Footwear
Regardless of whether your shoe is a specialist table tennis shoe, or some other type of racket sport shoe, there are a number of factors to keep in mind when selecting your new shoes.
Comfort - The breath-ability of the material used in the shoe will affect how comfortable it is to play in. Full leather shoes and some of the heavier fabrics can toast your toes unless they have adequate ventilation holes, while lighter mesh fabrics give plenty of ventilation to let the heat out.
Support - Different players require different amounts of support. Make sure you get a shoe that matches your requirements for support.
Shock Absorption - Most table tennis shoes are designed to be as light as possible, the amount of shock absorbing material sometimes get sacrificed. This may not matter if you never play for very long. Keep in mind that the shock absorbing qualities of your shoe are going to reduce over time.
Weight - Extra will slow you down and tire you out. Lighter is better, but usually involves some sort of compromise in other areas, so those ultralight may not be very good at support or shock absorption.
Durability - The more durable the better, soles that are stitched to the uppers will generally last longer. Soft inner soles will probably wear out faster, but new insoles can be purchased from distributors. Leather will be more durable than most fabrics, although most shoes wear out their shock absorption qualities long before the fabric. Rubber soles will not last as long as the plastic varieties.
Grip - Some players like a little bit of slide, while others prefer grip, take into consideration the surface too some surfaces are more slippery than others.
If you prefer a lot of grip, then go for a flexible rubber sole with a ribbed/patterned surface. If you like to slide you’ll need one set with a harder plastic sole for very grippy floors, and one set with normal rubber soles for more slippery floors.
A shoe that has soles that come up the side of the shoe around the toes can be useful for allowing you to roll your foot a little and still be able to grip when pushing off.
Stiffness - 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.