Revisit - Billiard Shoes

[Cornerman]

Okay, I know we can play in anything, and some of us just want comfort, but...

Seriously, if you were to design a shoe targeted and marketed for billiards and pool, what would that look like?

I see all kinds of slightly different pieces on athletic shoes, each with a specific function. For example, the back rear outboard of the bottom of the sole that touches the ground is a different material on many running shoes than the inboard. Often the toe or ball is a different material depending if it's for walking, running, or cross-training. All have many engineers thinking about these things on a daily basis.

What are your thoughts? Please, if you think this is a silly idea, just pass.

My thoughts are that there has to be a prounounce grip at the toes for those long reach shots. And because often that position squashes the shoes, the reinforcement at the ball has to be really flexible as well. The bottom of the soles needs to really be able to flex as well.

Other than that position, it seems the rest of the time is spent standing and walking, so I'm not sure, other than comfort and how they look in a tuxedo, if anything else is too important.

Freddie <~~~ shoe man

 

[Floppage]

I don't have much to offer many of the other threads here...yet, but after years of distance running this is something I do actually know about.

The thing most people aren't thinking about is weight. Each step you take, you drag that shoe along for the ride. This is why hiking boots are pretty much only good for hiking. Sure, they provide great stability but at a significant weight cost. I wouldn't get too hung up on traction. Most decent soles are going to grip a pool room's surface pretty well.

Also, you want to make sure the toe box is well formed and that there is adequate arch support. Pool actually has something in common with distance running in that it may involve you being on your feet for hours at a time. No, you're not pounding away on your feet in pool like you are in a marathon but some of the same qualities in a sole are important.

I sometimes wear running shoes when playing but even I admit they are really ugly.

If I was going to design the perfect shoe for pool I'd use a running last and sole and hide it under a more discrete upper. Cole Haan did a great job with this on their Lunar Grand line. The LunarLite sole developed by Nike has been proven to respond well under heavy load over time without a significant loss in response and as long as you don't get them too wet they seem to last for hundreds of miles.

http://www.colehaan.com/mens-shoes-lunargrand

 

[pt109]

The shoe I liked best for playing pool was by Wallabee.....
....thick gummy soles.....a bit heavy, but worth it....I was rooted on every position.

 

[Buckzapper]

A black stiletto high heel for the right foot to help generate hand speed for the most powerful break. Can be used in a pinch to stab a Kamui chalk thief.

 

[smashmouth]

for me it's high end jogger's shoes, nothing comes close

I would describe the better ones as simply not feeling them at all, they're just there

 

[Nick B]

Requirements:

1. Comfortable
2. Flat (not much heel)
3. Good grip

Nick

 

[Ky Boy]

I recently picked these up and while it took a few hours to break in they are very comfortable to wear when playing.

As far as a shoe specifically designed for pool, I would think there is already a shoe on the market that fits the bill superbly and just a matter of discovering it.

Gary

 

[DAVE_M]

Basketball and Skateboard Sneakers
-very comfortable
-flat bottoms
-grippy sole
-thousands of styles and colors

 

[Atlatlien]

For the shorter players that are on their tiptoes a lot...