Being playing as a setter in my team for so long allows me to identify the setting as the most difficult position to play as compared to other positions. For playing comfortably as a setter please have a look of our comprehensive guide on best volleyball shoes for setters.
You shouldn’t compromise on your volleyball shoes as a setter because if you are not getting the best volleyball shoes for setters, then you are missing out on something.
What does a setter do in volleyball?
Well, honestly a setter is the backbone of any volleyball team. The entire pressure of the game is on setter due to numerous reasons which includes keeping players in alignment as well as keeping the flow of the game to keep it in its team favor.
A setter is a guy who usually does all the hard work and aligns players to move forward in a directional manner.
Also, if something goes wrong inside the court, a setter is the one who will be criticized most of the time.
If the setter starts setting the balls at wrong angles then the spikers won’t be able to do much and the game will become worse.
Enough of talking about difficulties a setter faces while playing volleyball but now discuss what are the benefits to be a setter inside your volleyball team.
Benefits of being a Setter:
A setter is basically a soul of the team while on the field because you as a setter can manage the entire game. If you are a good setter, then you will get much more favors and outreach than other roles.
In volleyball, a setter works like a glow which unites both the front and back of the court. The whole team of yours will be dependent on your good skills to get through many successful obstacles which will make you a worthy player of your team.
The setting skills inside volleyball is very rare because no one wants a place where they need to do all of the brain work. That’s where you as a setter come into place and make your space inside the team whether it is a national team or an international team.
A setter is someone who needs to be in touch with all the spikers/attackers and keep them aligned together to win the game.
The shoes that are recommended for a setter should have the following qualities in order for you to play with your full-strength.
- Responsiveness
- Breathability
- Impact Protection
- Shock Absorption
What are the best volleyball shoes for setters?
After analyzing the top volleyball shoes for setters, I’ve compiled a list of top 9 best volleyball shoes for setters. Here you can check the detailed reviews of these 9 best volleyball shoes for setters in 2023.
1. ASICS Men’s Sky Elite FlyteFoam Mid Top 2 Volleyball Shoes
With perfect cushioning and good responsiveness, the ASICS Men’s Sky Elite FlyteFoam shoes are able to take the top spot in this list of top 8 best volleyball shoes for setters.
Although, this perfect pair of shoes can be good for any volleyball position but due to its marvellous cushioning ability, it is strongly recommended for setters.
As setters frequently go with moves that can be harmful if there is not enough cushioning and responsiveness in the shoe.
Shock absorption factor is also considered as a very critical factor while choosing the perfect volleyball shoes for setters.
While performing side-to-side movements, this awesome piece of shoe gives you enough stability and ensures your safety while doing lateral movements.
With its curved heel shape, it will allow setters to cut-in in any of their movements and generate more power for their next move.
You will be able to gain huge vertical power while transitioning from horizontal position and this is one of the pluses of this awesome pair of shoes for volleyball.
When as a setter, you wear this shoe for your routine gameplay, you will start seeing noticeable change in your game due to its rare features and enough stability.
Also, If we talk about the comfortability while playing volleyball, this shoe will set you apart from the rest of the players. Because of its built-in underfoot protection, you will be able to comfortably play any required move.
In-short, if you are a setter and looking for a perfect shoe with a mix of quality and value then you must go with ASICS Men’s Sky Elite FlyteFoam shoes.
Pros
- Great cushioning features.
- Good Traction.
- Shock absorption is plenty good.
- Breathability is great.
Cons
- More Expensive.
- Not available for all sizes.
2. Mizuno Wave Momentum 2:
If you want to have a big impact on your gameplay and speed, then you must go with this Mizuno Wave Momentum 2 Volleyball shoes due to its great stability, cushioning, breathability and shock absorption.
Also, this shoe comes for both men and women and whether you want the best volleyball shoes for women or men, you can consider this pair of shoes as a fair option.
Also, there are many famous players in this world, who trust in shoes built with Mizuno. Make sure to give a try to Mizuno wave momentum 2.
The reason we keep this shoe at the 2nd position in this list is a little bit of difference in price and some other factors between Asics Men’s Sky Elite shoe and Mizuno Wave 2 Momentum volleyball shoes.
Of Course we keep Asics Men’s sky elite shoes on the top because it checks all the boxes that a volleyball player, especially a setter needs while playing volleyball but if you like the design of Mizuno Wave Momentum 2, you can surely go with this shoe because there is not much difference in the qualities of both of these models.
You are free to go with any one whether it is Asics Men’s sky Elite or Mizuno wave 2 momentum shoe. Make the selection as per your taste of design while selecting from these 2 models.
(Best overall for women)
3. ASICS Women’s Gel-Tactic 2 Volleyball Shoes
Want to make comfortable moves while playing volleyball as a women’s volleyball player, then you should go with Asics women’s Gel Tactic 2 volleyball shoes.
This shoe is awesome for allowing setters to move freely while playing any of their favorite moves to get points for their team.
Also, there are times when as a setter, you need to jump for serving over-ball and hence there should be enough bounce in your shoe which will help you jump comfortably as well as keep your foot secure from any injury.
Shock absorption is also a great factor while choosing shoe for volleyball setters due to their rare jumping and difficult moves for taking their teams to good position.
You as a setter will be the heart and soul of your team and hence you should keep in mind then you will need to stay calm.
In order for you to stay calm while playing volleyball, the breathability of your shoes also matters the most.
If you want to control twisting while playing volleyball, then this shoe will be your first choice due to its lightweight midsole to avoid twisting while on the court.
Gripping is a most considered point for shoes of players from many sports including volleyball, baseball and football etc. You should be very careful about the gripping of your shoes to play volleyball comfortably.
Make sure that your shoes have enough gripping onto their soles. This awesome pair of shoes are equipped with built-in gripping features that will help you stay still even if you take any kind of harmful move.
By having this shoe as a volleyball player and more specifically as a setter, you will feel a lot much increase in your performance while playing volleyball and you will be able to contribute much in terms of speed and performance for your team.
Pros
- Breathability
- Cushioning
- Enhanced performance
- Good Traction.
- Very Stylish.
Cons
- Break-in period required.
4. Nike Men’s Shoes KD 14 Black White CW3935-001
As this shoe was originally designed for basketball but still it is an awesome piece of performance, speed, durability and cushioning in volleyball that makes this shoe perfect for setters.
If you need a stylish look with your volleyball shoes that will give you some extra edge over your competitors in terms of speed and performance, then Nike Men’s Shoes KD 14 should be your first choice.
With good gripping and extra fast traction, this shoe dominates the market due to a large number of benefits on other shoes.
Although the look of this shoe is just awesome, someone might think of this shoe as a regular fancy one, but this is not the case.
Even after testing it, it clarifies that this shoe has enough cushioning, traction and stability which makes it a perfect choice for setters.
There are numerous other things which you should keep in mind including the shock absorption is much better as well it will give you proper grip so you can’t just slip over the court.
No matter whether you are playing on a wood or plastic court, this shoe will give you enough traction and you will not slip on any kind of court that you are playing on.
You will feel great while wearing this shoe which will provide you everything which you need to play as a setter and move freely throughout the court.
5. Nike Men’s Kyrie Infinity Black/University Red/Dark Smoke Grey (CZ0204 004)
Want to get a pair of shoes that are perfect for setting, then Nike Men’s kyrie Infinity volleyball shoes are perfect for you.
Nike Men’s Kyrie volleyball shoes is a very lightweight shoe that is well fit and supportive for your feet.
Although originally built for basketball players, it still has good and enough features for volleyball players.
Made with great quality material which provides comfort while playing volleyball as a setter as well as protect feet from any harmful injury.
The great thing about this shoe is it looks stylish and will separate you apart from the rest of volleyball players in terms of look and feel as well as performance and speed.
With excellent traction and good cushioning support, this shoe is well fit for players who need a quality shoe for their routine volleyball play.
A setter who needs to move more often will need this kind of quality shoe in order to get a good grip on the court and lead their volleyball team in terms of management and setting.
Due to its improved performance and quality midsole, it will enable you to play more comfortably while keeping your foot secure from any kind of shock. It will allow you to play your natural game without even thinking about the outcome of any movement that is required while playing and serving your volleyball team.
6. Nike Women’s Air Zoom Hyperace Volleyball Shoes Black/White Size 8 M US
These awesome volleyball shoes are specially designed for playing inside very hard courts so you as a setter won’t be hesitating while choosing this shoe.
You will feel lightening speed while wearing this shoe during the game.
As far as the cushioning is concerned, this awesome shoe has very responsive cushioning.
With its awesome breathability feature, you will feel stability and comfort while playing the game.
In this shoe, they’ve made some adjustments that were not present in their previous model, which was known as Zoom Hyperspike.
Its durability is increased with the help of its unique mesh upper.
While wearing this shoe, you will feel comfortable due to its lightweight and awesome impact absorption and hence it will improve your game and give you comfort while playing your favorite moves during the game.
With its great outsole, due to rubber inside it will increase traction even on hard courts.
Due to its elite Nike’s look, this shoe is perfect for stylish volleyball players.
While playing volleyball, keep yourself stable and hence play your natural game, it is necessary to have support and stability in your volleyball shoes, this shoe check the mark into this as well and hence the reason of including this shoe in this list is that you’ve the options of design to choose from as most of the shoes listed here are high quality shoes.
Pros
- Stability & Support
- Good traction
- Awesome Cushioning.
Cons
- Not Available for Wide Size Feet.
7. Mizuno Men’s Wave Bolt 6 Volleyball-Shoes
We all know the Existence of Mizuno in the Volleyball shoe industry. Their products are simply awesome due to their quality and comfort they provide to players.
This shoe ensures the stability that every player must need to move quickly and efficiently while playing volleyball.
With its high quality sole, this shoe gives you support and stability. Also, in order for you to participate with your full attention, it will keep your feet fresh with its perfectly breathability feature.
Cushioning is a big concern for shoes selected specifically for setters and there should be no compromise on it, so Mizuno took care of it and there is a well cushioning feature that helps setters to move freely inside the court.
Performance is the key factor and when you are not satisfied with the quality of shoe that you are wearing, then you can’t be involved in the game with your full attention. Keeping this in mind, Mizuno built this shoe.
It will not only enable you to keep your feet fresh but also helps you in moving here very quickly and efficiently.
Pros
- Good Stability & Support.
- Efficiency.
Cons
- Little Lack of cushioning than other shoes in this list.
8. Mizuno Men’s Wave Tornado X Volleyball-Shoes
Mizuno Men’s Wave Tornado X volleyball shoe is the perfect shoe for volleyball players who jumps more often and with its great shock attenuation feature can get the comfort while landing from a jump.
As I already mentioned that many setters usually need to jump for setting up the over-ball or maybe if a setter is lefty, then he/she might probably hit the ball usually. So, for this setters need to have this kind of shoe in order to jump higher and land safely while setting the volleyball or maybe while hitting the ball if the setter is left-handed.
Alongside, the awesome shock attenuation feature, this shoe is good for cushioning and it is responsive in this feature.
Also, the amount of stability that is required to keep yourself stable while playing is built-in with this model.
Many volleyball players usually select shoes from Mizuno due to its high quality products.
The only drawback with this shoe is this might not be available in wide feet sizes and hence you need to check whether it is available in your size or not on Amazon.
With its non-marking outsole, you will get proper cushioning and stability while going for any particular move that you like.
Gripping is another awesome fact that you need to consider while selecting shoes for your volleyball game, this pair of shoes is incorporated with great gripping features and hence you will feel quite an improvement in your game while wearing this shoe.
The speed that you’ll get by having this pair of shoes is awesome. Also, this shoe is not only good for playing indoors but also you can play outdoors by wearing this awesome shoe from Mizuno.
Pros
- Responsive Cushioning.
- Great Gripping.
Cons
- Not available for wide feet.
9. Adidas Performance Women’s Crazyflight X Volleyball Shoes
This shoe is built with high quality material that is perfect for allowing players to get a boost into their jumps as well as allowing them to move freely throughout the court.
Breathability feature adds some extra functionality to this shoe and hence makes it an ideal shoe for setters.
As I discussed earlier, the setter in any volleyball team needs to work out more in order to keep their team and spikers aligned, so you will need to take certain moves in order to keep the flow of your team and hence you require a good quality shoe in order to perform better.
Having this awesome shoe from Adidas in your shoe collection as a volleyball player will surely give you an extra edge over your competitors and hence you will be able to boost up your performance and speed during the game.
This awesome piece of shoe has proper and awesome textile lining from giving you as a player the comfort that is required.
Keeping yourself stable during the game is also a very challenging part and hence this shoe will provide you the required stability on the court and get you out from fear of falling down during the game.
Pros
- High Breathability.
- Enough Stability.
- Comfortable.
Cons
- Not very long lasting.
FAQs:
Are high tops better for volleyball?
Well, actually it depends on the position you play in your team because players who frequently need to change their positions and make some quick lateral movements should go with a low top shoe. But if you are in a position where ankle support is the first priority, then you can go with high tops.
What is the hardest position in volleyball?
No doubt the setter is the hardest position in volleyball because a setter needs to keep their team intact and allow everyone to contribute properly in order to win the game by setting balls and making lateral and quick moves to get things in position.
Do shoes matter in volleyball?
Of Course the shoe matters the most in volleyball. It enables a player to make lateral movements so quickly in order to perform any required action. The better quality shoes you will be wearing, the more speedy you will be inside the court and hence it will increase performance and quality of your game.
What is the shortest position in volleyball?
A libero no doubt is mostly the shortest player of any volleyball team. The reason behind this is simply that a libero is not concerned mostly with the net and it needs to play the defensive game.
What makes a great setter?
Proper communication, momentum and keeping the team intact makes someone a great setter.
Final Verdict:
Volleyball is a game that requires a huge amount of stability and comfort during the game. A setter in volleyball is probably the hardest position and hence you as a setter needs to be equipped with stuff that helps you during the game. Hence we’ve compiled a list of shoes that are perfect for setters and if you want to get improvements and speed during your gameplay then you must read it thoroughly and select the required volleyball shoe for setters.
The quality of your game will depend on how comfortable you are during the game and hence we selected the list of shoes that will give you enough comfortability and breathability during the volleyball game, make sure to select the model that you liked the most.
If you are curious about something and want us to write about that, then make sure to list it in the comment section and we will come up with a comprehensive guide about your requested topic. Happy Playing!!!