Mental? Hey, that's me! Ok, maybe just physical.

[Cygnus]

I posted in another category that I'm coming back to bowling after a 20 year layoff. I would like to hear anyone's opinion about new shoes' effect on their release. This past weekend I bought a new ball and after playing with the tape in the thumb hole and working with the instructor I was able to get a little comfortable with my release. I was using my old Lind shoes which had a nice slide to them. I then went to the pro shop and bought a cheaper pair of Dexters which were supposedly more suited to synthetic approaches and I was no longer able to get a consistent release. It felt like I was stopping short and that was contributing to making me drop the ball. I would add tape and then, of course, hang up and launch the ball 5 feet into the air. That's always fun. So, could a new pair of bowling shoes have this much of an effect on the release? Or is it just mental? It's okay, you can tell me.

[Mike White]

I posted in another category that I'm coming back to bowling after a 20 year layoff. I would like to hear anyone's opinion about new shoes' effect on their release. This past weekend I bought a new ball and after playing with the tape in the thumb hole and working with the instructor I was able to get a little comfortable with my release. I was using my old Lind shoes which had a nice slide to them. I then went to the pro shop and bought a cheaper pair of Dexters which were supposedly more suited to synthetic approaches and I was no longer able to get a consistent release. It felt like I was stopping short and that was contributing to making me drop the ball. I would add tape and then, of course, hang up and launch the ball 5 feet into the air. That's always fun. So, could a new pair of bowling shoes have this much of an effect on the release? Or is it just mental? It's okay, you can tell me.

When I came back to bowling, I bought a pair of Dexters (Pro AM II) and couldn't slide for crap, so after my first practice session I never wore them again. I ordered some Linds which I should have done right away.

[foreverincamo]

Sticking to the approach or over-sliding can wreak havoc on your release. Dexters need to be broken in with plenty of easy-slide. Glad to see someone besides me coming back after 20 years off. Keep at it!

[bowl1820]

I posted in another category that I'm coming back to bowling after a 20 year layoff. I would like to hear anyone's opinion about new shoes' effect on their release. This past weekend I bought a new ball and after playing with the tape in the thumb hole and working with the instructor I was able to get a little comfortable with my release. I was using my old Lind shoes which had a nice slide to them. I then went to the pro shop and bought a cheaper pair of Dexters which were supposedly more suited to synthetic approaches and I was no longer able to get a consistent release. It felt like I was stopping short and that was contributing to making me drop the ball. I would add tape and then, of course, hang up and launch the ball 5 feet into the air. That's always fun. So, could a new pair of bowling shoes have this much of an effect on the release? Or is it just mental? It's okay, you can tell me.

New shoes need breaking in, So it is part shoes and part mental. So until they are broke in your slide will be off some and that can affect how you release your ball, because your attention is focused on your slide. Once broke in you should be fine.

Linds use to be the number one shoe to have (especially the custom made ones) and they were great shoes I had some. But Dexter passed them up when they came out with the interchangeable soles and Linds didn't until it was too late (and they half A**'d them when they did come with some.) and they fell to the way side.

Now Dexters are great shoes, I changed to Dexter SST's because Lind's at the time didn't work good on different types of approaches. The SST's also came basically pre-broke in according to the paper work in the box, it took me all of 2 frames and they were good.

As for the cheaper Dexter shoes like yours (or Mikes Pro AM II's), I can't say from personal experience. But They probably just need to be broke in more, just one session of use isn't really breaking them in.

[Mike White]

New shoes need breaking in, So it is part shoes and part mental. So until they are broke in your slide will be off some and that can affect how you release your ball, because your attention is focused on your slide. Once broke in you should be fine.

Linds use to be the number one shoe to have (especially the custom made ones) and they were great shoes I had some. But Dexter passed them up when they came out with the interchangeable soles and Linds didn't until it was too late (and they half A**'d them when they did come with some.) and they fell to the way side.

Now Dexters are great shoes, I changed to Dexter SST's because Lind's at the time didn't work good on different types of approaches. The SST's also came basically pre-broke in according to the paper work in the box, it took me all of 2 frames and they were good.

As for the cheaper Dexter shoes like yours (or Mikes Pro AM II's), I can't say from personal experience. But They probably just need to be broke in more, just one session of use isn't really breaking them in.

I was more worried about breaking my neck than breaking in the shoes.

[bowl1820]

I was more worried about breaking my neck than breaking in the shoes.

That's why when you get a new pair of shoes (especially cheaper ones) you take the time to break them in first, before going out on the lanes and bowling like you've been wearing them for a long time.

[HowDoIHookAgain]

How exactly would someone go about breaking in their shoes, aside from doing a repetitive sliding motion, which would take forever to do?

[bowl1820]

How exactly would someone go about breaking in their shoes, aside from doing a repetitive sliding motion, which would take forever to do?

When you get a new pair of shoes, the first thing to remember is:

You don't wear and use them for the first time when scoring counts like in a league or a tournament. Do to the possibility of sticking or other unforeseen problems. (Unless your forced too for some reason.)

You break them during a practice session, when you can take your time and not go full steam with your approach. That way you get a feel for the shoe and don't run as great a risk of getting hurt from sticking and falling etc.

Giving it time to smooth the nap of the sole some and build a little dust up in it to help with the slide. Give the heel a chance to smooth out, the heel is the "brakes" on a pair of shoes.

A lot of the time (Not all) when someone stick with a new pair of shoes, it's because when their weight transfers back on that new heel it stops them cold.

It's like when you put a new set brakes on a car, a lot of the time they grab the first few times when you first touch the brakes. You have to use them some till they smooth out, shoes are the same way.

Other ways to help break in a new pair you wear them around the house on the carpet (using reasonable care), pro shops have told people that for years. (Assuming you have carpeting and it's clean.) It does help, the sole picks up some dust, they get a little light wear on them.

As mentioned above, you could use some easy slide. You put some on, then take your brush work it into the nap some. Tap it off, this will let you slide better while you practicing which helps break it in faster. Sometimes just wire brushing alone can help, just knocking the "new" off it a little.

Depending on what type of heel the shoe has, The leading edge of the heel can be sharp. This edge is where the shoe brakes hardest at first, now it will round over some with time naturally as you break in the shoes. But you can speed up the process a bit by taking a piece of sandpaper and rounding that edge off some. This helps let you slide also.

[Cygnus]

I usually just moonwalk around the living room for a few hours.

[white_rabbitt]

Even after breaking in shoes, unless you have the interchangeable soles, you'll come across approaches that are slipperier/dryer than others and will affect your slide.
I came across this issue last night...had been bowling well the last few times out and then last night I just couldn't get comfortable. My timing and balance felt off and felt like I was sticking more than usual on the approach. I'm not trying to make excuses...I was probably just bowling poorly...but I definitely didn't feel comfortable for some reason(s). It didn't even cross my mind at the time that it could have anything to do with the shoes, which I've had for almost 6 months.