The Physics Behind the Squeak of Basketball Shoes

New study uses high-speed cameras to uncover the complex mechanics that create the iconic court noise.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new study led by materials scientist Adel Djellouli of Harvard University has used physics and high-speed cameras to uncover the surprising complexity behind the familiar squeaking sound of basketball shoes on hardwood floors. The researchers found that as the shoe's sole grips and loses contact with the floor thousands of times per second, it creates tiny ripples that produce the high-pitched squeak. The study provides insights that could help design future squeak-free shoes or even fine-tune the pitch of the sound.

Why it matters

Understanding the physics behind the ubiquitous squeak of basketball shoes has implications beyond just satisfying the curiosity of sports fans. The research could help advance the scientific understanding of friction, which is crucial for everything from understanding tectonic plate movements during earthquakes to improving energy efficiency by reducing friction and wear. Additionally, the insights could lead to the development of new shoe designs that eliminate or control the squeak, which can be awkward in certain settings like quiet office hallways.

The details

To uncover the mechanics behind the squeak, Djellouli and his team slid a sneaker against a smooth glass plate, recording the sound with a microphone and filming it with a high-speed camera. They found that as the shoe grips and loses contact with the floor thousands of times per second, it creates tiny ripples or "wrinkles" that travel across the sole at a high frequency, matching the pitch of the squeak. The researchers also discovered that the specific grip patterns on the shoe's sole play a role, with flat, featureless rubber producing chaotic, disorganized ripples without a clear squeak.

  • Djellouli first noticed the omnipresent squeaking sound while watching a Boston Celtics game at TD Garden.
  • After the game, Djellouli returned home and began researching the physics behind the squeak.
  • The study was published on February 25, 2026 in the journal Nature.

The players

Adel Djellouli

A materials scientist at Harvard University who led the study on the physics behind the squeak of basketball shoes.

Bart Weber

A physicist who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research, noting that understanding friction is an old but intricate problem in physics.

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What they’re saying

“This squeaking sound when players are sliding on the floor is omnipresent. It's always there, right?”

— Adel Djellouli (Boston Herald)

“Friction is one of the oldest and most intricate problems in physics. Yet, despite its practical importance, it is difficult to predict and control.”

— Bart Weber, Physicist (Nature)

What’s next

The researchers suggest that the insights from this study could help guide the design of future basketball shoes that either eliminate the squeak entirely or fine-tune the pitch of the sound to be at a frequency that is inaudible to the human ear.

The takeaway

This study not only satisfies the curiosity of basketball fans, but also provides valuable scientific insights that could have far-reaching implications. By uncovering the complex physics behind the iconic squeak of basketball shoes, the researchers have advanced the understanding of friction, a fundamental force in nature with applications ranging from earthquake science to energy efficiency.