Feet alignment and rubber shoe soles

N

newcuer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
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I don't see any advantage or disadvantages or than comfort depending on shoe maker.

Having said that, on certain surfaces I prefer a rubber sole when breaking in games such as 10 ball. The more traction the better when breaking at peak speeds.

Jeff
 
I don't want shoes that slide at all. When I'm in my stance I want to feel rock solid, with no chance for any unwanted movement.
 
Depends a lot on the flooring- leather soles might work on a carpeted floor - anything else really requires some form of a gripping sole to stay solid on your shots. I understand your point, but with rubber soles if you feel out of alignment in your stance - always best to get out of the stance and realign.
 
I dont wear shoes when i play, socks only. 25 years ago i was stretching over a corner pocket when my dress shoes slid out from underneath me. Had to put 75 cents to get my nuts back.
 
wakuljr said:
I dont wear shoes when i play, socks only. 25 years ago i was stretching over a corner pocket when my dress shoes slid out from underneath me. Had to put 75 cents to get my nuts back.
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tyu.gif
 
I laughed but my first thought too!

wakuljr said:
I dont wear shoes when i play, socks only. 25 years ago i was stretching over a corner pocket when my dress shoes slid out from underneath me. Had to put 75 cents to get my nuts back.
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I too have had a nasty surprise from the interaction of what old Mr George delicately called my "personals" and the table when slick soles and slick floors did me wrong. First time I thought was a fluke. Second time, those soles had to go!

Hu
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

You question about footwork is a good one.

You don't want a shoe sole that slips "too much" and you don't want one that ''sticks'' "too much".

Depending on the floor surface, certain shoes work better than others.

Now if you good enough to play around the planet... Depending on the promoters, this will always be a concern.

Not many players shoot in dress shoes, but to be the best, one must incorporate that into their game, learn what it's like to play on hard floor surfaces for days.

I know I wouldn't want leather soles on my dress shoes at an event that had tile floors.
If I did, I'd probably put some anti skid stick on material to the sole bottoms, so when I stretched out I wouldn't ''slip''.
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
I don't want my feet to slide. For the micro-adjustments, I take a little weight off the foot I'm adjusting! lol
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...


You haven't experienced real pain until you've gone to a pool room with a linoleum or wood floor, leaned out over the table to reach a shot, and had your feet slip out from under you dropping your precious parts smack into the rail.

Just a bit more seriously, I think the important thing is to always wear the same kind of shoes so that you do become accustomed to making the same foot adjustments. I also think decent support is a plus and have never understood those guys that play in flip flops or shower clogs. Lastly, rubber soles will exempt you from experiencing the above mentioned scenario.

Lou Figueroa
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Something that helped me a lot when I was first starting to play well was to practice stepping into shots and getting down on the ball over and over and over. The idea to was to make those little adjustments unnecessary. It can get a little boring and tiresome but it helped a lot and is something I probably need to revisit again because I’ve found myself adjusting a lot more lately and sometimes missing shots where I’ve tried to lean and use English to compensate for being out of line. Being lazy basically:)
 
I agree with the others that say I like to keep my testicles where they are. Too many times I've reached for a shot and slipped when I wore harder sole shoes. Even if it didn't hurt , the slip would occur while I'm making the stroke , where I would either miss the shot, miscue, or missed the ball completely and end up giving ball in hand. I prefer a good pair of running shoes, or something with a rubber soul.

Many times I would have to go to pool after work and I would forget my tennis shoes. I'd end up having to wear my work boots. They're not slippery but I feel ten feet tall when I'm at the table. It's a big adjustment.
 
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newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Real answer to your question is if you feel out of alignment when you're down on the shot, you should step out and step back in. I don't think it matters what shoes you wear. But you don't want to be making adjustments after you're into the shot.
 
newcuer said:
Probably kind of a weird post...

But I've always wondered if players are better off with shoe soles that let you slide more (suede or leather) as oppose to the normal rubber soles most shoes have.

When I wearing shoes with rubber soles, I feel its more difficult to make micro adjustments with my feet in trying to get the proper body alignment to my shot. With soles that slide a bit, I feel I can more easily get proper body alignment.

Any one with thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Totally agree
 
ShootingArts said:
I too have had a nasty surprise from the interaction of what old Mr George delicately called my "personals" and the table when slick soles and slick floors did me wrong. First time I thought was a fluke. Second time, those soles had to go!

Hu
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Only took once for me haha
 
What can I say?

wakuljr said:
Only took once for me haha
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What can I say? Slow learner sometimes! I had played for years, no problems. Then one night, twice in the same night. I played very very carefully the rest of the night!

Hu
 
I read somewhere in my Pool N Billiard Instructional books, that good shoes should be used when playing & attention should be given to the heel height, as different heel heights can affect your play.

I would say that in my history, leather shoes are tougher on one's feet, over the long run & you couldn't give me a pair to wear. A side note about scooting the feet... In Dancing, you are encouraged to pick up your feet , not scoot or slide them.

I like Eccos...
 
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lfigueroa said:
Yo

Just a bit more seriously, I think the important thing is to always wear the same kind of shoes so that you do become accustomed to making the same foot adjustments. I also think decent support is a plus and have never understood those guys that play in flip flops or shower clogs. Lastly, rubber soles will exempt you from experiencing the above mentioned scenario.

Lou Figueroa
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This is great advice Lou, I concur sir...
 
ceebee said:
I read somewhere in my Poll N Billiard Instructional books, that good shoes should be used when playing & attention should be given to the heel height, as different heel heights can affect your play.

I would say that in my history, leather shoes are tougher on one's feet, over the long run & you couldn't give me a pair to wear. A side note about scooting the feet... In Dancing, you are encouraged to pick up your feet , not scoot or slide them.

I like Eccos...
Click to expand...

In the winter I’m always wearing my black boots. They have a thick/high sole, it took me a while to realize why I’d play so bad at home when I had my slippers on lol. A couple inches can make a big difference.
 
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