Low, mid or tall collar: which basketball shoe cut suits your game?

The collar height changes how the shoe feels around the ankle.

• Low: the Nike Precision 7 has a low collar that provides mobility at the ankle, and the Under Armour Lockdown 7 Low has a low-cut collar.
• Mid: the Under Armour Spawn 7 Mid is a mid-cut shoe.
• Tall: the Nike G.T. Jump Academy has a tall collar that gives extra coverage and support when you jump high and often.

BOOST, Bounce or Zoom Air: which shoes use which cushioning?

Each brand names its cushioning. Here is which shoe uses which. adidas uses BOOST in the Dame X and the Harden Volume 10, and a Bounce midsole in the Anthony Edwards 2. Nike uses Zoom Air: the KD16 combines Nike Air and Zoom Air. Among the other shoes, the adidas Initiation has a Dreamstrike+ midsole, the adidas Subzone has Cloudfoam cushioning, and the Under Armour Lockdown 7 has an EVA midsole.

Do you play indoors or on outdoor concrete?

Check the surface the shoe is built for. The Jordan Luka 77 is built for outdoor play on concrete courts, with a high-abrasion mesh upper. The Under Armour Spawn 7 Mid is described for hardwood or blacktop, and the Anta Swift Clash 6.0 for indoor or outdoor courts.

If you are buying your first pair for casual games, start with the Nike Precision 7. If you play outdoors most of the time, start with the Luka 77. See every court shoe in basketball shoes.