Pickleball shoes: can you wear your badminton shoes?

Most of us came to pickleball with a pair of badminton shoes already in the cupboard. Good news: on an indoor court, they’re a sound choice. On an outdoor hard court, they’ll work, but their soft soles wear down fast, and a tennis or “all-court” shoe is the better buy. The shoe to avoid on any court is the one many beginners turn up in: running shoes.

Here’s why, what to look for if you do buy a pair, and what court shoes cost in Malaysia.

The short answer by court

Where you play	Badminton shoes	Tennis or all-court shoes	Running shoes
Indoor: wooden, rubber or PU sports floor	Good. Built for this.	Good, if the sole is non-marking	Avoid
Outdoor: concrete or acrylic hard court	Work, but the sole wears out quickly	Best choice	Avoid

Why shoes matter in pickleball

Pickleball is mostly short, quick steps sideways and forwards, with sudden stops at the kitchen line (the kitchen is the non-volley zone next to the net). That’s the movement that rolls ankles and causes falls.

The best data we have is from the US, where most players are older than most of us here. A 2025 study of US emergency department visits from 2013 to 2022 found that falls caused about two-thirds (65.5%) of pickleball injuries. Among players aged 18 to 34, the most common cause was a twist or roll of the foot. An earlier study found that sprains and strains (about 29%) and fractures (about 28%) were the most common injuries, and the legs and feet were the most often hurt.

Shoes won’t prevent every fall. But a shoe that grips the court and holds your foot steady when you stop sideways takes away one of the easiest ways to get hurt.

Why running shoes are the wrong choice

Running shoes are built for moving forwards in a straight line. Pickleball Union’s guide to the wrong shoes lists the problems on court:

Little side-to-side support, so the foot can roll over the edge of the sole when you stop sideways.
A high, soft heel, which makes you less stable in quick changes of direction. The guide suggests a heel-to-toe drop of about 4 to 8mm for court shoes; many running shoes are higher.
Soft soles that grip poorly in sudden stops.

It quotes a sports medicine physician: court shoes reduce the risk of rolling your ankle, while a running shoe likely has more cushioning instead. If running shoes are all you have, play gently for your first session, and make court shoes your first purchase after a paddle.

Badminton shoes: great indoors, short-lived outdoors

Badminton shoes are court shoes. They’re low, light, made for fast sideways movement and usually have non-marking gum rubber soles. That’s exactly what Pickleball Union recommends for indoor courts, and it names badminton shoes as a good option.

Outdoors is different. Concrete and acrylic hard courts are rough, and soft indoor soles are made for smooth floors. Pickleball Union’s shoe guide notes that indoor shoes used outdoors wear out much faster. Outdoor court shoes use thicker, harder rubber, often with a herringbone (zigzag) tread.

So if you play mostly indoors, keep using your badminton shoes. If you play mostly outdoors, they’ll do for a few sessions while you decide whether you’re hooked, but expect to see the soles thinning. A worn, smooth sole grips less, which defeats the point.

If your indoor court is a badminton hall with pickleball lines added, you’re playing on exactly the floor your badminton shoes were made for. Our post on moving from badminton to pickleball covers what else carries over.

Tennis shoes and “pickleball shoes”

A good tennis shoe works very well for pickleball, because the two sports share the same side-to-side movement. Pickleball Union says a court shoe doesn’t need to say “pickleball” on it. Many shoes sold here are labelled for several sports, such as Decathlon’s tennis, padel and pickleball shoes.

Shoes sold as “pickleball shoes” are court shoes with the same basic features. They’re not required. The rulebook only asks that soles don’t mark or damage the court (Rule 18.B.2).

What to look for in a court shoe

Side support. Firm sides and a sole a little wider than your foot, so it doesn’t roll over when you stop sideways.
A low, stable heel. Not a thick, soft running heel.
A sole that matches your court. Non-marking gum rubber for indoor floors; thicker, harder rubber with a herringbone tread for outdoor hard courts. “All-court” soles try to do both.
A secure fit. Your heel shouldn’t lift when you walk, and your foot shouldn’t slide inside the shoe when you stop. If you have wide feet, look for wide fittings, because a tight shoe gets worse in the heat.
Try them on with the socks you play in.

Pickleball Union suggests testing a shoe in the shop with a few quick side steps and stops, a lunge, and a check that your heel stays locked in. If it passes, it’ll do.

What court shoes cost in Malaysia

Examples from brands’ and retailers’ own pages. Prices were checked in October 2026, and some were on sale.

Shoe	Type	Price	Where
Kuikma Comfort Lite (All Court), men’s and women’s	Tennis, padel and pickleball, all surfaces	RM149	Decathlon
Kuikma Unrupt Team	Multi-court tennis	RM299	Decathlon
ASICS Gel-Dedicate 9 Pickleball, men’s and women’s	Pickleball	RM369	ASICS Malaysia
Skechers GO Pickleball Viper Court Rally	Pickleball	RM399. Three colours were RM265 on sale, usually RM529.	Skechers Malaysia
Skechers Slip-Ins: GO Pickleball Viper Court Reload	Pickleball	RM459. One colour was RM229.50 on sale, usually RM459.	Skechers Malaysia
Skechers GO Pickleball Viper Court Pro 2.0	Pickleball	RM599	Skechers Malaysia

Malaysia4u’s 2026 guide puts entry-level Wilson and ASICS court shoes at about RM200 to RM350. In practice, a decent all-court shoe starts around RM150, and you don’t need to spend more than about RM400 to get everything that matters. We haven’t worn or tested any of these.

If you already own badminton shoes and play indoors, the cheapest option is RM0. Our guide to what pickleball costs in Malaysia puts shoes alongside courts, paddles and coaching.

Looking after your feet and ankles

Warm up. A few minutes of side steps, light jogging and lunges before you play gets your ankles ready for sudden stops.
Replace shoes when the tread is smooth in the areas you push off from, usually under the ball of the foot. Smooth soles slip.
Keep court shoes for the court. Wearing them to walk around outside wears them faster and brings grit onto indoor floors.
Mind wet and dusty courts. Any shoe slips on a wet outdoor court. If it’s just rained, wait or move indoors.
If you’ve sprained an ankle before, ask a physiotherapist whether you should tape or brace it for play.

Your next step: check the soles of the shoes you already own. If they’re badminton shoes and you play indoors, you’re set. If they’re running shoes, swap them for a court shoe before your next few sessions. For what else to bring, see your first pickleball session.