How to choose the best volleyball shoes for jumping and cushioning

No volleyball shoe makes you jump higher. That is the blunt answer to the question that brings most people to this page. The model of shoe does not determine your vertical, neither with an approach nor from standing: shoes with rockets in them have not been invented yet.

What the shoe can do, and it is not nothing, is put you in a position to express the jump you already have: comfort, stability, cushioning and safety. If you feel stable and light, the athletic movement comes out smoother. And above all the right shoe protects feet, ankles, knees and back, which take hundreds of landings in a volleyball match.

The 3 criteria for choosing volleyball shoes

1. Your build. Height and weight matter: if you are heavier set you need a more structured shoe, for more protection and stability.
2. Your position. Liberos and setters need grip on the floor for quick changes of direction. If you play in attack you should go for light, well-cushioned shoes, because you jump and land constantly.
3. The court you play on. On synthetic floors a synthetic rubber outsole works better, on wooden floors a gum rubber outsole.

The features that actually count

Light weight. The lighter the shoe, the easier your movements, especially in jumps.

Breathability. You need a material that lets air circulate: trapped sweat can lead to bacterial infections. The most common one is a tough mesh.

Sturdiness. The materials must not be heavy, but they have to stay solid and give you stability.

Cushioning. In attack, at the block, on serve you jump, and every time you land on both feet. The more you jump during a match, the more cushioning becomes decisive. The only position that partly escapes this rule is the libero. Remember that cushioning wears out: by the end of the season a shoe has probably lost most of its effectiveness. Compare it with a new pair and you notice straight away.

Fit. Some shoes hug the foot more than others, depending on the upper materials, the padding on the heel and the width of the last. Men's fits are wider than women's. Do not go up a size: during a match your foot can swell a little, but it has to stay well supported. Sizes change from brand to brand, so always try them on before buying.

Shoe height. A high-top does not protect you from ankle sprains more than a low one. What counts is the outsole.

Outsole grip. It has to give you grip and stability. On wooden floors, gum rubber. Some models have side reinforcements or support under the arch to hold the foot better.

If the goal is jumping higher, the shoe is not the point

Picking a pair that does not suit your position, your body or the court you play on can hurt your performance. But the opposite is not true: the right shoe does not add centimetres.

Centimetres come from strength, plyometrics and programming. But first you need to know where you are starting from.

Measure your jump, free

With the JHP jump test you upload a two-second video of yourself jumping and you get your vertical in centimetres, calculated from flight time. No app needed and the video never leaves your phone.

➡️ Take the test now

Then train what the test showed you

In the JHP membership you get 13 programmes with day-by-day plans and a video for every exercise, at €99 a year. If you play volleyball:

• Jump Higher Program - 10 weeks on the jump, bodyweight only (€60)
• Volley In-Season Workout - 16 weeks across pre-season and season (€90)
• Knee Power - stronger knees, given how many landings they absorb (€40)
• All JHP courses, if you would rather buy just one

You may also like: the best exercises to increase your vertical jump and knee pain in volleyball.