Have you ever paid close attention to the customs and habits of professional basketball players (or basketball players in general) ? If so, you may be wondering why many of these players do the things that they do. For instance, you may ask the question, why do basketball players wipe their shoes?
The answer to this question may vary from player to player. However, one of the primary reasons why basketball players wipe their shoes is to prevent their shoes from getting slippery, reduce injuries on the court, and for better traction while playing.
That said, here are a few things that you should know about basketball players and other related facts regarding this topic.
Why Do Basketball Shoes Get Slippery?
There are many reasons why basketball shoes become slippery when playing on the court. Below we will go over some of the most common causes, as well as tips for preventing your shoes from becoming slippery.
Sweat Dripping On The Court
When players start to sweat, it doesn’t always stay on their body. In fact, sweat can drip onto the court and cause their shoes to become slippery when they are playing.
Wax Build Up From The Court
Another reason why basketball shoes can become slippery is from wax buildup on the surface of the court.
Dirt and Dust
The biggest culprit of shoe slippage is dirt and dust. When these particles build up on the surface of the court, it can significantly reduce traction for basketball players.
Humidity
If a court is subject to more humidity than normal, this can also cause a players shoes to slip. This is really out of the players control, and players shouldn’t play during periods of high humidity in a gym.
Why basketball players are constantly rubbing the bottom of their shoes throughout the game?
Basketball players are constantly wiping the bottom of their shoes for many different reasons.
In fact, based on the circumstance that arises, the floors in the gym are not only dirty but also dusty enough to adversely impact the player’s success in the game. Particularly, when the bottom of their shoes does not allow the player to stop and start, or change directions and movements quickly. In essence, the bottom of a basketball shoe must have enough traction on the bottom to stop and start easily without slipping and sliding.
Additionally, some basketball players may experience big problems if the dirt under the bottom of their shoes reduces traction. So, to prevent these issues from occurring, as much as possible, basketball players are constantly wiping the bottom of their shoes to remove dust, dirt, and debris.
Lastly, some players may start to do this based on habit and tradition. If there’s one thing about basketball players, it’s that they are very superstitous. So, if a player has experienced success in the past by wiping down the bottom of their shoes, they are likely to continue doing it each time they play.
What do NBA players wipe their shoes on?
For better safety and traction on the court, NBA players will also need to have access to the best possible supplies and cleaning materials to keep their shoes in top shape. For instance, professional athletes and newbies alike can keep their basketball shoes clean with a sports traction mat like this one.
These type of mats can be described as an original traction system that gives the player the capability to remove and clean the bottom of the shoe easily. This system is ideal for leaving the bottom of the shoe spotless, and for protecting the player’s safety on the court. For instance, with this type of matt, the wax buildup and dirt on the bottom of their basketball shoes can be removed easily, and will not take a lot of unnecessary time.
How do basketball players clean their shoes off the court?
Keeping basketball shoes clean and fresh is not only about looks. Actually, It is a huge part of making sure basketball players are fully ready to play on the court when the game starts. Therefore, each player must take special care with these shoes both on the court and off.
And,, it is highly recommended that players know exactly what to do to clean their shoes properly. Each player needs to know how to clean their shoes without wearing the tread on the bottom down. That said, here are some tips on keeping these shoes game ready.
- To keep the bottom of the basketball shoes clean, do not wear them outdoors.
- Only use a toothbrush or soft-bristled shoe brush to clean the soles of the shoes.
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions on the shoes before starting the cleaning process. For instance, when you read these instructions in detail, you will know what cleaners to use (i.e. a mild laundry detergent or gentle dish soap with warm water).
- Once the cleaning process is complete, you will need to leave the shoes out in the open air to dry out.
What do the squeaky sounds mean to basketball players?
As mentioned above, it is very important that basketball players wear clean basketball shoes while on the court. This is because clean basketball shoes is not a luxury but a necessity for playing a good game. As such, most basketball players prefer to hear squeaky sounds.
Therefore, if you hear a basketball player’s shoes making annoying squeaky sounds on the court, you will know that it is considered to be normal as well as good for game readiness on the court.
This is primarily due to what this sound really means. For instance, similar to washing windows thoroughly until they squeak, you want your basketball shoes to be squeaky clean, too. The squeaky sounds normally indicate that the bottom of a basketball player’s shoes is not slippery. So, there is a lesser chance that that player or others near them will slip and fall on the court. The squeaky sound is also a good way to tell if the basketball shoes are clean enough to play.
Conclusion
Whenever you watch a basketball game, you may pay close attention to specific things that these players do. Also, for some people, one of their most noticeable actions usually leads to questions like, why do basketball players wipe their shoes?
Fortunately, the answer to this question is relatively simple, especially since basketball players wipe their shoes to keep them from getting slippery. Also, if the player wants to compete aggressively without slipping and falling, this practice will help to ensure that their shoes are not only clean but have enough traction under the bottom.
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