Why Low Tops

[willievic]

After watching the video of Willis rolling his ankle, I was wondering why players don't play in High-Top shoes today. I would think that would give a little more protection to the ankles. When we played, yes, when your 76, I know it's been a looooong time ago, we played in Converse high-tops.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite]

Geez, think of the years guys wore Chuck Taylors or Keds, those shoes had crap for support. Willis simply rolled his ankle, you could do the same damn thing wearing armor plated ski boots.

 

[UPSCat4080]

If I'm a division one player with even a slight chance at making it a career I'm in high tops with support braces on both of my puppies.

 

[kats23]

I rolled mine similar to Willis coming down for a rebound on the inbound line and magically had on wait for it....high tops.

 

[.S&C.]

eh.....If I were a college player with millions on the line possibly, I'm wearing high tops. I get what Jason is saying, but studies change all the time, science is never exact, and what we know today can change in an instant.

High tops have more shoe, more shoe seems like more support, even if it's damn near irrelevant. I'm going high tops.

I do agree, and I've seen it many times. If a foots gonna roll, it's probably gonna roll. But still, that's my opinion. Go easy on me Dr. Jason

 

[Xception]

It's the grip of the shoe causing the roll , set of moccasins wouldn't grab like that .

 

[.S&C.]

The bigger question for @JasonSpear is.....

Pump Ups.....I always felt like I was getting more air in little league basketball with them? Possible or no?

 

[UK-chulo]

This generation of shoes provides stability not from the height of the shoe, but from outriggers on the sole. These outriggers are what help reduce the chance of rolling an ankle. It is just as easy to roll an ankle in high tops as it is in low tops.

It looks like Derek is wearing Kobes.

 

[pascat]

The answer to this question is simple. Wearing high tops puts much more pressure on your knees on awkward falls. Low tops takes pressure off and puts it on the ankles. Kobe Bryant made a decision years ago with his doctor on how to prolong his career. The first thing the doctor said was to switch to low tops. Far easier to rehab an ankle than an ACL, as I know all too well. I've torn my ACL twice, both wearing high tops. Never once with low tops.

Meanwhile, Kobe has never torn his ACL, which is really surprising, considering all the violent drives to the hoop he has made over his career.

 

[.S&C.]

The answer to this question is simple. Wearing high tops puts much more pressure on your knees on awkward falls. Low tops takes pressure off and puts it on the ankles. Kobe Bryant made a decision years ago with his doctor on how to prolong his career. The first thing the doctor said was to switch to low tops. Far easier to rehab an ankle than an ACL, as I know all too well. I've torn my ACL twice, both wearing high tops. Never once with low tops.

Meanwhile, Kobe has never torn his ACL, which is really surprising, considering all the violent drives to the hoop he has made over his career.

Well sh*t......

 

[kats23]

Definitely.

If you pumped 100 or more times you could actually dunk. It's science.

 

[westerncat]

After watching the video of Willis rolling his ankle, I was wondering why players don't play in High-Top shoes today. I would think that would give a little more protection to the ankles. When we played, yes, when your 76, I know it's been a looooong time ago, we played in Converse high-tops.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I'm 70 years old and I see where you are coming from. I tried to play ball back in the early 60's and wore high tops but had weak ankles and still rolled my ankles many times. Plus I was just not that good but loved trying to play, I think Willis would do well to hit the weight room this summer and add more muscle to his frame. With all the straight conditioning they have now maybe they can straighten the muscle in the ankle area also. Just a thought .

 

[Ben101er]

Our HS team gave you the option, and I just never could play in high tops.

 

[hayden77]

They seem like a good idea but high tops don't really protect you anymore than low tops for injuries. I think I have injured myself more in hyperdunks than any other shoe haha.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

 

[Drcatfan]

I think most NBA teams not only suggest, but require their players to wear high tops AND tape their ankles. I honestly have thought since Wilis starting getting playing time that he was an ankle injury just waiting to happen with low tops and no tape or supports.

 

[hayden77]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8368420
Here is an interesting study done on the topic.

 

[3rex]

Tore my ACL playing intramural basketball in college. I was wearing a brand new pair of high tops called U'niques, I think, they were a Dominique Wilkins shoe. On fast break, running full speed, stopped to plant & my knee basically turned almost 180, or so it seemed.
I had the sensation & belief immediately, and still believe today, that when I planted, those shoes basically grabbed the floor too good, and always believed that since my ankle couldn't turn that the force just ran up to my knee resulting in a blown out knee.
Fast forward to today & I've always wondered if the increase in ACL injuries is, at least in part, because our shoes just may be too good.
Funny thing, it's still hard for me to grasp the concept of major college or NBA players, even high schoolers, wearing low tops. But the statement above that an turned ankle is better than blown ACL certainly has some merit.

 

[W_Heisenberg]

They give you more freedom to cut and move, and actually help strengthen your ankles.

Here's the deal - if you roll your ankle, there isn't a shoe out there that will prevent it. The question becomes, if I roll it would I rather the brace/high top help keep my ankle from getting hurt in the roll, and send that bend to my knee? Probably not, a knee injury and/or high-ankle sprain is MUCH more severe than a simple ankle roll.

The way Willis rolled his, nothing would have stopped it.

 

[wildcatsboston1984]

Have you ever touched a high top shoe? Try bending the material that surrounds the ankle. You seriously think that is going to prevent any type of ankle injury?

And trying to prevent an ankle roll with the artificial support of shoes, tape, and braces will put more strain on the knees when an ankle roll occurs.

 

[FtWorthCat]

I have some of the weakest ankles known to mankind. I've even sprained an ankle while it was taped. But I never sprained one while wearing one of these. The coaching staff should make these mandatory equipment. It you don't like how it feels, get used to it.

http://www.eastbay.com/product/mode...ogle-_-26401&gclid=CJelyJaEjMsCFYkCaQode1IK-w

 

[willievic]

Our HS team gave you the option, and I just never could play in high tops.

Ben, you must be kidding. Could you play in Low Tops? Next time get MJ's, and then you can jump higher.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

 

[ZaytovenCat]

I never played in anything but high tops. If I went to the gym and had nothing but my regular low top shoes on I felt very exposed or vulnerable to rolling my ankle. In high tops I was able to make much stronger cuts and move in a way not possible in low tops.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

If I'm a division one player with even a slight chance at making it a career I'm in high tops with support braces on both of my puppies.

And you'd run like Frankenstein and ruin your chances of making it a career. Lol.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

After watching the video of Willis rolling his ankle, I was wondering why players don't play in High-Top shoes today. I would think that would give a little more protection to the ankles. When we played, yes, when your 76, I know it's been a looooong time ago, we played in Converse high-tops.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I played in high tops all the time and rolled my ankle all the time. I even had tape all over my ankles still rolled them. I then went to device that went around my ankles and ya it helped all right. The problem was I couldn't cut no more and couldn't jump anywhere near as high. I was ineffective on the court.

 

[JasonS.]

Man I used to love the ads for those with Bob Knight.

 

[GOING FOR #9]

Taping ankles goes a long way even if midtop type shoe. If he hasn't been taping then that is on our trainers.

 

[Ben101er]

I remember those paddle shoes. They claimed to build up your hamstrings and give you more vertical. Not sure that I ever heard anyone say that they actually work, though.

 

[Ben101er]

Ben, you must be kidding. Could you play in Low Tops? Next time get MJ's, and then you can jump higher.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

lol. When I played MJ was in kindergarten.

 

[ZenCatFan73]

What about 3/4 tops?

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Man I used to love the ads for those with Bob Knight.

I remember those paddle shoes. They claimed to build up your hamstrings and give you more vertical. Not sure that I ever heard anyone say that they actually work, though.

 

[UPSCat4080]

And you'd run like Frankenstein and ruin your chances of making it a career. Lol.

Pay attention to how many guys have their ankles wrapped or with a fabric support sock/brace with high tops next game.

 

[pauled]

I don't understand why the players ankles are not taped before every game!

 

[johnl1219]

After watching the video of Willis rolling his ankle, I was wondering why players don't play in High-Top shoes today. I would think that would give a little more protection to the ankles. When we played, yes, when your 76, I know it's been a looooong time ago, we played in Converse high-tops.

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!

I've actually read that it's better to have a lower ankle sprain, which happens wearing low tops, than a high ankle sprain, which happens from wearing high tops.

The lower sprain is easier to recover from.

 

[ZenCatFan73]