When it comes to badminton shoes vs squash shoes, there are very minimal differences if any at all. Both badminton and squash are fast-paced racket sports. I have been playing badminton for many years and also recently started playing squash since there is a court in my living area. Before I started playing squash, I did some research on the difference between badminton shoes and squash shoes, and here is what I found.
The only small difference is that squash shoes tend to lack padding in the inner toe area as well as having slightly thinner soles. This is because squash has little to no jumping and feet dragging compared to badminto but these differences are negligible.
Badminton shoes and squash shoes are both lightweight, flexible, have thin soles, and so on. This is because they are very similar sports with almost the same movements. In this article, I will be explaining the play style of each sport and also the features that make them similar. These features are there to maximize your performance and most importantly, protect you from injuries.
Playstyle of Badminton And Squash
Badminton and squash are actually very similar sports in terms of movements. When you watch both sports, you can see that almost all the movements are the same. These movements include lunging forward, sideways, make chasse movements, and getting back into the middle of the court. The only real difference is that in squash, you almost never need to jump… ever.
In squash, the racket is heavier and they use a ball instead of a shuttlecock. Nevertheless, they are both very fast-paced and intense. In squash, your opponent will be in the same court as you whereas, in badminton, your opponent will be on the opposite side. There is no chance of clashing in badminton is you are playing singles.
In badminton, there are 2 types of courts people usually play in… synthetic PU courts and wooden courts. The latter (wooden courts) are what squash is played on. Therefore, it makes sense for both shoes to have minimal differences if any at all since their playstyle and court surfaces are exactly the same.
Features That Make Them Similar
Here are the features that make these shoes extremely similar. They are made to maximize your performance with the given movements and also protecting you from injuries.
Flexibility
Both badminton shoes and squash shoes are very flexible in nature. This is because both sports require you to move in every direction at a quick pace. Because of that, your feet will form different shapes constantly depending on the movement. Therefore, your shoes will need to keep up with that and change its shape to mold into your feet as quickly as possible. If your shoes are not flexible, it will really slow your movement down and also cause discomfort.
Soles
The soles are the most distinct feature of both badminton shoes and squash shoes. First of all, they are very thin which lets you feel the ground a lot more compared to other shoes. When your feet can feel the ground, you will be able to make explosive movements and perform them much better. This is exactly what you want when playing badminton or squash.
Second of all, their outsoles are yellow in color and often very soft. They are made of gum rubber, they are very grippy when it comes into contact with indoor courts such as synthetic PU or wooden courts. One of the reasons why these shoes are so flexible is also because of these outsoles. They are much softer, lighter, and way more flexible compared to rubber used on running shoes.
Last but not least, these shoes have non-marking soles. If you do not know what this means, let me explain. Non-marking soles mean that the soles will not leave marks on the court surface. This has nothing to do with safety or performance, it is mostly an aesthetic thing. Most businesses renting indoor courts will not allow you to wear shoes with marking soles and dirty their courts.
Weight
With these two sports being so fast-paced, you do not want the weight of your shoes to slow your movements down. That being said, squash shoes are usually slightly heavier than badminton shoes since you do not need to jump in squash. However, this is not noticeable if you are not playing badminton or squash at the highest level. For most people, they feel pretty much the same.
Low Center of Gravity
This is probably the biggest reason why wearing the proper shoes for these sports are so important. Badminton and squash shoes are made mostly flat to get your center of gravity as low as possible. If you want maximum safety when playing badminton or squash, you need shoes that have a low center of gravity.
The reason for that is because of the quick changes in movements in both sports. When you are changing movements at a quick pace, you need to have good balance and stability. Without good balance and stability, you will easily fall over and potentially sprain your ankles.
Shock Absorption
When playing badminton or squash, there will be a lot of impact on your feet with all the intensive movements you are making. Without good shock absorption technology built into your shoes, your joints around your feet will suffer in the long term.
Even though the soles of these shoes are flat and thin, they have amazing shock absorption built into them. Most badminton and squash shoes that are mid-range and above, will have this technology built into them.
Can I Use Them Interchangeably?
Yes, you absolutely can. I have seen many players, even professional squash players wear badminton shoes to play squash. They are pretty much the same type of shoes with the same exact features that you need for both sports. In fact, most shoes that are marketed as badminton are also marketed for squash.
Some will say that badminton shoes will make your jump better but personally, I do not feel any difference at all. All I can say is, give both a try and see which one you like better. It all comes down to personal preference. If you feel more comfortable playing badminton in squash shoes and vise versa, go ahead.
Conclusion
There is really no big differences when it comes to badminton shoes vs squash shoes. If you want to be nit picky, squash shoes are just slightly heavier, have slightly thinner soles and less padding in the inner toe area compared to badminton shoes.
Other than that, they are pretty much the same shoes with all the features you want for both sports. Therefore, you can use them interchangeably without worrying about injuries or a dip in performance.
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