Shoes: the checks a manufacturer asks you to make before playing
Fit, insole, outsole and laces, as listed on Yonex's own safety page, turned into a two-minute routine.
Where this comes from
Yonex USA publishes a page called Using Yonex Products Safely. Its section on badminton and tennis shoes is short. This guide only repeats what that page says and turns it into steps. It does not rank shoes and says nothing about any specific model.
What the page says
- Choose shoes that fit the shape of your feet. The page states that wearing shoes that do not match the shape of your feet is a prime cause of injury.
- Check the shoes for damage and for foreign objects inside, such as sharp objects or sand.
- The insole is not attached with glue and can be taken out by hand.
- Check that the outsole has not hardened or deteriorated.
- Adjust your laces at every use so the shoes fit comfortably.
A two-minute routine
- Tip the shoes over and shake them. Feel inside with your hand for anything hard or sharp.
- Lift the insole out and put it back flat.
- Press the outsole with a thumb and look at it. Note any part that feels hard or looks worn or cracked.
- Lace up again from the toes, so that the fit is comfortable, not painful.
- If something looks wrong, do not play in them; ask the shop or the maker.
What the page does not say
It gives no lifespan, no number of sessions and no test for "hardened". Your own judgement and the maker's advice decide when a pair is finished.