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View Full Version : Dexters, or Linds


TylerStorey
10-19-2012, 10:18 PM
I have been bowling for almost a year and a half with my amco shoes, they are working great but am wanting to get something that will allow me to have the changable soles. My question here is should I go for Dexters or Linds, I have been getting very serious with my bowling and am joining the scratch league next year, if anyone has some personal experiences with these two manufacturers and might be able to recomend one or the other I would greatly apprciate it.
billf
10-19-2012, 10:22 PM
I use Dexter's. I had an issue with them and e-mailed them with a picture. A couple of e-mails and less than a week later I had a new pair, replaced under warranty. Both companies make quality shoes so I would go with whichever has the design you like the best.
Zothen
10-20-2012, 12:47 AM
I have Dexter SST 8 and I think their awesome!

Zothen
300 lefty bowler
10-20-2012, 12:52 AM
I prefer the Dexter shoes mainly because they are made in the US. The Linds of today are not as good as when they were made in America
EboniteKid299
10-20-2012, 01:47 AM
Dexter SST8s is what I wear, and what I most commonly see amongst the higher level bowlers as well have no problems with mine and have had them for a few years
75lockwood
10-20-2012, 08:42 AM
I have Etonic shoes with interchangeable sole, and they work great. what no love for etonic? lol
The German Shepherd
10-20-2012, 10:24 AM
I am still wearing a pair of Dexters I bought in '92. These were perhaps the most expensive style they made at the time, but they have really "stood the test of time."

Jay
bowl1820
10-20-2012, 11:30 AM
Dexters are the most common shoes used, they are easy to find. They are good shoes, I have SST's. I liked the dexters over the Linds, the dexters had a wider base and I felt more balanced in them.

Linds were the big thing back in the day ( The custom ones! the off the shelf ones were okay also) but they fell to the way side when the Dexters with interchangeable soles came along.
Brownswick
10-20-2012, 11:56 AM
When I was PBA back in the '70s and '80s, everybody wore Linds. That was back in the day when you would trace your foot on the Linds fitting form, send it in, and you would get a completely custom-made pair of shoes that fit your feet like a glove. Today, that option is no longer available from Linds.

I also learned last Spring when I got back into bowling after a 30 year hiatus that Linds no longer has a contract with the PBA, so you won't find ANY PBA pros wearing Linds. (Back when I was bowling before, Linds was about the only brand they wore. But no more. NONE of them wear Linds now. They're all wearing Dexters and Etonics.)

For me, I went with the high end Dexter SST8 because they come in 2W (EEE) width for my Fred Flintstone feet, and because the SST8 has removable soles and heels on both feet. (Some of the Dexters allow you to swap out the heel and/or sole of just the slide foot, but the SST8 allows for you to do so on both the slide shoe and the pivot shoe.
Zothen
10-20-2012, 02:12 PM
Sorry 75lockwood,no love for Etonics,but,their is a lot of love for the Dexter brothers here! :-)

Zothen
Ball99999
10-20-2012, 11:40 PM
I'm going to try Etonics next, PDW seems to like them
billf
10-21-2012, 12:10 AM
I'm going to try Etonics next, PDW seems to like them

He gets paid to like them. I would too if they wanted to give me a check to do so.
TylerStorey
10-21-2012, 10:10 PM
sorry man, I am still somewhat new to learning all the brands, and still doing research to figure out which is best for me. I think I will look into etonics, but so far I am liking the DDexter SST8's
75lockwood
10-21-2012, 10:13 PM
sorry man, I am still somewhat new to learning all the brands, and still doing research to figure out which is best for me. I think I will look into etonics, but so far I am liking the DDexter SST8's

It's alright, i was kidding around lol, Dexter's are definitely nice shoes, my main reason for going etonic was i got a 40% discount lol (returned to proshop after 3 games)
TylerStorey
10-21-2012, 10:22 PM
It's alright, i was kidding around lol, Dexter's are definitely nice shoes, my main reason for going etonic was i got a 40% discount lol (returned to proshop after 3 games)

What happened with the shoes you returned? and are you currently using etonics?
75lockwood
10-21-2012, 10:26 PM
no, the shoe's i bought were returned by someone else (slightly to tight apparently) they have worked out great for me so far.
TylerStorey
10-21-2012, 10:30 PM
no, the shoe's i bought were returned by someone else (slightly to tight apparently) they have worked out great for me so far.

Alright, well thats a pretty great deal. Nice pick up.
AngeloPD
10-22-2012, 02:56 AM
All of the bowling shoes that my family uses are dexters, very reliable and comfortable!
slowfaller
10-22-2012, 10:19 AM
I use Dexter's. I had an issue with them and e-mailed them with a picture. A couple of e-mails and less than a week later I had a new pair, replaced under warranty. Both companies make quality shoes so I would go with whichever has the design you like the best.

Agree with Bill here.
I also had my slide shoe start falling apart after about 1.5 years of use. I emailed dexter a few photos and some basic info and they replaced them with a similar pair since mine weren't in stock or something, both were SST. Overall really happy with Dexter
GoodGorilla
10-22-2012, 10:51 AM
Right now I am using non interchangable etonic strike x. They are great shoes, but I get no slide out of them whats so ever. I want to try some interchangables because I would like to experiment with different soles. I am in between the etonic tour, and the dexter sst 8

etonic tour
http://www.etonic.com/mens/bowling/etour/EBMD701-11.html

dexter sst 8
http://www.dexterbowling.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=5121
GoodGorilla
10-22-2012, 10:54 AM
I'm leaning towards the etonic because it has 3 different interchangables on the front of the shoe, and I like my etonics I have right now. I never owned a different brand, and Dexter's look real nice which is making me not order either shoe right away.
Cochese
10-22-2012, 03:19 PM
I just bought a pair of Dexter SST 6 LZ and I am very happy. Have only been using them for a couple weeks now, but they seem to be top notch quality. Have a boxy shape that is great if you have wider feet. Came with 2 soles and 2 heels and a shoe cover.

I will say my lower end Dexters were made with inferior materials compared to these. The new shoes have much softer leather, double stitching everywhere and nicer inserts/fabric inside. Definitely a great upgrade for me.