5 Basketball Shoes With The Best Energy Return in 2025

How we test Basketball shoes with the energy return

Our testing process starts with purchasing a pair of basketball shoes with our own money to avoid bias and brand loyalty.

First, we perform the shoes’ on-foot testing on the court and then dive into a more in-depth analysis in our lab. We use specialised tools and equipment to measure 30+ shoe parameters, including energy return.

For the latter, we follow the industry’s acclaimed ASTM F1976 protocol to retrieve the most reliable and consistent results. The test involves dropping an 8.5 kg mass from a height of 50 mm onto each shoe’s forefoot and heel areas. The hitting points remain consistent at 12% and 75% of the shoe length from the heel. It is also important to mention that we repeat the drop 30 times, conditioning the shoe for the first 25 reps, and then measuring the average energy return in the last 5 reps. The higher the percentage (%), the bouncier the shoe.

Shoes with a forefoot energy return of 64% or more make it to our catalogue of basketball shoes with high energy return.

Energy return vs. shock absorption in basketball shoes

While both energy return and shock absorption are related to the shoe’s underfoot cushioning, the two reflect entirely different characteristics.

When the shoe’s sole compresses under the load of runs, jumps, and first steps, shock absorption indicates how much of the generated force is absorbed by the shoe (aka impact protection), whereas energy return shows how much of that force returns to the player (aka rebound).

Our extensive lab data shows that basketball shoes with the highest energy return do not necessarily have high shock absorption as well. You can have a very bouncy yet minimally cushioned shoe (like Nike Sabrina) or a well-cushioned yet a bit mushy shoe (like NB Fresh Foam BB).

Based on our lab measurements, the energy return of basketball shoes ranges from 45 to 85%, with the higher range starting at 64%. Meanwhile, shock absorption ranges from 85 to 125 SA, with the higher range starting at 105 SA.

You can find out which basketball shoes have the highest shock absorption in our respective guide.

Pros: The benefits of high energy return in basketball shoes

It is important to note that high-rebound shoes don’t just give you additional energy out of nowhere. These shoes are simply more effective at restoring their shape after being compressed. It is your own energy (or rather some part of it) that is stored and then released by the shoe’s midsole.

In running shoes, that means increased running economy (less effort needed to maintain high speed), and in basketball shoes, it translates into the following benefits:

1. Explosiveness for take-offs: The added bounce provides an extra lift for first steps, jump shots, contested layups, and directional bursts.

The effect is particularly noticeable with prior momentum, when you take a few steps before launching off the ground, as you don’t get the same effect from jumping from a standstill position (i.e., rebounds and blocks).

So, when someone searches for ‘basketball shoes for jumping’ or ‘jumping higher,’ they are in fact looking for a shoe with a high energy return. 

2. Responsiveness for runs: Similar to running shoes, high-energy hoop shoes help you maintain fast speed during transition runs, drives to the basket, and running up and down the court throughout the match.

3. Fatigue reduction: Saving a little more of your own energy in each step, responsive shoes help to reduce fatigue and keep you fresher for all four quarters or multiple games.

Guards and forwards with fast, explosive, and attacking playing styles are most likely to benefit from high-rebound basketball shoes.

Cons: The dark side of high energy return

The aforementioned advantages of high energy return can easily create an illusion that some shoes can magically turn you into a better player. And without a solid body of research* on the topic, this illusion gains traction much more quickly.

*A study conducted by the APL brand to prove that their Concept 1 shoe’s Load ‘N Launch technology increases jump height is not a ‘solid’ body of research, in our opinion. Even though the shoe was banned by the NBA in 2010 because of ‘undue competitive advantage,’ the ban was soon lifted in 2011.

Sure, we can draw some parallels with running shoes (where studies are innumerable), but there is still a lot to learn about the impact of a basketball shoe’s energy return on the player’s performance.

Individual foot shape, pronation angle, landing pattern, and playing style further complicate the matter. But what we can do right now at RunRepeat is to measure how much rebound a shoe delivers in a controlled setting. And that’s a good starting point for giving online buyers a better sense of how each shoe feels underfoot.

And now let’s cover the drawbacks of high energy return in basketball shoes:

1. Reduced court feel: Too much rebound can dull your connection with the floor, which is not ideal for players who prefer a more controlled and grounded setup. And if high energy return is paired with a high stack (thicker sole), the shoe makes you feel even more disconnected.

2. Less stability: Centres and post players are likely to feel less in control of the movement in overly bouncy shoes.

3. Not for lighter players: In most cases, it takes a good amount of force to activate the shoe’s energy return to the fullest capacity. Lighter players often don’t compress the sole as much as it takes to achieve a desirable rebound effect. That’s why two players can experience the same shoe differently!

If you are a beginner player who is not yet sure about your basketball shoe preferences, it is always safe to choose from a myriad of options with a moderate energy return of 56-64%.

This category is also suitable for all-around players who prefer a mix of court feel and bounce.

And if you are a bigger player (centre, post player), you might as well prefer shoes with an even lower energy return of 54% or less. These shoes grant a greater court feel and control, ensuring more stable landings and lateral movements.

Price: How much for a shoe with high energy return?

Are shoes with higher energy return results more expensive? Our data shows that they are indeed.

Here are the average prices of our lab-tested basketball shoes by the energy return they showed in the forefoot:

Brands use more advanced cushioning foams and plates to elevate the shoe's responsiveness and rebound, which inevitably increases the price.