New Bowler: Shoes Question

[econoline]

Hi, I'm new here and just getting into bowling after retiring. I took a lesson at the local alley, liked it a lot, bowled awhile with house balls and shoes. Then I decided to get my own ball and shoes, so sought out the best pro shop in the area and went with his recommendations.

I ended up with a Storm Tropical ball, finger tip drilled, and a basic pair of universal Etonic shoes as a package. All is going well, love the equipment, but I'm now aware that shoes also come specific to left or right hand bowlers.

My question is, should I just continue on with the universal shoes, or should I get a right hand specific pair right now while I'm just getting started with bowling? I don't want to use the universal shoes if that might lead to poor technique or problems later on.

Thanks for any advice., and I'm really enjoying bowling!

[WAC4504]

Hey Econoline, first of all welcome to the site, glad to have you join us. As for the shoes, it's your choice as to what you would like, but there's nothing wrong with universal soles. I know people that will only use universal soles 'cause they just don't like the slide foot only soles. You mentioned that you took a lesson and liked it, I also take lessons and recomend sticking with them. It's much easier to learn it right the first time than to have to unlearn bad habits, and relearn the right way. If you have any questions ask your coach, I'm sure he'll be glad to help. By the way when I first switched from universal soles to slide specific I liked to killed my self. Good luck and let us know how you're doing.

[J Anderson]

Hi, I'm new here and just getting into bowling after retiring. I took a lesson at the local alley, liked it a lot, bowled awhile with house balls and shoes. Then I decided to get my own ball and shoes, so sought out the best pro shop in the area and went with his recommendations.

I ended up with a Storm Tropical ball, finger tip drilled, and a basic pair of universal Etonic shoes as a package. All is going well, love the equipment, but I'm now aware that shoes also come specific to left or right hand bowlers.

My question is, should I just continue on with the universal shoes, or should I get a right hand specific pair right now while I'm just getting started with bowling? I don't want to use the universal shoes if that might lead to poor technique or problems later on.

Thanks for any advice., and I'm really enjoying bowling!

If I were you, I would keep the universals 'till they wear out. I have a pair that I bought when I switched to bowling left-handed. On occasion, when bowling right-handed, my fight foot will slip backwards on my first step. This is probably a unique problem because I'm one of the last three step approach bowlers left. While the slip is a problem because it throws off my balance, it also helps because it tells me that I'm trying to take off too fast.

[econoline]

This is probably a unique problem because I'm one of the last three step approach bowlers left.

Bill and John, thanks for the good advice. I'll wear out the present shoes first before upgrading to something else.

John, I'm curious about your comment on "three step approach bowlers", because I'm also a three step approach bowler. I've tried to convert to four step but somehow the three just feels more natural. So is this a bad habit I should try to correct, or should I just embrace three step and go with it?

Don

[J Anderson]

Bill and John, thanks for the good advice. I'll wear out the present shoes first before upgrading to something else.

John, I'm curious about your comment on "three step approach bowlers", because I'm also a three step approach bowler. I've tried to convert to four step but somehow the three just feels more natural. So is this a bad habit I should try to correct, or should I just embrace three step and go with it?

Don

I'm probably not the right person to ask, so I hope some of the pros and coaches will chime in here
I did not learn by taking lessons or bowling in a junior league where I would have gotten some coaching. Instead I was asked at the age of 16 to fill in on my Dad's team was going to miss several months due to an operation. I just watched my Dad and tried to do the same thing; three steps and throw between the second and third arrows straight at the 1-3 pocket. I've had a few practice sessions with my friend Jeff, especially when I was learning to throw lefty, but never any formal lessons. Jeff and several other friends who are very good bowlers have suggested that should add a step or two. Their reasoning is that three steps makes it harder to keep the swing in time with the steps. I have not yet had the nerve to try changing to 4 or 5. I may try lefty next year.

[kev3inp]

I've found 4 steps most conducive to staying in time, but I switched to 5 to get a little more ball speed.

[The Mayor]

Don, giving 5 steps a shot might actually seem more natural to you than 4 steps. You will start with the same foot as you did with 3 steps. Working with a coach on this would be a great idea. Keep up the good work!

[WAC4504]

Don't worry guys, I'm a 3 stepper too. When I started taking lessons the coach changed me from 5 steps to 3 to help slow down my ball speed. Now I love it, and don't plan on changing back.

[richc]

Using 3 steps is OK - 3 steps can be effective - in fact, there was one PBA National Tour Champion I know you won a title using 3 steps, 4 steps, and 5 steps. Can anyone guess this bowlers name??

Using 3 steps can be somewhat limiting, however, if a great deal of ball speed is required. If a lot of speed is needed, it is more difficult to generate the momentum through foot speed covering a greater approach distance 5 steps provides as opposed to the distance 3 steps provides, as example.

Another reason 5 steps is useful is for power players who walk to the line by stepping away from their swing on the 3rd step before sliding back under the center of their body allowing for the swing to tuck into an inside-to-outside path and thereby feeding the ball easily from a deep inside angle alignment toward the break point down the lane.

Power players hooking the ball a great deal would have a bit of a tough time walking lines which permit swing realignment during the approach using 3 steps as opposed to a straight line walk to the foul line which up-the-boards players use. It can be done, however.

The great thing about bowling is you can get the job done in a variety of ways. I guess the main thing is if you are happy with your present results, no need to change. When you get into a period of time where things are not working well, then look for physical game adjustments or perhaps equipment adjustments to improve your scores.

[J Anderson]

[QUOTE=richc;26984]Using 3 steps is OK - 3 steps can be effective - in fact, there was one PBA National Tour Champion I know you won a title using 3 steps, 4 steps, and 5 steps. Can anyone guess this bowlers name??

I'm going to guess Mike Durbin, only because I saw an old Pro Bowlers tour telecast that showed him using a three step approach. He had switched to a three step for that tournament, made the show, but lost his match.

[richc]

Good guess with Mike Durbin. Talented player - HOF player. Won using 3, 4, and 5 steps at various stages of his career.