To slide or not to slide, that is the question...

[WolfGirl1980]

Being flat footed won't change anything. I'm flat footed and with my new shoes, I slide a ton. For me, it was just making sure I didn't come down on the heel or else I'd just stick my landing.

Thats Probably why I haven't been sliding I been coming down on my heel when I bowl tomorrow in league I will try landing on the front front end of my foot and I will buy a slide cover cause I am not sure I have the best shoes for sliding I got the brunswick charm shoes, the ones that come with the slingshot ball except I didn't get a ball with mine cause I got my shoes at a pro shop at the bowling alley I bowl at.

[TCJ]

I learned to bowl without a slide but I've been (off and on) working on trying to get some sort of one going. One thing that holds me back a little bit is that I often see other people who typically slide occasionally stick completely and almost fall over and I certainly don't want that to happen to me. Then again, there are occasions when the approaches are so slick that I will slide unintentionally, even after planting my foot. I think that since I learned to bowl without, for now my consistency will be hurt by trying it, but it's probably preferable to do so for a couple of reasons:

1. It will help ball speed. This might not be an issue in some cases, but two-handed it really helps because it prevents the high revs from causing the ball to move too many boards.

2. It probably helps ease wear and tear on the knee that a sudden stop causes.

[billf]

I learned to bowl without a slide but I've been (off and on) working on trying to get some sort of one going. One thing that holds me back a little bit is that I often see other people who typically slide occasionally stick completely and almost fall over and I certainly don't want that to happen to me. Then again, there are occasions when the approaches are so slick that I will slide unintentionally, even after planting my foot. I think that since I learned to bowl without, for now my consistency will be hurt by trying it, but it's probably preferable to do so for a couple of reasons:

1. It will help ball speed. This might not be an issue in some cases, but two-handed it really helps because it prevents the high revs from causing the ball to move too many boards.

2. It probably helps ease wear and tear on the knee that a sudden stop causes.

Both answers are correct but it also helps with allowing for more area to be in correct time. I've yet to see a good two-hander who didn't slide but none seem to have a real long slide. Even 4" would help tremendously.

[WolfGirl1980]

I tried sliding last night was no such luck my feet stayed planted but I get an A for effort right I landed on my toes instead of my heal and still didn't slide should I purchase easy slide or the thing that fits over your shoe and straps around the back of the heel? Let me here your thoughts please?

[TCJ]

Some people use a brush on their slide shoe, some people use an easy slide, some people get shoes with interchangeable slide pieces.

But before you get something new, try to find out WHY you weren't sliding. For instance, was it humid out and was everyone having trouble sticking at the line? This happened some weeks ago at my center and there wasn't a person out there who wasn't sticking, regardless of having an easy slide or not. Even the local "pros" couldn't get anything to slide with their fancy equipment. Second, landing on the toe isn't a guarantee to slide because if you PLANT on the toe (I've done that before when I was learning to slide) your foot may not be going anywhere. The foot needs to hit the ground in a forward (not downward) motion.

If you check all the above and STILL can't get a slide, then, yes, I'd say get something to help with it. But whatever you do, don't use baby powder (or any other substance) on your shoes! It can get on the lanes and cause other people to slip.

[WolfGirl1980]

Thanks for the advise I will put it in good use next time I am at the bowling alley. I should be getting lessons soon I got the money its just waiting on my mom being able to drive since I can't I have a liscence and everything but when I got it they told me I needed me more experience my cousin is a USBC cetified coach so and she a female she coaches a kid that on my team in my league so I might ask her instead of chuck I dunno but chuck is an ex pro usually drills my balls and got me the ball that got me my third 200 game and my second I have yet to bowl one in a league match but I am hoping I have high hopes.

-Sara

[Greenday]

If you check all the above and STILL can't get a slide, then, yes, I'd say get something to help with it. But whatever you do, don't use baby powder (or any other substance) on your shoes! It can get on the lanes and cause other people to slip.

I've used baby powder plenty of times and not once has it ever gotten on the approach. I just sprinkle a little on carpet, then step on it and rub it in. Surface becomes slippery without powder going all over the place.

[billf]

Who cleans the carpet afterwards?

[WolfGirl1980]

I usually put the powder on the floor where the chairs are put a little down put a little on your slide shoe then stomp your shoe a little bit to get the access powder off and then when done with it take a tissue and clean it up or take a napkin from the snack bar and use that to clean it up with. But I found my dads brush I try it if I can figure out how to use it or I will buy some easy slide.

[billf]

Use the brush going from the toe to the heel to increase slide distance.