How Should Volleyball Shoes Fit: 4 Practical Tips & Advice

I still remember the day of my defeat on the volleyball field when our team was just one goal away from victory, and I tried my best to stop the ball, but my bad luck_ suddenly, my foot slipped, and the game was over. The pain of the ankle twist was hurting badly, but the grief of losing can’t be forgotten yet! I just realized all this was due to my uncomfortable volleyball shoes!

Success and performance in the intense field of volleyball depend entirely on your foot grip and gears. Therefore, a shoe that does not fit your feet perfectly will not allow you to progress in any field despite your skills!

Therefore, after thoroughly researching how volleyball shoes should fit, I have created a comprehensive guide to help you avoid the fear of losing a game.

Many brands, such as Mizuno, NIKE, and ASICS, are making volleyball shoes, generating a CAGR of 4.5 % from 2022 to 2032. You must be curious about how to check that your shoe is comfortable, will support you in the game, and will keep your feet ventilated. So don’t panic! Select shoes that are neither tight nor loose on your feet because both situations can hold you back in performance!

Read the complete article for more information about volleyball shoe sizes and selections. I have also read about how to find a perfect-sized volleyball shoe based on your feet and what factors determine your shoe size.

Let’s read this comprehensive guide and put all effort into the volleyball tournaments with a comfortable shoe!

Which Volleyball Shoes Fit Perfectly on My Feet

What is this matter? I purchase shoes according to my foot size, but they do not exactly fit. Hopefully, this is because I ignore the foot-size-taking criteria for snug-fit shoes.

Remember that foot size-taking is just the initial step towards comfort, so never rely on foolish tricks for size-taking.

I have some tips for you. You can compare your shoes’ front space, backspace, and width with the standard sizes and make the boots comfortable for your feet. Let’s check it out!

Front of the Shoes

When I buy new volleyball shoes, I try to choose ones with a spacious front portion. The front line of the shoes should not touch the foot toe.
Therefore, a distance of about half an inch is necessary between the thumb and the front of the shoe. Also, check by inserting your hand into the shoe and putting pressure on the front if it is comfortable.

Some people’s feet have different anatomy. Their fingers are longer than their toes, so athletes should select a shoe with half an inch of space between the longer finger and the front.

Comfortable shoe back

The hallmark of a perfect shoe is its comfort for your feet. Therefore, you must check whether your volleyball shoes are not irritating your heel or causing skin redness and blisters.
There should be approximately 1/8 inch of distance between the foot and the back of the shoe so your foot can perform lateral movement with an easel grip on the volleyball ground.

Attention Please!

Many athletes must avoid going to the shop, sitting down to try on the shoes, and not walking. So, of course, it’s wrong!
Remember to wear your volleyball shoes at the shop, close the laces and walk for three minutes. Check that the shoe does not feel uncomfortable, tight, or loose.

Perfectly Fit Width

As per the width of the natural foot anatomy, there are three types:

Wide Feet
Medium feet
Narrow Feet

A simple guideline based on your foot texture is to try to match the wide part of your foot with the wide part of your volleyball shoes. If the foot and shoe’s wide part match, the shoe will be comfortable and provide extra grip.

Grandma Finger Trick for Checking Shoe Fitting!

As old is gold, so to always check the fitting of shoes, my grandmother gave me the advice of a finger trick, according to which you should check shoe size by placing your index finger between the heel and the heel collar of the shoes:

If your finger fits exactly in the heel portion of the shoes then this shoe is perfectly snug fit for feet.
If your index finger feels a lot of pressure, then your shoes are not a perfect fit, and you need to get one size bigger.
If the index finger is too loose, insert two to three fingers more into the shoe. If the shoe is too big, prefer one number fewer shoes.

Benefits of Right Fit & Size of Shoes

I wholeheartedly admire how engineers put their efforts into creating volleyball shoes and bestowing you with the best volleyball shoes. Good luck! Undoubtedly, the role of comfortable feet aids a hundred percent in an athlete’s outclass performance.

Even if you buy volleyball shoes from a top-rated brand, you have wasted your money if they don’t fit your feet perfectly. While the comfort, track, grip, and durability of volleyball shoes matter, it is also very important that the shoes fit the feet properly.

A great player is someone who plays comfortably in the field, and of course, his comfortable gadgets like shoes play an important role in making him confident and super energetic. Many senior volleyball players suffer from various foot ailments, mainly because shoes are uncomfortable or lack breathability.

Properly fit volleyball shoes provide a smooth experience and stability to your feet and improve your performance four times. There are many more benefits of a properly fitting shoe, such as:

Prevent from shoes injuries
Enhanced traction and stability.
Improve athlete’s performance.
Well-fitting shoes improve players’ confidence levels.
Perfectly fit shoes last longer.
Get agile movement with ease with fitting shoes.
Get super control on all types of movements during play.

No more waiting! Glide to Find Perfectly Fit Volleyball shoes

I can never compromise my comfort on the volleyball court, so I choose my playing gadgets carefully and with perfect sizing so that nothing can distract me from winning! I always opt for shoes that perfectly fit my feet. To find the ideal size of feet, I prefer to measure and examine the following:

Foot shape
foot Length
foot Width
Foot arch

So, consider the above-listed factors seriously before shopping for shoes. Let’s cover every paragraph one by one!

Measure length and width of the shoe

We always have the misconception that our right and left feet are equal in length and width. But this is not true at all!

My left foot is less wide than my right foot, so I have had trouble selecting my shoes. But now, through the Brannock device, I can easily be sure of your fit size.

1. Brannock Device foot length and width measurement

This device was designed to measure the foot’s size and width, invented by Charles F. Brannock. You can also order it online or purchase it at any nearby store. The device comes in two types:

European Brannock device
Us Brannock device

2. Measuring tape:

Another method is to measure the length and width of your foot with tape, for which you will need a tape pen and paper.

Adjust your feet perpendicular to the paper.
After that, mark your foot from toe to heel with a pen and mark the width of your foot from one point to another with a measuring tape and pen.
This method is easy and allows you to find the perfect size of shoes.

Additional Tip!

Always take your foot measurements at night because your feet are completely at rest, and you can take a perfect size.
Different brands of shoes have different size charts. If you want to order online shows, keep the size chart in mind.
Consider a shoe size one inch larger than what the Brannock device shows you. If your feet are wide, prefer shoes one inch bigger.

Examine Your foot shape

After finding the length and width of your feet with the Brannock device, you must now examine the shape of your feet.

For which you need cardboard and a pen.
Place your foot perpendicularly on the cardboard and trace the shape of your foot on the cardboard with a pen.
If your two feet are almost the same size, trace the shape of your other foot by placing one piece of cardboard on top of the other.

Shoe fitting may vary depending on the shape of the foot, such as:

Feet shape	Perfect size	Foot Type Description
Wide Foot	One size above on the Brannock device	C-shaped foot Push shoes outside so the fifth finger gets more pressure. The whole pressure is centered down.
Normal or Neutral Foot	Same size as the Brannock device.	Perfectly balanced shoes. Weight and pressure are equally distributed. Gives extra comfort and stability.
Narrow Foot	Half size down on Brannock device	Thin flat shape. Lifted outward opposite to wide feet. The whole pressure on the toe and foot is under pressure.

Attention!

Each shoe brand has its own sizing guidelines. Nike shoes fit more tight from the side of both feet compared to Mizuno. Therefore, athletes should prefer following these guidelines.

If the shoe size is large, consider your foot size half an inch down from the Brannock device size.
If your shoe size is too small, consider buying a half-inch larger than the Brannock device reading.

Foot Arch measurement

When considering extra-padded or shock-absorbing shoes, it’s important to be aware of your foot arch. I will share with you a simple wet test to determine your foot’s arch. Take a bowl of water, dip your foot in it, and then place your foot on a paper towel.

The footprints will tell you whether your foot has a Low, High, or Medium Arch.

Foot Arch Type	Shoe Preference	Arch Description
Low Arch	Opt for shoes with excellent stability and overpronation.	Flexible feet. Rolls inward.
Medium Arch	Opt for biomechanically efficient shoes.	Able to absorb shocks. Rolls outward from heel side than inward from toe region.
High Arch	Opt for shoes with extra padding.	Feet is excessively outward Supination. Feet inward too much. Inadequate shock absorption.

Are Volleyball Shoes Supposed to Be Tight or Loose

There is diversity regarding shoe size and fit. Few athletes like the tight fit whereas some opt for the loose fitting.

In my opinion, your volleyball shoes should have a decent balance of fit and comfort i.e. neither too tight to squeeze the foot nor too loose like slippers. Therefore, both too-tight and too-loose shoes should be avoided, instead a snug fit should be opted.

Moreover, the shoe fitting is merely based on personal preferences and choices but wait! You can find your choice below whether you are in a tight fit or a loose fit club.

Why Athletes Choose Tight-Fitting Shoes:

Normally, athletes opt for tight-fit volleyball shoes for the following reasons:

Offer Better Stability
Support explosive and quick movements
Keep the ankle protected

Why Athletes Choose Loose Fitting:

The reasons for choosing the loose fit shoe are as under:

Comfort, easy on and off
More Ventilation and breathability
Athletes who use shoe inserts like ankle braces

How to Find the Right Volleyball Shoe Size Online

if you’re buying online like most people do. What you have to do is just to do the following

Take a picture of the cardboard tracing of your feet with your phone.
Put a piece of paper over the top of the phone with the photo opened, and make sure the paper stays on the phone
Trace it out, now you have a cell phone size image of your foot
Open the outsole image of the shoe you wanna buy online
Just put up the tracing on the shoe outsole image on your phone or on your computer for ease of use
If the tracing isn’t crossing the edges and fits in, then shoes perfectly fit your foot shape i.e. wide, narrow, or flat.
Follow the sizing guidelines as per Brannock device

Common Shoes Fit Issues

Choosing Too Tight or too-loose shoes

Normally, beginners make mistakes while selecting their desired fit and choose either very tight or very loose kicks. This may be due to the

Half-size discrepancies: where the preferred shoe size is not available, and you choose between a size slightly smaller or slightly larger than their actual foot length.
Opting for incompatible shoes according to the foot shape i.e. choosing the shoes with narrow toe box for wide feet and vice versa.
Those who like tight fit mistakenly select too-tight shoes. On the other hand, loose-fit lovers choose to loose.

Here are a few common problems that arise due to wearing too-tight volleyball shoes.

Foot Pain: One of the first signs of tight-fitted volleyball shoes. The tight-fitting squeezes the foot and reduces blood circulation leading to aches and swelling of the ball, heel, and ankle area. This ultimately results in the foot pain.
Deformities: Tighter shoes usually have a narrow toe box causing constant friction with the foot and ultimately leading to foot issues like corns and calluses. In addition to causing pain and discomfort, the confined space can also contribute to the development of painful and unattractive bunions.
Ingrown Toe Nails: Excessive toe rubbing inside the shoes causes this condition in tight shoes. The friction coupled with the sweat in tight shoes causes nail curving forcing them to grow inside. This may ultimately lead to toenail loss or infections.
Peripheral Neuropathy: This problem is common in athletes with a history of diabetes. Therefore, it is also known as “diabetic foot”. Tight shoes can aggravate the problem for diabetic athletes causing diabetic ulcers as they often suffer nerve damage due to diabetes.
Athletes Foot: The tight shoes restrict the movement of air and ventilation causing the sweat and growth of bacteria in the toenails and toes. Moreover, this can also lead to a Fungal infection like athlete’s foot causing itching, burning sensation, and broken skin.

What are the consequences of wearing loose volleyball shoes

Decreased Stability and Reduced Responsiveness: Stability counts while performing lateral movements and sudden direction changes at defensive positions. The loose-fit shoes do not provide necessary reinforcement to the foot after suddenly stopping. The foot may slip inside the shoes during such movements.
Heel Slipping: Wearing too-loose shoes is like walking in a pile of wet mud. Your feet slip and come out of it, this cause the rubbing of the heel with the shoe callers. Resultantly, the rubbing may get painful leading to the formation of blisters.
Injuries: Loose shoes do not provide adequate support. As a result, you are more susceptible to injuries like ankle sprains while landing or lateral movements.
Ineffective Cushioning: The volleyball shoes come with advanced cushioning technology for shock absorption and impact mitigation on the joints. Too loose shoes compromise the effectiveness of the features

How to deal with these issues?

Simply follow the guidelines I have written above regarding how should volleyball shoes fit.

Sizing of Different Shoe Brands (Adidas, Mizuno, Nike & Nike)

Different brands tend to have different types of sizing. So, if your shoe size is 10 of Mizuno then it’s not a guarantee that the same size will be a decent fit in ASICS. The sizing variation could be annoying sometimes. However, this can be dealt with by trying the shoes in person.

Therefore, despite of the expert’s recommendations and experience on shoe sizing and fit, I’ll suggest the best way to ensure the right size is always trying them on in person. Here is my experience regarding the size and fit of different brands.

How Do Mizuno Volleyball Shoes Fit?

Generally, as per my observation, Mizuno shoes accommodate wide feet and are true to size. Here is my opinion regarding the suitability of various Mizuno volleyball shoe models for various foot types.

Models	Suitability and Fit
Mizuno Wave Momentum 1, 2,3	Wider toe box, Supportive for the wide feet
Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6	Narrow toe box, may run short for wide feet
Mizuno Wave Dimension	true to size
Mizuno Wave Luminous	true to size for women

How Do Adidas Volleyball Shoes Fit?

Generally, Adidas volleyball shoes accommodate wide feet. The shoes have a wider toe box that prevents discomfort in the forefoot due to tight fit. However, caution is required while selecting the right size as it may run big leading to a loose fit. Here are my recommendations on the shoe sizing of different Adidas models.

Model	Suitability and Fit
Crazyflight	True to size
Ligra 7	Suitable for wide feet. May runs large for neutral feet
Novaflight	Suitable for wide feet.
Crazyflight Bounce X 3	Suitable for wide feet. May run large for neutral feet
Dame 8	Suitable for wide feet.

How Do Nike Shoes Fit

Overall the Nike volleyball shoes are on the snugger side with a relatively narrower toe box. Here are my recommendations regarding the fit and sizing of different Nike volleyball shoe models

Models	Suitability and Fit
Zoom Hyperace	Snug need to buy half a size bigger
Nike Hyperset	Suitable for wide feet, true to size

How Do Asics Volleyball Shoes fit

Asics volleyball shoes are also diverse regarding shoe sizing. Few models are supportive of the wide feet whereas some have a narrow toe box. Below is the suitability of the most popular Asics volleyball shoe models in terms of fit.

Shoes	Suitability and Fit
Asics Gel Rocket	Narrow toe box and may not fit the wide feet in actual size
Asics Upcourt	Narrow-toe box
Netburner ballistic	Narrow-toe box
Asics Sky Elite FF 2	Wider toe box, wide feet approved
Asics Metarise	Wide feet approved

Wrapping it Up!

Finally, choosing sung-fit volleyball shoes is critical to athlete performance and foot health. The above guide explains all the steps and factors well so that you can choose high-quality, comfortable volleyball shoes.

Every individual’s choice of shoes is different; try to check the comfort level of the boots by standing and walking or while sitting. Moreover, you should also be aware of the damage that can be caused to your feet by wearing these wrong-fitting shoes.

Any shoe is perfect when it strikes the perfect balance between comfort, stability, and maneuverability. As there is more lateral movement during the volleyball plane, the boots should be comfortable enough so that the foot does not suffer from twisting.

Also, always purchase shoes according to your foot length, width and size to become a volleyball champion with confident and energetic playing!

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do when your volleyball shoes are too tight?

First of all, it is recommended to choose a snug fit i.e. neither too loose nor too tight. However, if you have bought a tight fit, then instead of stretching it better replace it. This is because stretching is not a good practice as it disturbs the overall makeup of the shoes. This may affect the durability and longevity of the shoes and even lead to wear. Other things that you can do are wear thick socks, adjust laces, and use them around in the house.

Do volleyball Shoes Run Small?

Volleyball shoes do not run small instead they fit snugly to support quick movements. Small shoes have the drawback of squeezing the foot and add to an uncomfortable experience. This ultimately affects the performance on the court.

How do I know if my volleyball shoes fit correctly?

Proper volleyball shoes should be snug but not too tight, offer adequate room in the toe box, and not slip at the heel. A good fit ensures maximum support and mobility.

How can I determine if My volleyball shoes fit correctly?

Properly fitting volleyball shoes should feel secure but not overly tight. Your toes should have room to move without the rest of your foot sliding inside the shoe. The heel should stay in place without slipping. It’s important to regularly check the fit, as feet can subtly change shape over time.