Shoes are your foundation to a stable and balanced position at the line and are essential for creating proper leverage at key points within your approach.
1)shoes with changable soles, most players see that as the biggest key that defines an entry level vs high level model.
2)shoes with a Pivot foot aka Grip sole are helpful in creating a deep knee bend and energy and momentum into entering your slide.
3)shoe construction, from liners to arch support. Every model can have various qualities and advantages. Wider bases/flare edges mean more stabilty at the line, and less side to side roll within the foot.
4)Weight and level(of the shoe) are important because a heavy shoe will weigh your steps down.
5)Ankle support and how tightly the shoes fit. i personally don't like high cut shoes, i feel my ankle is constricted, and a shoe that is loose is not good either, your foot moving forward when braking means your not going to be consistant at where you stop each time and how your weight/pressure on your sole and brake are distributed.
6) Money well spent in bowling shoes usually means comfort level too. Even for most bowlers an entry level of bowling shoe can be as comfortable or more so than there present daily runners. But the more you pay the more breathable the shoe, higher grain leathers more options and a happier foot come along with it.
Seeing someone try on a brand new pair of high end bowling shoes for the first time usually gets a reaction of joy, expressing how comfortable there foot is and how they never thought they could feel so good in a bowling shoe.
Just ask around in your league, at the bowlers with the higher end shoes. Poll them if there bowling shoes or there daily shoes are more comfortable. I'm willing to bet there bowling shoes come out ahead.
--------------------
Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Staff Writer 7-10 Split Magazine,EGO Communications
Montreal, Quebec.
