When Footwear Meets Clinical Testing
In April 2025, a team of physicians and biomechanical researchers set out to answer a critical question for pickleball players:
Do your shoes actually improve balance—or do they compromise it?
To find out, they conducted the first-ever real-world clinical study comparing commercially available pickleball shoes head-to-head. The study, Comparison of Balance with Adult Pickleball Players in Commercially Available Shoes, used hospital-grade motion capture to analyze balance, gait, and stability in real players under real court conditions.
The results were clear. SQAIRZ significantly outperformed every major athletic brand tested—including ASICS, HOKA, and Nike—across every balance and stability metric.
The XRZ™ Pickleball Shoe delivered the strongest platform, reduced joint compensation, and improved players’ balance scores more than any other shoe in the study.
Why Stability Matters in Pickleball
Pickleball continues to be the fastest-growing sport in North America, with over 36 million participants. But that boom has brought a steep rise in injuries, particularly among players over 40. Recent data projects pickleball-related injuries will cost the U.S. healthcare system over $500 million annually, with sprains, falls, and joint stress leading the charge.
Footwear plays a major role in this injury risk. When a shoe fails to support balance, instability travels up the kinetic chain—affecting ankles, knees, hips, and the lower back.Stability is the foundation of injury prevention and performance, especially in a game driven by quick cuts, lateral movements, and sudden stops.
How the Study Was Conducted
This study was conducted during a live pickleball tournament in Crestview, Florida, with 53 adult recreational players between the ages of 27 and 63 (average age: 44.9). Participants were everyday players—league regulars and weekend warriors—not professionals.
Each athlete completed three walking trials on a flat, astroturf-covered concrete surface:
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Barefoot (as a gait baseline)
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In their own athletic or pickleball shoes
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In the SQAIRZ XRZ™ Pickleball Shoe
All trials were recorded using the Kinetisense Risk of Fall motion capture system, a clinically validated tool widely used in hospitals and rehab centers for balance and gait analysis. Testing order was randomized to reduce bias. Any stumbles or irregular trials were retaken to ensure accuracy.
See the full study here.
What the Data Revealed
SQAIRZ vs. ASICS
Participants wearing ASICS shoes showed 33% worse balance scores compared to when wearing SQAIRZ. Researchers attributed this to ASICS’ narrow toe box, which limits toe splay and reduces surface area contact with the court. The shoe’s supination-favoring chassis also contributed to increased instability—particularly in players with forefoot varus positioning.
SQAIRZ vs. HOKA
Players wearing HOKA experienced 26.5% lower balance scores than when wearing SQAIRZ. Video analysis revealed increased medial-to-lateral ankle translation at foot strike in HOKA shoes, which was significantly reduced when players wore SQAIRZ. This difference in balance and joint control was linked to the stiffness and design of the shoe’s sole.
Overall Findings
Every major brand tested—Nike, New Balance, Sketchers—delivered lower balance scores compared to SQAIRZ. Across all ages and genders, the XRZ™ consistently improved balance performance.
In the study’s gender-specific analysis, men wearing SQAIRZ improved their balance scores by 12.89% compared to their own shoes, while women saw an even greater 17.68% improvement compared to their standard shoes.
Why the XRZ™ Stood Out
The XRZ™ was the only shoe in the study to consistently improve player balance across every scenario.
It was built from the ground up for pickleball, with stability-enhancing features including:
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Roomier Toe Box – Encourages natural toe splay and a wider base of support
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Smart Traction™ Outsole – Delivers grip in all directions for faster, more controlled movement
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Reinforced Sidewalls – Provides superior ankle containment for lateral stability
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Durable Construction – Built to last through the demands of serious pickleball play, backed by a 6-month outsole warranty
By improving balance, the XRZ™ helps players move more confidently, stay in control during explosive cuts and stops, and protect their joints from unnecessary stress.
The Takeaway: Balance Is the Foundation of Every Movement
This study confirms what athletes feel on the court—shoes play a measurable role in both performance and injury risk. SQAIRZ improved balance scores more than any shoe tested, offering players a competitive advantage in both stability and protection.
For players over 40, the right shoe can mean staying active longer, moving with more confidence, and reducing the risk of common injuries. With the XRZ™, that performance is now backed by clinical data from the first real-world pickleball balance study ever conducted.