Bald shoes = more grip?

**Chia** · 11-14-2002, 09:04 AM

If you look at it this way, race cars use slick tires fore more grip. Slicks are tires without treads.
Wouldnt it be the same for shoes also. A bald shoe would have more grip than i treaded one?

**JChen99** · 11-14-2002, 09:26 AM

Originally posted by Chia
If you look at it this way, race cars use slick tires fore more grip. Slicks are tires without treads.
Wouldnt it be the same for shoes also. A bald shoe would have more grip than i treaded one?

I suppose it would... in fact... it mite be too much that will make movements on the court "awkward"

I kno for sure that shoes without the treads would be really noisy to play in with all the noise made while shuffling across the court

maybe we can use this to distract the opponent while playing

Just a thought

**ronk** · 11-14-2002, 10:33 AM

Bald shoes would have better grip for paved roads and rough cement floors. It will be very slipery for smooth wood floors especially if the floor is dusty.

Now if you play on paved roads or rough cement floors

, then use shoes without threads LOL, but if you can play on nice wooden floors, use shoes with some thread.

***kwun*** · 11-14-2002, 01:38 PM

i agree with ronk here. you also need to consider the surface you are stepping on. gym floors are shiny and smooth, but also have tons of dust. having bald soles that doesn't hide the dust will be like stepping on marbles.

**modious** · 11-14-2002, 04:34 PM

yes, was about to say the same thing as ronk! The type of surface plays a major part here....

**marshall** · 11-14-2002, 05:09 PM

Racing slicks are made with a very soft rubber composition, so soft that a thin layer of rubber is often left on the track under heavy acceleration. A fine rubber dust is thrown off the tire as well. I verified this once when I stood behind two very fast cars at a drag strip. Came away with a face full of little black specks.

Point is, such a compound wouldn't work for badminton; too sticky and the dust would clog the bottom of the bald shoe as others have said.

**chickenpoodle** · 02-10-2005, 01:53 AM

sort of reviving a dead thread here, perhaps, but i agree totally.
during a race, do you notice how racers follow the "blue groove" line? its usually a black strip along the track, but they call it the blue groove due to the bluish tone of the rubber compound oils.
but anyhow, this is left on the track from wear of the rubber during the race, as others have said, and its this that provides traction.

it is honestly very slippery when you have a brand new shiny slick, if anyone has ever tried them.
i can verify this, having used michelin pilot race H2 and M2's for bike tires.

and when you have a dusty track and a slick new tire, it will most certainly result in a very slippery conditions and perhaps a crash if you are not careful.