Pickleball insoles for faster split-steps and steadier footing
Pickleball is played in a phone booth: short lateral shuffles, sudden stops at the kitchen line, quick resets, and a lot of hours on unforgiving concrete. Springbak® Springsoles sit under the insole of the court shoes you already play in and return a share of the energy you put into the court — so your first step stays quick through the third game, and your legs feel it less the next morning.
- 2x+
- Force needed to displace a person standing on Springsoles (Weber State force plate)
- 3/32"
- Total thickness — court shoe fit and lateral support stay the same
- 4
- U.S. patents behind the material and profile
- $29.95
- Per pair, made in the USA
What pickleball demands of your feet
- Constant lateral split-steps and shuffles inside a small court
- Hard stops and restarts at the non-volley zone line
- Balance and stability while reaching wide for a dink or drop
- Two or three hours of standing and moving on concrete or asphalt courts
Why Springsoles fit this sport
Quicker first step
Springsoles are made from 1,4-polybutadiene, one of the most resilient materials available. It stores the energy of each stop and returns it into your next push-off instead of swallowing it like foam.
More stable at the line
Force plate testing at Weber State University showed it took more than twice the force to displace a person standing on Springsoles versus standing without them — exactly what you want when you're reaching wide and still need to hold your ground.
Only 3/32 of an inch
They add almost nothing to your court shoe, so lacing, fit and lateral support stay the same. Rec players and 4.0+ tournament players fit them the same way.
The technology, materials and four U.S. patents behind Springsoles are detailed on How it works.
What actually makes the best insoles for pickleball
Most inserts are sold on how soft they feel in the store. On a hard court the question is what the layer under your foot does with the force of every stop — absorb it, or give it back.
| Insole type | On court | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thick cushioned foam | Soft first, flat by season's end | Foam absorbs the energy of your stop and dissipates it as heat, then compresses over a few months of round-robins. It also raises your foot inside a court shoe, which is where lateral roll comes from. |
| Gel pads | Comfort, not return | Gel spreads impact under the heel but gives very little back into the next push-off, and the extra bulk changes how your shoe fits. |
| Rigid arch orthotics | Support, prescribed use | Great when a clinician has prescribed one for your foot. They are built to control motion rather than return energy, so they answer a different question than speed off the line. |
| Springbak® Springsoles | Energy return at 3/32 of an inch | 1,4-polybutadiene stores the energy of each hard stop and returns a share into your next split-step, at a thickness thin enough to slide under the insole already in your shoe. |
“Our department sponsored a strength and stability study at the Weber State University human performance lab. After reviewing the force plate data, showing it took more than twice the force to push off the subjects off the force plate when standing on Springsoles, we have to conclude there is significant strength increase to individuals utilizing Springsoles.”
Challenge Two
The Springbak® core challenge — trunk rotation test
Basketball, volleyball, golf, baseball, track and field and strength training all depend on more than straight-line speed. Core mobility and body control matter just as much, and rotation is the cheapest way to test them — no tape measure, no timing gate.
Test your core rotation
- Stand comfortably with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Keep your feet planted and face straight ahead.
- Extend your arms in front of you, or cross them over your chest.
- Slowly rotate your upper body as far as is comfortable — without moving your feet.
- Note your finishing position: a spot on the wall, a piece of furniture, a mark on the floor.
- Insert your Springbak® Springsoles and repeat the exact same movement.
- Compare your comfort, balance, control and range of rotation.
Do not force the movement. The purpose is to compare how your body feels and moves under the same conditions, so keep the shoes, surface, stance and technique identical on both attempts.
Score your result
Take the test, then rate the second attempt against the first to get your Springbak® Challenge score.
Turn. Control. Compare. Same athlete, same shoes, same challenge.
Fitting them to your pickleball footwear
- Pull the factory insole out of your court shoe, lay the Springsole in flat, then drop the insole back on top.
- Trim the toe to your outline with scissors if your shoe runs narrow.
- Use the same pair in your indoor and outdoor shoes so your footwork timing stays identical.
FAQ
Pickleball insoles — frequently asked questions
Are Springsoles good pickleball insoles?
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Yes. Pickleball is built on short, repeated pushes and hard stops on a rigid surface — the exact loading where a resilient, energy-returning layer helps most. At 3/32" they fit inside court shoes without changing lateral support.
Will they help my balance on the court?
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Force plate testing showed more than twice the force was needed to push a person off balance while standing on Springsoles. Many players describe feeling more planted when they reach for a wide dink.
Do they help with sore feet after long play sessions?
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Springsoles reduce the shock your feet and legs absorb over thousands of contacts on concrete, which is what most players notice first after a long round-robin.
Are they legal for pickleball tournaments?
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They are an insert inside your own shoe, not a device attached to the shoe, so they are legal for recreational and tournament play everywhere we know of. Check your event rules if you have any doubt.
What size pickleball insole should I order?
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Order your US men's or US women's size range and trim to fit. Each pair is $29.95, made in the USA.
Can seniors use them for pickleball?
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Seniors are one of our largest groups of players. See the Springsoles for seniors page for the balance and stability details.
What are the best insoles for pickleball?
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For pickleball the deciding factor is what the insole does with force, not how soft it feels. Cushioned foam absorbs energy and then flattens over a season; a resilient, energy-returning layer like 1,4-polybutadiene gives a share of each stop back into your next push-off. Look for something thin enough to keep your court shoe's lateral support intact — Springsoles are 3/32 of an inch and sit under the insole already in the shoe.
What insoles help with pickleball plantar fasciitis and heel pain?
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Springsoles are not a medical device and do not treat plantar fasciitis, but they do reduce the shock your heel and arch absorb across thousands of contacts on concrete, which is the load most players blame for morning heel pain. If you are being treated for plantar fasciitis, keep any prescribed orthotic and ask your clinician before adding a layer.
Do I need different insoles for indoor and outdoor pickleball courts?
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No. Outdoor concrete and asphalt hit harder than an indoor gym floor, but the same pair works in both. Most players keep one pair in their main court shoe so footwork timing never changes between surfaces.
Can I use the same insoles for tennis shoes?
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Yes — tennis, padel and platform tennis load the foot the same way pickleball does: split-step, hard stop, recover. The same pair moves between court shoes as long as the insole is removable.
Shop now — $29.95 a pair
Add Springsoles to your cart
Every size is one pair of Springbak® Springsoles for pickleball — 3/32 of an inch thick, made in the USA, and they go under the insole already in your shoes. Pick a size below and it drops straight into your springbak.net cart.
Not just for competition
Balance and stability off the court
The same patented material shows up in stability testing, not just performance testing. On a force plate at Weber State University it took more than twice the force to push a person off the plate while standing on Springsoles. If you or a parent are on your feet all day, read Springsoles for seniors: balance and stability all day on your feet.
Related sports
Athletes in these sports face overlapping demands — same plant, same landings, same need for energy return.
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Recommended next steps
See the patented technology
The 3/32-inch profile, 1,4-polybutadiene resilience and the four U.S. patents behind Springsoles.
How it worksTrack your progress
Log vertical jump and sprint times so you can see what this block actually changed.
Open athlete toolsGet Springsoles for pickleball
Pick your size and check out on springbak.net — $29.95, made in the USA.
Shop Springsoles
All other sports
Springbak® — MADE IN THE USA. Individual results vary.