- Durability - the more durable the better, of course. Soles that are stitched to the uppers will generally last longer than soles that are glued to the uppers, especially if you drag your toes from time to time. Soft inner soles will probably wear out faster than harder insoles, but these days new insoles can be purchased from distributors for a small cost. Leather will be more durable than most fabrics, although most shoes should wear out their shock absorption ability long before tearing the fabric of the shoes becomes a problem.
Similarly, rubber soles will not last as long as the plastic varieties, but this is not really a factor since in most cases the shock absorbing qualities will have deteriorated long before the sole is worn out. If you are waiting for the sole to wear out before changing your shoes, you are waiting way too long!
- Grip - this is another biggie. You want a shoe that grips just how you like it. Some players like a little bit of slide, while others (like myself) prefer as much grip as they can get. Some surfaces are more slippery than others - for example, Taraflex isn't as grippy as a clean wooden floor. We all know how slippery a dusty and dirty wooden floor can be!
If you prefer a lot of grip, then go for a flexible rubber sole with a ribbed/patterned surface. If you like to slide a little, then things get more complicated, and you may need to buy two different types of shoes - one set with a harder plastic sole for very grippy floors which will allow you to slide a little, and one set with normal rubber soles for more slippery floors. But if you are sliding into position like Roger Federer at the French Open, you need more grip!
Also, as Carl Danner kindly pointed out, a shoe that has soles that come up the side of the shoe around the toes (such as the Yasaka Gatien Pro Deluxe shoe pictured above) can be useful for allowing you to roll your foot a little and still be able to grip when pushing off, instead of having your shoe slide away on its edge, which can cause you to slip at a time when you are very vulnerable to injury.
- Stiffness/Torsion - table tennis shoes will vary in the amount of bend they possess between heel and toe, and from side to side. Some players prefer less stiffness, and others prefer more. Too much bend and you will receive less support from the shoe, and too little and your foot will be constricted when you move around the court.
- Looks - while not affecting the your game directly, playing while wearing a stylish shoes feels good and can give you a mental boost. And if you lose, at least you looked good out there!
Choosing Your Table Tennis Shoes
What to Look For In a Table Tennis Shoe (continued)
By Greg Letts, About.com
Yasaka Gatien Pro Deluxe Table Tennis Shoes
Photo by courtesy Table Tennis Pioneers
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