Could it be the shoes?

[southnc]

Only the slow ones. Likewise, no self-respecting basketball player will follow that trend. Serious athletes know better.

Nope - actually, the Olympic marathon was won once by a barefoot runner.

This doesn't seem like a well-educated response - know what better?

 

[handiman]

Nope - actually, the Olympic marathon was won once by a barefoot runner.

1) Yeah, and how would his times stack up today? What someone did a half century ago isn't of much interest to today's athletes.

2) Racing flats have a lot in common with minimalist shoes, and training in them would greatly increase injury risk. As would trying to run fast without proper footwear.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

It's true that basketball requires a lot more lateral movement than running does. However, you do not need a cushioned shoe to make those moves. Cushioning has nothing to do with movement. You could very easily play barefoot and make those same moves, except that traction would be difficult on a glassy hardwood floor.

A near-barefoot shoe with a proper tread with plenty of traction should to do the trick, without any of the thick cushioning.

I've read the current Vibram shoe soles wear out quickly for sports like basketball; but, I believe they will be releasing new models soon with more robust treads for such activity.

Also, since the Vibram allows your toes to spread out freely, you have better balance and much less chance to roll your ankle.

And remember that all near-barefoot shoes are feather light, which means that your feet will move quicker and more precisely, with less chance of injury. Thick, cushioned shoes weight a lot more. Think about it - if I attached weights to the end of your baseball bat, do you think you could hit the ball as well?

I have a pair of vibrams, they're pretty sweet but I think they would be pretty bad for basketball. You move unnatrually fast and change directions for that. they have some sturdier bottoms for them, mainly for trekking in heavier terrain. they do change the way you walk though...but I don't think they're meant for jumping up and down like in basketball, that is a lot of stress IMO.

 

[southnc]

1) Yeah, and how would his times stack up today? What someone did a half century ago isn't of much interest to today's athletes.

2) Racing flats have a lot in common with minimalist shoes, and training in them would greatly increase injury risk. As would trying to run fast without proper footwear.

1) 2:15:16.2 - A record at that time and not too shabby by today's standards.

2) So, your implying that until cushioned shoes arrived, humans could not run??? People have been running fast over vast distances long before the cushioned shoe era arrived 25-30 years ago. Your feet have thousands of years of evolution that makes them ideal for running and catching prey. The mechanisms in your foot are far better that air, gel, or anything else. Running on cushioned shoes screws up your stride and the mechanics of proper foot movement. Do some research before making silly comments.

 

[southnc]

I have a pair of vibrams, they're pretty sweet but I think they would be pretty bad for basketball. You move unnatrually fast and change directions for that. they have some sturdier bottoms for them, mainly for trekking in heavier terrain. they do change the way you walk though...but I don't think they're meant for jumping up and down like in basketball, that is a lot of stress IMO.

I agree the Vibrams are not ideal for basketball, as they are currently designed.

However, as far as jumping is concerned, cushioned shoes actually result in higher impact stress than a barefoot would.

http://news.discovery.com/human/running-barefoot-impact-stress.html

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

they really change the way I walk and jog really..weird, I move like Spiderman or something.

 

[handiman]

Do some research before making silly comments.

You mean, like regurgitating material from a widely quoted, barefoot running study sponsored by Vibram?