Which bowling shoes should I get?

[Greenday]

As has been suggested to me, I need to get a new pair of bowling shoes. I have an old pair, about eight years old. They are pretty beat up. The back of the heel is worn out. The bottoms are roughed up badly. It's time to get a new pair.

So now I need suggestions. I still have some trouble with my slide step and I need a shoe which will really help me sliding-wise. I know nothing about bowling shoes so I need some input please.

[backlasher]

I bought a pair of Dexter SST I but I only bowl at one alley. The soles aren't interchangeable but the traction sole on the right shoe helps with the slide. I think the changeable soles are recommended if you bowl at more than one alley.

[billf]

Dexter, Linds and Storm are all good shoes and all offer interchangeable soles and heels. The Dexter's tend to run a size larger.

[Greenday]

Dexter, Linds and Storm are all good shoes and all offer interchangeable soles and heels. The Dexter's tend to run a size larger.

So if I'm around 10-10.5 and I got Dexter, go with the 10s?

[bowl1820]

Here's a repost of a post I made in the shoe threads.

What you want to look for are shoes that have a slide sole and a traction sole. (They don't have to be the expensive ones with interchangable soles).

The traction sole improves your power step (the next-to-last step) which adds to your body's momentum. Which gives your swing more impetus and thus improves leverage.

The soles would look similar to this:
http://s4.postimage.org/dhqtooa4d/shoesoles.jpg

As for what brand Dexters are vary common and good brand, but there are several other brands also.

here's a example of some low cost linds shoes that have a slide and traction soles. (this is a pair for a right hander)
http://www.bowling.com/products/linds-mens-new-era-john-right-hand.htm

http://images.bowling.com/main/7055.jpg

As for a simple way of sizing go to the pro shop and try some on there, see what size fits. Then order that size online.

Remember if you order some get the correct shoes for what hand you bowl with. If you bowl right handed , you get right handed shoes.

Also get a pair of protective booties to put over them to walk around in and a little wire shoe brush.

http://steelfingers.com/shoecovers.jpg

http://ebonite.com/images/uploads/accessories/shoe_brush_blue_reto.jpg

Shoe threads:
http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/13551-What-to-look-for-in-first-pair-of-shoes?highlight=shoes

http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads/13647-Questions-about-Dexter-SST8?highlight=shoes

[RoccoRock]

First, don;t buy 3G's, unless you want to have shoes that fall apart in 6 months to a year. Second, I just bought a pair of Etonic ESS Interchangeable, and they are just awesome. They are by far the best shoes I've ever owned. The push off shoe has great traction, it feels as good as when I was using a sneaker, back when I had my 3G's. Interchangeable soles, and it comes with 3 soles. Super comfortable, didn't really need to be broken in. Solid stuff, I can't recommend them enough.

[ecub]

Shoes with interchangeable soles are good even if you bowl in 1 house. The reason they are good is, if the soles get wet, just change them out. Or if they get worn out or if the conditions in the approach change due to humidity. I've had SST8's for several years already. Changing the soles was like getting new shoes.

[Zothen]

Dexters SST 8 are great shoes! You can customize the sole for the perfect slide.

Zothen

[75lockwood]

Ordered a pair of SST 8's the other day, had it with my shoe's when i stuck and over flexed my knee last week leading to a crappy week off bowling. The Interchangeable soles will be nice for customizing my slide so that doesn't happen again.

[mxjosh]

Im currently using the Storm SP700. Use a non replaceable push off shoe and interchangeable heel/sole on slide foot. The base is very stiff so keeps my foot flat.

I had dexter SST8's but i had a lot of problems with them. My push off foot tends to drag on the toe so the interchangeable rubber sole just caught and peeled back. Ruined the velcro on the shoe. The middle of the shoe also split in half on my push off foot. I went to a fixed push off shoe for this very reason. Need that rubber to be firmly stuck to the shoe not velcroed on.