact sports such as paddle tennis even more. Footwear is a critical element to practice paddle tennis. Do you want to know how to take care of your paddle tennis shoes correctly?
We have consulted the manufacturers and these are the advice they give us so that the paddle tennis shoes last longer and the mistakes we make with all sports shoes.
Why use paddle tennis shoes only to play paddle tennis?
When you start to practice paddle tennis, you tend to focus resources on the paddle tennis racket, thinking that any shoe is suitable for playing paddle tennis. Error . Using good paddle tennis shoes is critical to improve the game and avoid injuries.
In fact, unlike what happens with paddle tennis rackets, paddle tennis shoes suffer great wear and tear: movements during the game are more aggressive; the track eats a lot of sole and the forced postures push its materials to the limit.
Manufacturers insist on the need to use this footwear only for playing paddle tennis, and not for running or walking in the mountains. Its design is designed to respond to the needs of the game, not for other uses, for which there are specific footwear.
It is proven that when these shoes are used for other sports, wear is more intense and faster. Taking into account that it is not a cheap sports shoe, surely you would like to know how to take care of them, whether they are paddle tennis shoes for women or men, and in this way to be able to extend their useful life.
Factors that influence how long padel shoes last
What makes a paddle tennis shoe last more or less? Except if you play with little recurrence, sports shoes by their own use lose elasticity, stability and cushioning. That our shoes last longer and we lengthen the time of use depends on these factors:
1. The weight of the player
In any physical sport, it is the feet that support and receive the force of the athlete’s weight. Hence, shoes must be designed to withstand this force. This will be higher or lower depending on your body mass.
2. How often do you practice paddle tennis?
The athlete who plays a game every day will notice that they must buy paddle tennis shoes more frequently, especially if the intensity of the game is high.
The use favors wear . On average, paddle tennis shoes have a scheduled life of 100 games.
3. The type of tread
How we tread and move on the court is also going to influence how long our shoes (and in general, any footwear) last. If you want to extend the life of your shoes, it is worth carrying out a biometric study of the footprint .
4. The playing surface
Not all courts are in the right conditions to play paddle tennis without eating the soles of your paddle tennis shoes. If the court is made of granite, our footwear will suffer more than on artificial grass courts.
5. The quality of the paddle tennis shoe
If we use very cheap paddle tennis shoes , obviously we will obtain a lower quality footwear, and therefore, less prepared to resist the abrupt movements and the wear and tear of the game . The higher the investment, we ensure a more resistant footwear, and, therefore, that lasts longer over time.
This is how you have to clean the paddle tennis shoes to take care of them properly
Beyond having them in a suitable place, where they dry without the action of concentrated heat sources , the only care we have to take to care for the paddle shoes correctly is when they are washed.
It is very common to make the big mistake of putting sports shoes (paddle tennis or any other sport) in the washing machine. Exposing them to this cleaning system only cracks them, in addition to making the materials and gels that compose them lose their properties.
What to do to clean the paddle tennis shoes? At the end of the game, if you have played on a standard court, you will have salt inside and at the tip. Shake it before putting them in the pallet and spreading it on the clothes.
Once at home, separate the laces and insoles from the rest of the shoe and wash them separately. The laces can be put in the washing machine; the templates do not.
With a clean sponge, hot water and greaseproof soap, we will clean the shoe and the insole.
For drying , avoid placing them near direct heat sources (dryer or heating). Prioritize areas with natural currents, preferably outdoors, without exposing them, of course, to direct sunlight. During how much time? 24 hours will suffice.
How do you know when to change your paddle tennis shoes?
Even when padel shoes are cared for, their useful life is limited. The first signs of excessive wear come through the sole . This has the function of providing stability to the tread.
If it is worn, we will begin to notice how, more and more times, skidding occurs with safe a priori movements.
In the early stages of wear, it only shows its face on slopes with very worn artificial grass or on slopes with a lot of grit, and it can mislead us and claim that it is a track issue.
The damage is more evident when slips are repeated on various types of tracks in a short space of time in movements not prone to generating this situation.
Keep an eye on the sole when you’ve already played about 60 games in your shoes.
In the same way, the fabric also tends to show signs of wear: tearing, cracks appear, peeling, and so on.
At the first symptoms, remove your shoes and look for new ones.
What happens to used paddle tennis shoes?
The end of its useful life has come, but what to do with paddle shoes that are already worn out? If the wear is not excessive and the fabric is in good condition, we can use it for more home use.
If wear compromises their integrity or has detached or torn areas, the ideal is to take them to the collection points where they are processed or given a second life.
