Non-Marking Shoes
All participants at DTL are required to wear non-marking court appropriate shoes.
Non-marking shoes have shallow or flat treads and are made of soft rubber.
If your finger nail leaves a deep indent in the sole of your shoe, it is most likely non-marking.
*Sneakers such as Converse, Basketball Shoes, Crocs, Sandals, Boots, etc will not be allowed on the courts.
All participants at DTL are required to wear non-marking court appropriate shoes.
Non-marking shoes have shallow or flat treads and are made of soft rubber.
If your finger nail leaves a deep indent in the sole of your shoe, it is most likely non-marking.
*Sneakers such as Converse, Basketball Shoes, Crocs, Sandals, Boots, etc will not be allowed on the courts.
Should I Get Court Shoes?
Court shoes prevent injuries and protect our courts from damage so everyone can play safely.
Court Shoes
Thinner sole means a lower shoe profile, creating more stability.
Smoother soles supporting lateral movement and quick pivots.
Softer specialized sole material creates better grip on the court.
Tennis Shoes
Taller profile elevates the heel for running support but increases the likelihood of ankle sprains.
Traction and curvature meant for forward-back movement, but doesn’t stabilize lateral motion.
Harder Rubber Soles that do not provide grip on the courts causing accidents and court damage.
Why shouldn’t I just use tennis shoes?
“Tennis” shoes refer to a wide variety of athletic footwear not specifically meant for the games of tennis or pickleball. These shoes provide support for forward-back motion necessary for stability while running or walking, but pickleball requires support for side-to-side motion.
What are court shoes?
Court shoes are shoes specifically designed for the shifting side-to-side motion used in tennis and pickleball. They provide extra support and stability for such motion and are made of materials meant to grip and provide traction on the court.
The materials used in the soles of court shoes are different. You’ll notice the bottom of court shoes are generally softer, flatter, and provide better grip on courts than tennis shoes. Tennis shoes with hard rubber bottoms will not only mark up and damage courts, but can cause injury by skidding due to improper grip.