The Science Behind the Squeak of Basketball Shoes

Researchers uncover the surprising reason for the familiar sound on the court.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A team of researchers at Harvard University has uncovered the complex physics behind the ubiquitous squeak of basketball shoes. The study, published in Nature, reveals that the sound is not simply caused by rubber rubbing against the floor, but rather by the rapid deformation and rippling of the shoe's sole as it makes and loses contact with the surface thousands of times per second.

Why it matters

Understanding the science behind the squeak could have broader implications beyond just basketball, potentially assisting in the design of materials and surfaces with specific frictional properties. This research could lead to advancements in fields like earthquake science and energy efficiency by providing a deeper understanding of friction.

The details

The researchers, led by materials scientist Adel Djellouli, found that the grip patterns on shoe soles play a key role in organizing these rapid ripples, producing a clearer, more distinct squeak. Flat, featureless rubber does not create the same sound. By altering the thickness of the rubber, the pitch of the squeak can be changed, opening up the possibility of engineering shoes to squeak at frequencies beyond human hearing or to eliminate the sound altogether.

  • The study was published in Nature in March 2026.

The players

Adel Djellouli

A materials scientist at Harvard University who first noticed the ubiquitous squeak of basketball shoes and led the research team that uncovered the physics behind the sound.

Bart Weber

A physicist who notes that friction is one of the oldest and most complex problems in physics, and that the study provides a foundation for future research into designing materials and surfaces with specific frictional properties.

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What they’re saying

“We can now start to design tailored patterns... We can start to create interfaces that emit this sound if we aim for to hear it, or that don't emit it if we don't want to hear it.”

— Bart Weber, Physicist (Nature)

What’s next

The researchers suggest that further study could lead to the development of basketball shoes engineered to produce specific squeaking frequencies or to eliminate the sound altogether.

The takeaway

This research not only provides a deeper understanding of the familiar squeak on the basketball court, but also highlights the broader potential applications of friction research in fields like earthquake science and energy efficiency. The findings could pave the way for the design of materials and surfaces with tailored frictional properties, opening up new possibilities in shoe design and beyond.