Anyone who is truly serious about bowling will soon find that rented house-shoes just aren’t good enough, and will want to buy a pair of their own. There are several things to consider when you go looking to buy your first pair of bowling shoes. Here are a few tips for finding the right bowling shoe for you.
Where to Start – this may surprise you, but it might be a good idea to start on-line. Today, most bowling alleys and off-line sports shops have their own websites and you can get a good idea of their inventory by checking there first. Moreover, there are an increasing number of specialty bowling equipment sites that sell bowling shoes, not to mention sites by the major bowling shoe manufacturers. A quick overview of these types of sites might lead you to the right place, but before you buy anything, you’ll have some decisions to make. The following should help you know what to look for.
Style – you’ll first want to decide if you’re looking for a shoe that is in the classic or “Performance” style (which look similar to those you rent), or ones that look more like sneakers, which are often referred to as “Athletic” style. The decision regarding this choice is mostly a matter of personal taste; since both kinds will work equally well on the lanes. The big difference between the two is the type of soles they have. Classic or Performance shoes are generally made with hard leather soles, where the Athletic ones have rubber soles. The hard leather soles will feel stiffer than the rubber ones, which could affect the flexibility of your foot – especially when sliding to the foul line. If your approach stride is more on your toes, you might prefer a more flexible sole that the Athletic sneaker-type shoe will afford you. If your stride is more of a heel-to-toe walk, you’ll might want to get a classic Performance styled shoe.
Uppers – since you’ll be exerting effort while you bowl, you’ll want a shoe that you won’t make your feet sweat too much in. Both these styles of shoes come with uppers in real and artificial leather. The Athletic kind can also come with mesh or cloth in the uppers. Shoes with real leather uppers will breathe better than the artificial ones. Athletic shoes – especially those with cloth or mesh in the uppers – will also breathe better than artificial leather and probably also breathe a bit better than real leather. If your feet don’t normally sweat much, you might be able to get away with a cheaper, man-made upper, but if your feet sweat a great deal, look for real leather or an upper that incorporates either mesh or cloth.
Left, Right or Universal – bowling shoes have pieces of suede on the bottom of their soles that covers the ball of the foot (from the toe to the top of the arch). This suede helps the bowler slide as they approach the foul line to release the ball. The shoes you rent in the bowling alley are always universal ones. This means they have suede on the soles of both shoes. However, you can buy shoes that have the suede only on the sliding shoe. A right-handed shoe will have the suede on the left shoe and a left-handed one will have it on the right shoe. Deciding on buying one that’s universal or for your handedness will depend on several factors. Usually, left/right shoes are more expensive than universal ones – as they’re considered more professional. (Note that the more professional shoes can come with replacement suede pieces, and/or replaceable heels, and some even have interchangeable traction pieces for the opposite shoe.)
In addition, not all bowlers slide equally. If you tend to have a slow approach, you might not slide as much as someone with a faster approach. In that case, you probably don’t need to buy a left/right shoe, since you won’t need that extra traction the opposite shoe will be providing. Another consideration is if your regular alley has a mat or polished approach. Understandably, a mat approach means less slide, and you might find that even the suede doesn’t help you much. In that case, you’ll probably want to use a slider cover over your shoe, so you can probably opt for the universal shoes. If the approach is polished, you’ll probably want the extra traction that a left/right shoe affords you.
Sizing – as with any shoe used in sports, you’ll obviously want to make sure they fit snugly but comfortably. While this might not seem easy if you are buying shoes on-line, most sites allow you exchange your purchases for a different size or style if you’re unhappy with what you get. If you live near a pro-shop or store that sells bowling shoes, you’ll be able to try different shoes on to see which feel best for you. Keep in mind that off-line shops will have a limited inventory and will probably have you try shoes on for sizing and then order the precise shoe you want via the shop’s catalogue. In addition, most off-line shops sell bowling shoes at much higher prices than you can find on-line. It therefore might be advisable to visit a shop to try on different makes and styles, before you buy something on-line. This will help you know both the correct size to buy (and different manufacturers do have different sizing) as well as give you a better idea of the style you like the best, and you’ll probably get the shoes in the same amount of time.
Style, Uppers, Left/Right or Universal and Sizing – these are the most important considerations you should take into account when looking to buy your first pair of bowling shoes. Once you’ve got these things decided, all that’s left is to decide your price range and what color you want! Once you have your own shoes, you’ll be surprised just how much better they feel (and look) than house ones. Moreover, proper shoes will help you improve your game. Aside from all that, seriously, who wants to wear shoes other people have worn before you, no matter how much disinfectant spray the alley uses?
(PS: My personal favorite place to buy shoes on-line, and the best prices I’ve found is at Bowlingball.com. The last pair I bought there cost about $10 less than anywhere else I found.)
