Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

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kajmk
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Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by kajmk »

I cannot speak from experience and have not attempted to bowl since about 2005, may never bowl again ...
I used and was always satisfied with Linds Classics with Buckskin slide soles.

Many new bowler's might have similar questions, so this thread might serve as a focal point.
Regarding variable sole and heal attachments.
As far as your personal experience and choice, how frequently have you found it necessary to
vary your combinations, are there any pieces you've never used?
Your general observations on durability, maintenance, value for your
dollar.

Are you a slider or a planter?
LHB or RHB?
Generically what is your style, e.g. tweeter, etc?
How many centers do you bowl league?
Tournaments?
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Re: Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by JJakobsen »

Red Star shoes, Brunswick made (afaik).

Rubber sole front and back, planter.
Right handed, tweener, 14-15.5mph at QAMF sensors, 400-450rpm

Played national league in Norway (sport compliant patterns only), only home games last season.
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Re: Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by boomer »

kajmk wrote:I cannot speak from experience and have not attempted to bowl since about 2005, may never bowl again ...
I used and was always satisfied with Linds Classics with Buckskin slide soles.

Many new bowler's might have similar questions, so this thread might serve as a focal point.
Regarding variable sole and heal attachments.
As far as your personal experience and choice, how frequently have you found it necessary to
vary your combinations, are there any pieces you've never used?
Your general observations on durability, maintenance, value for your
dollar.

Are you a slider or a planter?
LHB or RHB?
Generically what is your style, e.g. tweeter, etc?
How many centers do you bowl league?
Tournaments?
I'm a slider, RHB, more of a tweener, and I bowl mostly at one center but do bowl some tournaments including Nats (should be at Southpoint in '19 again)

I have removable sole on my slide shoe and I've changed them only a few times. Honestly, it was when someone spilled at the '17 Nats and I stepped RIGHT in the big puddle. My wife ran, got a new set, and I swapped on the dry one. :)

I've only changed to "adjust" once.
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Re: Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by GrumpyCatFace »

Relates to an odd issue I’m having with my non-slide sole.

I’m a pretty serious toe dragger, so I think I’ve been prolong the sole off near the toes. It’s no longer able to attach at all in that area. Is there anything I can do to “refresh” the Velcro?
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Re: Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by bowl1820 »

GrumpyCatFace wrote:Relates to an odd issue I’m having with my non-slide sole.

I’m a pretty serious toe dragger, so I think I’ve been prolong the sole off near the toes. It’s no longer able to attach at all in that area. Is there anything I can do to “refresh” the Velcro?
I had a similar problem with my TPU-X's the traction sole would peel back because I slightly dragged my toe. The velcro on the sole quit sticking to the shoe after awhile, The hook part on the shoe was okay instead of replacing the sole. I solved the problem like this:

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Re: Bowling Shoes - your experience, observations, opinions

Post by Viper »

GrumpyCatFace wrote:Relates to an odd issue I’m having with my non-slide sole.

I’m a pretty serious toe dragger, so I think I’ve been prolong the sole off near the toes. It’s no longer able to attach at all in that area. Is there anything I can do to “refresh” the Velcro?
The Velco on the shoe is probably the hook side. I know of no way to refresh this other than replacing. If you are handy you can probably do this yourself if you can get some wide Velcro (hook) and just replace that portion of the shoe sole. Use a 3M adhesive, the strongest available (you'll have to research). If it's the loop side, you can "refresh" using a butane cigarette or charcoal lighter. Carefully and quickly, move the flame back and forth over the loop portion, maybe a half-inch away for a second or two. Repeat if necessary. This will eliminate the fuzz (or whatever) and "tighten" the loop so that it will again attach to the hook side. A caution: If you don't consider yourself handy, don't do this.

OR

You can buy one of the slide socks and cut away the majority of the sole, leaving just enough edge to cover the front of the shoe and to cover a small portion of the tip of the sole. Use some super glue (brush on) to seal the fabric where you have cut it. BUT: I think Brunswick makes a slide that is rubber coated so if you buy that then you'll not need to do any trimming.

I own 3G shoes with the replaceable rubber toe cap. But these are expensive, last but one season, and never go on as well as the original that you have removed. My solution was the fabric slide sock, as modified. They are inexpensive, readily available, last longer than you think (and if you reinforce with a fabric it will last even longer). Now my toe cap never wears, and for me, importantly, it never drags. Note: I leave a bit more fabric covering the sole because I find it helps me lower my speed.

Hope this helps. Good luck and good bowling!

Viper/Joe

EDIT: I just saw Bowl1820's solution and I think that beats my suggestions.
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