Author Topic: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes (Read 7855 times)

Steven · « **on:** December 18, 2011, 11:10:52 AM »

I've been a long term user of Dexter shoes. I've owned 3 pairs of the SST5 model and have logged over a 1000 games on my SST8's. The SST8's are still in great shape. I use the S8 slide sole and H7 red heel for most conditions I see and overall I'm very satisfied with the shoe.

I don't need another pair of shoes now, but for whatever reason, I decided to pick of a pair of the new Etonic E-Tour Masters. Their graduated slide system seemed compeling (at least on paper), so I figured I'd take a chance and experiment.

They have a more narrow profile than the SST8's, but still provide more than sufficient lateral stability. In the nutshell, the E-Tours were comfortable right out of the box.

As far as slide, I wasn't sure the first few practice games. The rubber 'brake' on the back of the heel was stopping my slide faster than what I was used to. Even with the heel/sole setup that provided for the most slide possible. You could actually hear the loud 'squeak' of the graduated rubber heel brake bringing the slide to an abrupt stop. But by the third game, the shoe was clearly breaking in. The squeak went away, and the slide became more graduated, just as advertised.

I know I'm going to like this shoe as I get more and more used to it. My sense is that it will have more usable versatility than the SST8. For the time being, the SST8 will continue to be my primary shoe, but the E-Tour will get more use over time. It's definitely a shoe worth considering if you're in the market for a high end shoe with adjustable heel/sole combinations.

Edited by Steven on 12/18/2011 at 8:28 PM

tburky · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2011, 07:41:56 PM »

I know of a couple of pros that made modifications to the heel to keep them from catching.

Steven · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2011, 08:07:59 PM »

Mine seems to be breaking in, but do you know what modifications were made?

tburky wrote on 12/18/2011 8:41 PM:I know of a couple of pros that made modifications to the heel to keep them from catching.

themagician · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2011, 05:17:32 PM »

How do they run size wise in comparison to your Dexters?

scotts33 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2011, 08:53:51 AM »

I would like to know this also. I have purchased a pair recently (my 3G's are starting to wear after 4 years).....the Lock-Pod has a design flaw in that bowlers that slide whole foot with heel down to keep trail leg down and don't slide on the ball of their foot will catch the black rubber trailing edge of the Lock-Pod. I believe this is what Steven and others are running into.

So, I can see a slight modification to the rear of the Lock-Pod lowering the black rubber trailing edge would help the slide...this would especially be evident on tacky synthetic approaches. Any good way of shaving that back rubber trailing edge?

The E-Tour Masters that I have 10 1/2 M are slightly narrower than my 3G Tour Ultra's those with a wider foot may have issues. I have a "D/E" medium width men's shoe size. As Steven noted the platform width is also slightly less wide maybe a 1/4" to 3/16" with the trailing black rubber edge grabbing and the slightly narrower platform width I do make myself go slower which is not all bad.

School is still out if I can work myself into these. I like Steven are still using my 3G's.

Steven wrote on 12/18/2011 9:07 PM:Mine seems to be breaking in, but do you know what modifications were made?

tburky wrote on 12/18/2011 8:41 PM:I know of a couple of pros that made modifications to the heel to keep them from catching.

Scott

EboHammer4ever · « **Reply #5 on:** December 20, 2011, 10:37:30 AM »

I too purchased these used from another ballreviews member with only 6 frames on them. Like Steven, I still wear my 3Gs as my primary shoes for league and bought the tour masters for a backup and another option for tournaments. I wear a size 12 in 3Gs but the tour masters wear 11 1/2 but them seem to fit good. They are narrower then my 3Gs..they look more like dress shoes and mine are pointy (lack of a better word). I've only worn them a few times but so far they are good. One problem I had was on my push foot. I push off with my toe pretty good and the rubber insert on the toe came off a couple times. I have no intention of changing the push foot pads so I just glued it on permenantly and that seemed to fix the issue. I haven't had the heel problem like others and so far I like them. Still am really fond of my 3Gs though..but these are starting to grow on me as a backup shoe.

Jarrett Roseboom
Ebonite fan
pics of my equipment
http://s638.photobucket.com/albums/uu109/jarrettcr/My%20Bowling%20Equipment/

Steven · « **Reply #6 on:** December 20, 2011, 11:03:03 AM »

First, on the question of size, it's 9.5 on both the Dexter and Etonics.

Scott described the design problem better than I did. And I think he nailed the slide styles that might have issues with the E-Tour. I do tend the slide on the ball of my foot first (just slightly), but when I slide with "whole foot with heel down", that's when I caught the black rubber most noticeably. But even here, it seemed to start breaking in and slide more evenly as I piled a few games. I hope I wasn't imaging things.

It's a different feel from the SST8s, so I want to give E-Tours a fair shot before making a final decision. I need to get on a few different surfaces to see if that black rubber gets unmanageable. I'm hoping it works because I like the shoe otherwise.

scotts33 wrote on 12/20/2011 9:53 AM:
I would like to know this also. I have purchased a pair recently (my 3G's are starting to wear after 4 years).....the Lock-Pod has a design flaw in that bowlers that slide whole foot with heel down to keep trail leg down and don't slide on the ball of their foot will catch the black rubber trailing edge of the Lock-Pod. I believe this is what Steven and others are running into.

scotts33 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 20, 2011, 11:11:45 AM »

I believe to keep your trail leg down that you need to slide whole foot on approach. As Mo Pinel says

"There are no Flamingos in bowling."

I would like to see a player with a technique that slides on the ball of his/her slide foot and keep their trail leg down without sliding on the whole foot.

Hence the design is suspect but with wear maybe these will wear in. I also need to put more games on them to give them a fair shot.

Steven wrote on 12/20/2011 12:03 PM:First, on the question of size, it's 9.5 on both the Dexter and Etonics.

Scott described the design problem better than I did. And I think he nailed the slide styles that might have issues with the E-Tour. I do tend the slide on the ball of my foot first (just slightly), but when I slide with "whole foot with heel down", that's when I caught the black rubber most noticeably. But even here, it seemed to start breaking in and slide more evenly as I piled a few games. I hope I wasn't imaging things.

It's a different feel from the SST8s, so I want to give E-Tours a fair shot before making a final decision. I need to get on a few different surfaces to see if that black rubber gets unmanageable. I'm hoping it works because I like the shoe otherwise.

scotts33 wrote on 12/20/2011 9:53 AM:
I would like to know this also. I have purchased a pair recently (my 3G's are starting to wear after 4 years).....the Lock-Pod has a design flaw in that bowlers that slide whole foot with heel down to keep trail leg down and don't slide on the ball of their foot will catch the black rubber trailing edge of the Lock-Pod. I believe this is what Steven and others are running into.

Scott

Author Topic: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes (Read 7855 times)

Steven

Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

tburky

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

Steven

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

themagician

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

scotts33

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

EboHammer4ever

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

Steven

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes

scotts33

Re: Etonic E-Tour Master Shoes