How to clean my shoes so they grip better?!?!?

[john]

I would like know how to clean my indoor shoes (asics, gel-modesto)? i heard you put water on it, but can someone provide a following through instruction for me? Anything else that could help me would be great because I have a high school competition in just a few days thx to all people that could help :)

[Cheung]

Take a towel, dampen it generously, put it by the courtside.
Whenever you feel the soles becomign slippy, stamp on the towel inbetween points. Slide the sole of your foot across dry floor to remove excess water.

the grip should improve.
Yonex also produce a spray for the sole of the shoe. Dunno if it's available elsewhere in the world.

[klaphat]

One important hint though.

You will never get sufficient grip, if you are playing on a slippery surface.

You could therefore consider to wipe the floor before you start playing. If you have sufficient time, it is also good to wash the floor. That however requires that the floor has enough time to dry. Otherwise, stick with the wiping.

[trapped-never]

I have some habit that may help you a bit. When I feel that my shoes on the floor and/or racket in the hand are slipping I stir the hands on shoe soles. It is not probably 100% higienic but it works fine.

[Mag]

Don't do it with your racquet hand though...!

[trapped-never]

Why? Where is the problem? I do it mostly with racket hand.

[Mag]

Sweat + dirt = muck

The dirt will clog up the pores of your grip, and shorten its lifetime.

[cooler]

on the plus side, the dirt and muck can increase the grip of a sweaty palm. ;)

where i live, the city spray gravels onto icy and pack snow roads to increase tire grip. same principle

However, like u said Mag, i personally won't use my racquet hand to wipe the runner soles. The wet towel on the sideline method is what i see most common.

[Iwan]

Spray some coke (or other gummy substance on the traction of your shoes *grin* and then let it dry and use that pair of shoes only on court. Might make the court a bit sticky after sometime... hehehe :)

I just happened to remember when someone spilled coke onto my school's badminton court, and when no body cleaned it up properly, with soap, the court became sticky and it felt great playing on that sticky floor :)

[Martin]

Coke! Yes that is a good tip, but instead of putting it on the soles of your shoes you can mix a can of coke into a bucket of water. the as suggested above, wash the floor with this mixture. this technique is also used in theatre to stop dancers slipping on the floor. :o)

have fun!

[Don]

I've tried that, the coke tends to pick up more dirt and is harder to clean afterwards. A damp clothe is the best way to go.

[TDotSmAsHer]

Are you guys serious??!

[Don]

Yes... Let me guess you wear regular running shoes to play badminton?

[TDotSmAsHer]

No, I wear court shoes... I meant are you actually serious about the Coke thing?

[trapped-never]

I am quite positive that if you would see the grips on my rackets you would not call them dirty. Washing the grip with soap is not that big issue.
I understand that performance of the grip can be influenced by cluging. The problem is that my palms are sweating so much that none of the grips I have tested was absorbing enough. The one that would probably work well - a textile one - I do not want to use for economic/higienic reasons.
As for my grips lifetime I can use one for 3-4 months having three rackets and playing 5-7 times a week.

[trapped-never]

One more proposition. I have observed that some players are stiring their calfs with soles. Once you start to sweat it works fine.

[Cheung]

Coke? Nah, not that serious. You can use 7-up, sprite, cream soda, fanta as alternatives

[Mag]

Jeez, sorry. Do it whichever way you want. But don't forget to cool down if you're gonna be around people...

[trapped-never]

I did not felt offended. I was just discussing the thing because I had different opinion. No need for cooling down on my side, believe me.

If my post looked like I am concerned too much it was my poor English that is guilty. I am using just technical English 95% of time.

[ray]

Wet towels on the court side is good, but if not available, I wipe the bottom of my soles on the top part of my socks when I'm in between play.