The surprising new physics of squeaky basketball shoes

image via New Scientist

February 25, 2026, 4:00 PM

• •The squeak is produced by the ridges on the sole of basketball shoes rubbing against the hardwood.
• •The ridges create separation waves that kick the air rhythmically.
• •The frequency of the kicks determines the pitch of the squeak.
• •Scientists were able to play a song using reverse-engineered synthetic soles.

Scientists have uncovered the physics behind the familiar squeak of basketball shoes on hardwood, revealing it's caused by the ridges on the soles. High-speed cameras and acoustic analysis demonstrated that the ridges don't lift and stick all at once but create separation waves that kick the air rhythmically. These separation waves ripple down the ridges thousands of times per second, determining the frequency of the squeak. The team even reverse-engineered synthetic soles to play a song, demonstrating their mastery of sneaker squeaks.

Read original article