Basically, what I'm wondering is, has anyone out there taken a pair of every day street shoes (non marking hopefully lol) and turned them into bowling shoes somehow? Whether you replaced the sole altogether or modified it? If so, did you have any luck? Would you try it again? Did they last at all? Just kind of curious because I know people must have tried it. Thanks.

Matt

If I remember, someone created a sole that went over your street shoes.

Not sure if its still around.

http://www.ballreviews.com/miscellaneous/talk-about-stooping-to-an-all-time-low-t228426.15.html

Trying to find that old topic but so far no luck.  The above link makes mention of having street shoes turned into bowling shoes by a shoemaker.

Okay, found the one I remembered reading.  This is it, but not really that much info:

http://www.ballreviews.com/miscellaneous/custom-bowling-shoes-t242127.0.html;msg1168618;topicseen#msg1168618


Another one with a bit of info:

http://www.ballreviews.com/miscellaneous/customized-bowling-shoes-who-has-done-it-t200280.0.html;msg928201;topicseen#msg928201

Hey, I was lucky enough remembering that I had read something about customized shoes without remembering how much I had read. 

Well...here's what I'm thinking. I have this old pair of Nike's with a flat sole. The bottom like, 1/8" is blue, the rest of the sole is white. So on my slide foot, If I cut the blue portion off of the heal and sole area, and maybe use like rubber cement to attach some velcro, I'd be able to stick on a sole and heal...and it should stick up a bit higher than the rubber left in the middle portion, so essentially...what would contact the lane would be exactly like bowling shoes. And the sole on the non slide foot is non marking so that wouldn't be an issue. The only real issue I might run into is how long they would last. I'd hate the velcro to just come unglued mid slide lol. Rubber cement is the only highly adhesive/semi-flexible glue I can think of to use to attach the velcro.

My question is why bother?  It seems like too much work, too much effort, with not much upside.  The big thing I don't understand is the fascination with expensive shoes to begin with.  I now it's a fashion thing and a status thing with bowlers, but i would much rather spend money on balls rather than shoes.  I had shoes from Sports Authority for 6 seasons, two leagues in each, and they just died last year.  They were $30 and got them as a present.  My new dexters are almost bottom of the line and i can outbowl most, even if they have fancy shoes. I would love SST8's, but again, unless your bowling in 4-5 different houses with extremely different approaches (tacky wise) there's no real need.  Just my two cents. 

My question is why bother?  It seems like too much work, too much effort, with not much upside.  The big thing I don't understand is the fascination with expensive shoes to begin with.  I now it's a fashion thing and a status thing with bowlers, but i would much rather spend money on balls rather than shoes.  I had shoes from Sports Authority for 6 seasons, two leagues in each, and they just died last year.  They were $30 and got them as a present.  My new dexters are almost bottom of the line and i can outbowl most, even if they have fancy shoes. I would love SST8's, but again, unless your bowling in 4-5 different houses with extremely different approaches (tacky wise) there's no real need.  Just my two cents. 

Although we differ in the thoughts on the need for changeable soles, I agree that paying the price they typically ask for them is ridiculous. I've always had interchangeable soles back when I used to bowl at several different centers per week, and kind of stuck with them. I'm glad I did because the center that I bowl at just switched last season to synthetic approaches, and to this day they might be tacky as can be one week, and slippery like ice the next. Overall, I do think a good, reliable, quality pair of shoes is important. Important enough for the price tag... debatable lol.

On the other thing you brought up...turning the shoes into bowling shoes...there really isn't much a point. I know that. Honestly, like i said it's more a boredom thing and to see if I can do it. It's a pair of shoes that's been sitting in the closet....I have extra soles and heels from old bowling shoes laying around, and the velcro is going to cost me what? 5 bucks? Kind of have the question of whether or not I can in my head now lol.