Has anyone actually balled in Chuck Taylors

[eliteballer]

Created in 1917 and THE dominant basketball shoe through the 70's.

Wilt had his 100 point game in them. Russell, West, Oscar, all played in them too.

Just now wondering how much of a difference they actually make in performance.

[Kblaze8855]

Ive worn real 70s Chuck taylors. I didnt play ball in them. They were my uncles. Ive played in the modern chuck taylors but nothing serious.

Where I came up people wore whatever. Ive seen many a boot on the outside courts.

In a real game...I cant imagine it though. Just someone stepping on your foot....

[RedBlackAttack]

Interesting question. I never have, but I would imagine the lack of ankle support would be an issue for me.

Unrelated, but I made the mistake of trying to ball (just on the playground) with running shoes on one time. Terrible decision. I twisted my ankle twice in the span of about 20 minutes, the second of which forced me to limp off the court for the day.

These look like they have at least a little ankle support, but not much. Why shoe companies weren't on that a little sooner remains a mystery to me.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ycpLRe4ADEo/TLsvyCKHcNI/AAAAAAAABBI/yqeywe_j-Dc/s1600/50%27s+VINTAGE+ORIGINAL+CHUCK+TAYLOR+HI-TOP+sz+5.5+RARE1.jpg

[JellyBean]

I wore and balled in some Chuck Taylors back in the late 70s and early 80s, for youth basketball. They were a good pair of kicks. The only down side was after you washed them a few times, that canvas material starts to get a little thin and you can't cut like you use to. But they were nice.

[CavaliersFTW]

I have, I posted pictures of the result in a different thread a long time ago

But here it is again (warning, nasty blister):

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIlBJDYrNRI/TxWkGqHvZ7I/AAAAAAAAC-c/Z8oHdD8M_kA/s640/IMG_2125.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6z84_nCJ9M0/TxWkIPyDh0I/AAAAAAAAC-g/2bgcRk4ESPM/s640/IMG_2127.jpg

Lateral movement in chucks for me = tearing the little toe of both feet. Though I'm sure players back then knew how to tape and care for their feet accordingly better than I can in those types of shoes. Socks alone didn't cut it.

[oarabbus]

Interesting question. I never have, but I would imagine the lack of ankle support would be an issue for me.

Unrelated, but I made the mistake of trying to ball (just on the playground) with running shoes on one time. Terrible decision. I twisted my ankle twice in the span of about 20 minutes, the second of which forced me to limp off the court for the day.

These look like they have at least a little ankle support, but not much. Why shoe companies weren't on that a little sooner remains a mystery to me.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ycpLRe4ADEo/TLsvyCKHcNI/AAAAAAAABBI/yqeywe_j-Dc/s1600/50%27s+VINTAGE+ORIGINAL+CHUCK+TAYLOR+HI-TOP+sz+5.5+RARE1.jpg


Partially tore two ligaments in my ankle that way. It absolutely sucked.

[Hey Yo]

I felt sorry for Balboa after I saw him sprinting in Taylor's on concrete.

"Training hard now, my feet are fried now"

[CavaliersFTW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdZmvwQD4A

Oscar Robertson goes through the motions necessary to wear shoes like that. A lot more prep-time spent on foot care prior to practicing or playing it seems.

[eliteballer]

Interesting question. I never have, but I would imagine the lack of ankle support would be an issue for me.

Unrelated, but I made the mistake of trying to ball (just on the playground) with running shoes on one time. Terrible decision. I twisted my ankle twice in the span of about 20 minutes, the second of which forced me to limp off the court for the day.

These look like they have at least a little ankle support, but not much. Why shoe companies weren't on that a little sooner remains a mystery to me.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ycpLRe4ADEo/TLsvyCKHcNI/AAAAAAAABBI/yqeywe_j-Dc/s1600/50%27s+VINTAGE+ORIGINAL+CHUCK+TAYLOR+HI-TOP+sz+5.5+RARE1.jpg

A lot of people try to play in running shoes, and while they are light they just don't have the stability, cushioning and durability for jumping and making basketball moves.

[lakerspng]

I've tried. no fun. Worst thing I ever did was show off and dunk a ball at a party. was wearing dress shoes. ball went through the hoop, I hung on the rim for a second, when i let go, didn't realize the ball hadn't bounced away, instead just kind of bounced straight up and down a couple times so when I came down.... yeah, on crutches for the next 4 weeks.

I've never played ball without the correct shoes since. I don't know how those guys played the way they did in those shoes. honestly

[L.Kizzle]

I don't see how one can disrespect they old school so much.

-They played in crappy shoes
-had crappy conditions
-Courts would have dead spots on them
-all the rims weren't the same
-all the backboards weren't the same
-all the balls were not playing condition
-sometimes play as many as 5 games in a row
-had to have own transportation
-shot-clock on the side of the court
-ect, ect, ect.

[sick_brah07]

I don't see how one can disrespect they old school so much.

-They played in crappy shoes
-had crappy conditions
-Courts would have dead spots on them
-all the rims weren't the same
-all the backboards weren't the same
-all the balls were not playing condition
-sometimes play as many as 5 games in a row
-had to have own transportation
-shot-clock on the side of the court
-ect, ect, ect.


this one right here is a masssssive game changer

[JimmyMcAdocious]

In like PE and shit when I had chucks on and no basketball shoes. Definitely not basketball friendly. I was sliding all over the place.

[eliteballer]

I don't see how one can disrespect they old school so much.

-They played in crappy shoes
-had crappy conditions
-Courts would have dead spots on them
-all the rims weren't the same
-all the backboards weren't the same
-all the balls were not playing condition
-sometimes play as many as 5 games in a row
-had to have own transportation
-shot-clock on the side of the court
-ect, ect, ect.

I'm going to take the same view on this Bird did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qWv8f4Pijs&t=6m30s

[eliteballer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdZmvwQD4A

Oscar Robertson goes through the motions necessary to wear shoes like that. A lot more prep-time spent on foot care prior to practicing or playing it seems.

Now that is a damn interesting video...AND he's wearing low cuts, just like Russell did.

[RedBlackAttack]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbdZmvwQD4A

Oscar Robertson goes through the motions necessary to wear shoes like that. A lot more prep-time spent on foot care prior to practicing or playing it seems.
Great video. It really helps explain how these guys did what they did with those shoes on. They essentially mimicked the support of the high tops with the wrap... hell, that probably supplies even more support. The Vaseline on the feet, too...

Oscar had it figured out.

[ralph_i_el]

I played in my chucks and got my foot stomped.on. My big toe was bleeding from under the nail and after a few days my whole toenail fell off.:roll:

[TheMan]

I don't see how one can disrespect the old school so much.

-They played in crappy shoes
-had crappy conditions
-Courts would have dead spots on them
-all the rims weren't the same
-all the backboards weren't the same
-all the balls were not playing condition
-sometimes play as many as 5 games in a row
-had to have own transportation
-shot-clock on the side of the court
-ect, ect, ect.
This

[outbreak]

I've played in them, have also played in slip ons. Not serious games but pick up games with friends. Never had a problem but I've never really had any ankle/feet/leg problems and I used to skate pretty seriously which had me using my ankles and landing on my feet off large stair sets regularly. My legs used to be stronger than my arms lol.

[Rake2204]

I'd be curious to see what playing in them would be like. Even playing in Jordan I's was a little much. They were so thin - it felt as though I was playing barefooted.

[fsvr54]

I play in running shoes all the time, only ever sprained my ankle in basketball shoes.

[eliteballer]

I've played in them, have also played in slip ons. Not serious games but pick up games with friends. Never had a problem but I've never really had any ankle/feet/leg problems and I used to skate pretty seriously which had me using my ankles and landing on my feet off large stair sets regularly. My legs used to be stronger than my arms lol.

Played ball in slippers?

[Prometheus]

I've hit many game-winners in pickup ball wearing Chucks. Not much can be said about my competition... but I'm not very good at basketball, so it's okay.

They're horrible to play in though. I have no idea why they were used so prevalently.