How To Tie Basketball Shoes [August 2022] – 3 Different Ways

You must construct a solid foundation for a stable building if you want it to stand the test of time. Likewise, you must know how to tie basketball shoes perfectly before stepping into the court for a competitive game.

I’m sure your mom or dad taught you about lacing shoes when you were a kid. However, that was a conventional method of tieing your regular sneakers. This customary way of lacing might not work while playing league matches and might cause bruising, blistering, or even ankle sprains.

When it comes to basketball shoes, you should know about different ways of lacing your shoes, depending on the type of game you play. It would deliver control over swift cuts and arch support while stopping on the dime.

I will discuss some cool ways to tie shoes here that work for me and might help you prevent injuries. So let’s dig in.

Things To Consider:

First, you should consider a few things before picking a lacing method.

  • What is your game style?
  • Whether you have white feet or not?
  • Whether your arches are low or high?

These are the points one must consider seriously before lacing up your basketball shoes. Because if your shoes are loosely or tightly laced up, you might end up getting ankle sprains or bruises.

My friend John got his favorite Nike for basketball training a few years ago. Out of excitement, he wore the shoes immediately, went to court, and started playing. Half an hour after playing a pick-up game, blisters popped on his feet, and he straightaway blamed the shoes for that. Sick at heart, he gave away those Nike to me.

I went straight to the court wearing Nike and started hooping the next day. Dribbling, shooting, rebounding, and stopping on a dime, I did everything for an hour but did not get any blister or bruise.

I realized that the shoes were not evil the whole time; it was the lacing. John did not tie his shoes accurately and faced the consequences. People usually do not pay enough attention to the lacing when one can not enhance his game without doing it. If you do not want to experience these awful events, you should tie your basketball shoe laces by following one of the mentioned methods.

1. Customary Criss-cross Method:how to lace basketball shoes

This method is well-known among us and probably the first one your parents or elder sibling taught you. No rocket science, just simple crisscrossing from bottom to top, and you are done.

Before threading the laces up to the top, ensure the length of the laces on both sides measures equally. Then take the right end of the lace and pass through it to the left open eyelet of shoes. Similarly, take the left end and pass through to the right eyelet of shoes. Continue crisscrossing up to the top and make a knot.

This type of lacing is perfect for any gameplay, whether competitive, pick-up or a friendly match. However, if you have high arches, you should continue reading to find the best lacing method that suits you.

2. Method For Wide Feet:

Wide footers have many problems when selecting basketball shoes; one is the distance between eyelets. If you have wide feet, then this method of basketball shoe lacing might work for you.

Start crisscrossing like the previous method, but you must skip every other set of eyelets this time. This will give more room to your feet and lock them down simultaneously. This method will be functional for competitive as well as friendly basketball matches.

3. Ultra Lock for Low and High Arches:

cool ways to tie shoes

Arch support also plays a vital role while playing a competitive match. Basketball players with flat feet mostly face arch injuries. And if left untreated for an extended period, it might develop into a major foot injury like Plantar Fasciitis.

Those with high arch easily find supportive shoes, but flat-foot players struggle with the support since there are few shoe options in the market. In this case, one must use arch support insoles inside the basketball shoes to avoid these uncomfortable events. You should also know how tight basketball shoes should be for better performance without hurting your feet.

First, start crisscross lacing similar to the first method from the bottom to the top except for the last set of eyelets. When you reach the top, instead of crisscrossing, pass the lace through the above eyelet making a loop on each side. Then pass the laces through the opposite loop and pull it nicely.

This method is effective when you need ankle and arch support. It also prevents you from injuries during an important league match.

How Tight Basketball Shoes Should be:

Basketball is a physical game in which you continuously run, jump, and make quick moves. It constantly exposes you to challenges that might enhance your chance of getting an injury. To prevent injuries, you should take precautionary measures.

One of them is the proper fitting of your basketball shoes. Basketball shoe laces can assist in achieving the best fit for your feet. Make sure to tie the laces properly to enclose and lockdown your feet. However, you must consider your comfort while doing so. Do not tighten up to an uncomfortable level.

Final Words:

Loosely laced shoes make you roll over your foot, resulting in a severe injury. Always take time to lace up your shoes properly before entering the court. Tie a double knot because the knot gives a tighter feel and lockdown to your feet. Keep the knot small or tuck it in to prevent unwanted falling.