- DEX-LITE EVA outsole
- Soft durable man-made upper
- Defined rubber horseshoe heel
Dexter Bowling Men’s Ricky IV
The Dexter Bowling Men’s Ricky IV bowling shoe is a popular shoe because it looks like a street shoe. It contains a universal sole. It is good for bowlers with medium to low sliding styles. The shoe is well padded and extremely comfortable.
Pros
- Durable
Cons
- Runs small
Best Bowling Shoes for Beginners
- Comfort and performance
- Durability and style
- The #1 bowling shoe in the world
Dexter Turbo II Wide Athletic for Men
The Dexter Turbo II Wide bowling shoe is built for wider feet. It has universal slides. It also has a raised rubber heel, which can be helpful when sliding, especially if you are not tall. This is the perfect shoe for a beginner and intermediate bowler.
Pros
- Fits wider feet
- Stylish look
Cons
- Runs a half size small
- Raised heal
Benefits of a Good Bowling Shoe
A good bowling shoe not only benefits the user but the facility as well.
- Better gliding abilities: a proper glide and slide are necessary for accurate throw and more power. If the shoe is sticking, then the bowler has less control
- Floor protection: helps the floors stay clean, nice, and maintained.
- Highly customizable: A good bowling shoe can be made for the specific bowler who can greatly improve their performance
(source: The Shoe Guide)
What Kind of Shoes do You Have to Choose From?
Before going to purchase a bowling shoe, ask yourself the following:
- “What is my budget for this shoe?”
- “How often do I bowl?” and
- “Do I bowl competitively or for fun?”
The answers to these questions will help determine the type of bowling shoe you need to find.
Rental Bowling Shoes
If you only bowl once or twice in the year, getting bowling shoes may not be a worthy investment for you. Because you can usually rent shoes at the bowling alley when you get there, you may forfeit the purchase and choose to rent shoes instead.
There are bowling shoes available for as little as $19 to $50 US Dollars, but if they are only used once or twice, they will still be pricier, most often, then the rental at the bowling alley. But at least if you choose to purchase your own, you’ll be able to keep an eye on the maintenance, and you won’t be sharing shoes.
Universal Bowling Shoes
If you are a bit more frequent but you only bowl for fun, then getting some universal bowling shoes may be the right fit for you. Universal shoes are suitable for a bowler regardless of their dominant hand. They have sliding soles and a little traction in the heels to allow for technique, and they are more affordable than pro shoes.
Professional Bowling Shoes
On the other hand, if you are a frequent bowler or you bowl competitively, it is a good idea to get a shoe customized to your preferences, a “competitive” bowling shoe. If you are right-handed, go for a right-handed bowling shoe and vice versa. This is the most expensive option.
In performance shoes, the sole will have features that will allow the bowler to slide easily. Other shoe soles will have higher friction material that will allow for more traction, i.e., a sliding foot and a braking foot, respectively.
For someone who is right-handed, the right foot will be your braking foot (the foot that stops you from sliding around), and the left shoe will be for sliding. You would slide with one-foot dominating to pitch the bowling ball and brake with the other foot.
To get the right fit on this pair of shoes, you may want to get your foot measured to get a more tailored fit since this is a more expensive pair of shoes.
Bowling Shoe Type Comparison
Bowling shoes can be put into three categories: rental, athletic, and performance. Every bowler fits into a category. For bowling once a year, one does not need to buy expensive bowling shoes. You can use the rentals at the bowling alley. If you bowl often, then it would be cost-effective to buy a pair.
Rental Bowling Shoes
These shoes are for the occasional bowler. Someone who goes a few times a year. These shoes are factory-made, and all the shoes look and act the same.
Pros
- Convenient
- Sometimes come free when paying for a lane
Cons
- Cost $4/5
- One time use
- Not always a perfect fit
- Not always clean
Athletic
These shoes are made for beginner and intermediate bowlers. Someone who goes bowling often and at the same bowling alley. They look and fit like athletic shoes.
