Who needs bowling shoes? We all do

Ever wonder why bowling centers insist that you wear bowling shoes when you bowl? Why not bowl in your socks or in tennis shoes? What's the difference? Well, there are many reasons why it is desirable that everyone who bowls should have use the proper footwear.

Beginners

If you are a beginning bowler or maybe a youth bowler, just starting out you could probably get away with bowling in your street shoes or just your socks. But that's not a good idea.

Bowling shoes are specially made for bowling. They are smooth enough to allow you to slide but sticky enough to keep you from sliding down the lane after your bowling ball. No other footwear provides that perfect combination.

Street shoes will be too sticky, which will cause you to stop immediately as you get near the foul line. This puts you at risk of injuries to your foot, ankle, knee, hip, back, elbow and shoulder. You will also be putting other bowlers at risk because your street shoes are sure to leave behind scuff marks, dirt and other debris that can make the approaches dangerous. When it comes to bowling, bowling shoes are the only way to go.

League bowlers

Most league bowlers, at one time or another, have had to decide whether to rent shoes at the center or buy them outright.

In today's economy, you might want to look at it from a financial point of view. Since most winter season leagues run about 30 weeks, renting a pair of shoes each week would run anywhere from $60 to $90 for the season. For that price or cheaper, you can get a nice pair of shoes to call your own.

A potential pitfall of renting shoes is that you're never quite sure what you're going to get because every pair is slightly different. You might find a clean, comfortable pair one week only to get stuck with a worn-out pair with mangled shoelaces the next. It's not worth the gamble.

Advanced bowlers

If you are an advanced bowler who has been bowling for years, you probably have your own shoes. But when you go to buy new ones, you will notice that one pair costs $50 while another costs $200. What's the difference between the two, and which one do you need?

The key to answering this question is the different bowling centers you bowl in.

If you only bowl in one center, the condition of the approches isn't likely to change much from week to week. In this case, you can get away with a pair of shoes with permanent soles and heels.

Some shoes are geared toward all bowlers while others are designated as right-handed or left-handed. If you bowl at the higher levels or bowl in several leagues in different bowling centers, you will probably be better off with the right-handed/left-handed shoes because they give you a designated push shoe and a designated slide shoe.

You'll also find the right-handed/left-handed feature on shoes with interchangeable soles and heels, which is what you should be wearing if you bowl in several different centers and face the possibility of encountering different approach conditions on a regular basis.

What to do?

Beginning bowlers or youth bowlers just starting out can find bowling shoes at most sporting goods stores. But if you are a more serious bowler, such as a regular league bowler, you may find that a local bowling pro shop is the best place to buy them because there will be an experienced professional there to help you with your choice. More advanced bowlers already know the benefits of dealing with a pro shop for the advice and guidance they can find there.

Gil Sanchez is a freelance bowling writer for the News & Messenger. He is a member of the Bowling Writers Association of America and the United States Bowling Congress Advisory Council. Reach him at 703-587-6792 or at gsanchez@insidenova.com.