There are shoes specially made for every situation you can think of. Sports are no different. Basketball calls for basketball shoes. Soccer calls for soccer shoes. Football has its own shoes. There are golf shoes, yachting shoes, skateboarding shoes, ballet shoes, etc. Bowling, of course, is no exception. Anyone who's ever gone bowling has an image in their mind of what bowling shoes are all about. They figure they're ugly and slippery.
Well, bowlers know there's more to it than that. Most of the negative sentiment towards bowling shoes is due to the fact that most people experience only the relative discomfort of tired old rental shoes from the local bowling alley. If you're going to be bowling more than once in a blue moon, it behooves you to invest in your own pair of bowling shoes.
First of all, bowling shoes do not have to be ridiculous multi-colored affairs which induce seizures just from looking at them. They're available in a number of styles and colors just like any other athletic shoe. For those of you who love those classic ugly rentals, fear not, for those are readily available as well. As with other types of shoes, bowling shoes run the gamut when it comes to prices. You can spend $30 or you can spend $200. It's all a matter of how much you're willing to spend. While most bowling shoes are designed in a relatively formal style which most of us are familiar with, there are now plenty of bowling shoes which closely resemble conventional athletic shoes or sneakers.
The bowling shoes which resemble conventional athletic shoes are known, quite logically, as athletic bowling shoes. These are made for the beginning to casual bowler. They feature sliding soles on both shoes. The other type of bowling shoes are known as performance bowling shoes. These are the kind dedicated bowlers and professionals wear. Few people realize this, but pro bowlers wear shoes with one sliding sole and one non-slip sole.
When choosing performance bowling shoes, remember that the sliding sole goes on the shoe opposite of which hand you use. Therefore, a right-handed bowler is going to want the sliding shoe to be the one on their left foot. There's a third option, which is performance bowling shoes with interchangeable soles. This allows the nuanced expert to adjust the degree of slide and change materials for different surface characteristics. You might think that all bowling lanes are the same but the dedicated bowler will tell you otherwise.
As with any other sport, your choice of equipment is key to your success. After choosing your ball, the next most important thing you'll do is choosing your shoes. There are some excellent sites online to learn more about bowling shoes, and there are plenty of retail outlets doing business on the web. Online retailers expand the number of options you have when shopping for bowling shoes, and they provide convenience.
There are really only two needed items to play the game of bowling. The first is the ball and the second is the bowling shoes. You don't need to own either of these as it is standard practice to rent them at the bowling alley. However it won't take you long to realize that most serious bowlers have their own ball and bowling shoes.
The reason for that is fairly simple when it comes to the bowling shoes. And if you have ever used rented bowling shoes, you probably can well understand why. If the bowling shoes do not fit properly then it is distracting. If you have your own pair of bowling shoes then they become an extension of your feet, they fit properly and feel good and you get used to their little quirks and the way they glide on the lane.
If you are new to bowling you may not even realize that special shoes are mandatory. They are because of the gliding motion one makes when approaching the lane and releasing the ball. Regular tennis shoes cannot give that glide.
In fact, when it comes to bowling shoes, each shoe is designed differently as they function independent of each other. One shoe is glossy smooth so it gives the bowler a flawless glide. The other shoe has a stickier sole so it acts as a brake to stop the glide.
This is why bowling shoes not only come in various sizes but also come in a designation of left and right. A right handed bowler will want the brake shoe on the opposite foot than a left handed bowler would wear it.
If you have to rent your bowling shoes at the alley, chances are you will not get to select left or right handed bowling shoes. This is another major reason that anyone who loves to bowl on a regular basis will purchase their own shoes.
Bowling is one of the most popular games in the world and it is a game of utmost precision. Your bowling shoes must be lightweight and fit properly so that you can tell right away if your stance is off. If your foot happens to be positioned improperly, it can ruin the chance for a strike.
Bowling shoes today are much more fashionable than in times past. They look more like sneakers. Of course you can still buy the more traditional appearing shoe. In fact, bowling shoes come in a wide variety of styles and colors as it isn't the outward appearance of the shoe, but rather the sole which plays an important part in the game of bowling.
Bowling shoes must be cared for properly and never worn outside of the bowling alley and certainly never worn on the street. You can buy bowling shoes at a major sporting good store or through your local bowling center. You can actually shop online for bowling shoes too. That way you can get an idea of what is available and the price range. But it is always best to try them on before you buy. You can't really tell how well they are going to feel and fit until they are on your feet. And since bowling shoes are vitally important to your ability to be able to bowl with precision, you want to take the effort to get the best shoes possible.
Both Gregg Hall & Anne Morris are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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