Applying EZ Slide to your shoe is NOT illegal. Leeting it get on the approach so it interferes with other bowlers' safety is illegal. BIG difference.

charlest as i understand it, it is illegal to apply anything to the bottom of your bowling shoe that may leave a residue on the approach. if you apply a product like e-z slide to the bottom of your shoe it WIll leave a residue on the approach.

Edited on 6/7/2003 9:16 PM

Smash49, check for message.

Presto, I think what most people are concerned about is that the application of powder on one's shoes could transfer to the approach and cause another bowler to suffer an injury by sliding past the foul line into the conditioner, thus losing their balance and possibly injuring themselves.  Plus, during humid weather, powder can pick up and hold moisture, thus causing a sticky approach, perhaps not for you but for the bowlers who bowl on those lanes afterwards.

Besides, the use of powders is against the rules of ABC:

Approaches Must Not Be Defaced

Rule 12. The application of any foreign substance on any part of the approach that detracts from the possibility of other players having normal conditions is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, such substances as talcum powder, pumice and resin on shoes; also soft rubber soles or heels that rub off on the approach.

The above is from the ABC Rulebook at www.bowl.com


Edited to add:  I dont think anyone has a problem with applying it to the shoe, then brushing it off so that there would be no loose residue to transfer to the approach.

Edited on 6/7/2003 11:10 PM

Komike, the slide sock route does indeed work on sticky synthetic approaches.  There is a synthetic house about an hour away from me where I have always had severe sticking problems on the approaches there.  Well, a new house owner came in and saw me having terrible sticking problems.....he suggested that I try his slide sock, and the slide sock did indeed do the trick for the sticky approaches.  I was surprised at how well it worked in this house that I had always battled the approaches in.

Like I mentioned before, the slide sock that Smash49 markets (www.bowlersslidesock.com) is very well built for the long haul, and should definitely help you out on sticky synthetics.  For $8.95 delivered, the Slide Sock definitely makes for a good option for sticky approach conditions, and it is very quick to install or remove.  For the price, it sure beats the cost of buying a pair of variable sole shoes, although the variable sole shoes are also a good option.

Jerry, there does appear to be a texture difference between just using an old cotton sock and one of the commercially made slide socks.  Right off hand, I can think of 3 different slide socks, although two of them are exactly the same with the exception of the name and appearance.  The Cal Slide Sock is solid black, where the AMF Slide Sock is the same merchandise but it has white pins displayed on the black cloth.  Now the Bowlers Slide Sock (www.bowlersslidesock.com) that Smash49 markets comes in a wide variety of colors, and the texture of the material does feel different and much heavier than the other two slide socks.  Although I haven't really had a need to use my Bowlers Slide Sock yet, I think that it will slide a little longer than the Cal Slide or AMF Slide Socks do.  But, not having tested the two types of socks out against each other at the same time, I cannot really say for certain.  Maybe Smash49 will step in here with a comparison of his slide sock versus the other major one out there on the market.

However, I can definitely agree that the Bowlers Slide Sock is built much sturdier than the other brands, and should hold up much longer (although I don't really think that wear would be a significant problem on the other models either).

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've recently ordered and used the slide sock mentioned in this thread.  When I first received it, I found it a mite too slippery, but I rubbed my foot back and forth on my bedroom carpet to break it in a little bit.  It took me half a game to feel comfortable in my approach (I was afraid of landing on my butt at first).  Now it feels totally natural, and I no longer have to worry about stopping short.  It's a great product, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has to deal with tacky approaches.

Thanks for your help, Smash.  

Debbie

One thing is for certain: as bowlers age, or have injuries in various parts of the body, a good slide length becomes a critical issue for these bowlers.  The slide accomplishes a couple of things.  First, it allows you to slowly and smoothly decelerate your approach, and secondly it works in conjunction with your ball timing.  As long as you are sliding, you aren't committed to releasing the ball.  Once you come to a full stop, then you are committed to release the ball, whether or not your armswing is in synch with everything else or not.

Age and injuries plague a lot of areas of the body, and the sudden jarring force of slamming to a stop on the approach may be more stress than certain body parts are happy with.  In some cases, the need to slide is significant enough that the bowler must either be able to slide, or sit out on the sideline.  Bowlers with slide knee injuries (waving my hand here, multiple times), hip problems, shoulder problems, spinal problems, and a whole host of other difficulties need to be able to slide a desirable amount so that they can unload the pressure of the approach and delivery.  A 19 year old youngster might be able to get away with a plant and rip delivery, but a 49 year old bowler with knee problems might find that planting at the foul line takes him completely out of the game due to pain.  I do see some older bowlers who don't slide, but these bowlers have made compensations in their approach and delivery in other ways to limit the stress on the body.  I can think of one fellow in his '70's who bowls with me, and he simply walks slowly down the approach and gently lays the ball down on the lane as he lands on his slide foot....he has compensated by reducing his approach speed and significantly reducing his ball speed.  So, you can't say that all older bowlers slide, but most of them prefer a longer slide for the stress reduction as well as the ball timing improvement.

Anything you can do to improve your slide to get what you feel comfortable with is a plus.  Of course, some of the possibilities are against the rules (EZ Slide or baby powder on the approaches), but you have options such as the slide socks, Tru-Slide, Glide Slide, and variable sole/heel slide shoes.  Somewhere in that combination of methods lies an answer for just about any situation.  You don't have to live with tacky approaches, unless you fail to explore the possible remedies.