Here is a trick that you can try if you are over sliding. Take a wire shoe brush and scuff the bottom of your shoe horizontally from the inside to the outside on the leather part of the shoe. This will make the bottom of your shoe go against the grain and will add more traction. This will help slow down your shoe so it will not slip as much.
The Shoe Brush - Vertical
Here is a trick that you can try if you are under sliding. Take a shoe brush and scuff the bottom of your shoe vertically starting at the toe and scuff toward the heel. This is done on the leather part of the shoe. This will put the shoe grain on the bottom in line with the angle of the slide and create less resistance and a smoother slide.
This was a simple tip on techniques for using your shoe brush.
for a consistant slide try using Shoe Brush management, you can gat a shoe brush along with all your other Bowling Pro-Shop Accessories you need on this page.
How to Maintain your Bowling Shoes - Part 2. Bowling Shoe Covers
Here is a tip that will help you keep your bowling shoes dry if you have to use the bathroom, get a drink from the bar, or with the no smoking policy in many states, if you smoke you can slip some bowling shoe covers on and keep the bottom of your shoe dry if you have to slip outside. Also in the winter the snow gets on the concourse floor so if you have to make a run to the bathroom or any of the places explained above your shoe bottoms would stay dry. Shoe covers are a must have in keeping your shoe bottoms in good condition. There are many brands, colors, and styles. If you don't have them you can get some in the below link. You need to have bowling shoe covers for maintaining a consistent slide.
This was a simple tip on techniques for using bowling shoe covers.
Here are just a small portion of the benefits you'll gain from using:
Bowling Shoe Covers -
They help keep your bowling shoes dry.
Benefit No 1- If you have to use the bathroom. Benefit No 2 - If you get a drink from the bar. Benefit No 3 - If you have to slip outside Benefit No 4 - If snow gets on the concourse floor in the winter. Benefit No 5 - If someone spills a drink on the floor.
This is just a few of the benefits you will discover.
How to Maintain your Bowling Shoes - Part 3. Easy Slide, Power Slide
Easy Slide and Power Slide Compounds
First I must warn you about using powder or any substance on the bottom of your bowling shoes. Some centers will not allow you to use easy slide, power slide or any type of powder on your shoes. I myself am not a fan of using this stuff ether, but if you must use it I wanted to let you know the proper way to use it. First never use baby powder on your shoes! You may slide, but the rest of the bowlers that are not having trouble with this will suffer at your expense. That being said, if the shoe brush trick does not work, and you do not have interchangeable soles on your bowling shoes, and if the center permits here is the proper way to use easy slide or power slide. Take the bag out of the plastic and tap it 1 or 2 times on the bottom of your sliding foot usually once on the ball part and once on the heel then rub your shoe into the approach when you are in your pre-approach routine. Do not put it on the tile floor! This is not only dangerous, but inconsiderate to the other bowlers. If you continually have trouble with sticking or sliding to much then you really need to get better shoes. The next e-mail, I will get into this in more detail.
How to Maintain your Bowling Shoes - Part 4. Heels and Soles
Interchangeable Heels and Soles
Now that I have covered the wire brush, shoe covers, and smooth or easy slide compounds I will go into replacement heels and soles. Not all bowling shoes have the interchangeable heels and soles. So when you buy your shoes look at the bottoms and nmake sure you get a raised heel. These shoes are usually a little more expensive, but worth it. Your cheaper bowling shoes have a flatter heel which is usually rubber. Because the heel is flat the bottom will drag on the approach and cause you to stick. The raised heel has less rubber to contact the approach so less surface contact and less chance of sticking. That being said, the next step up is bowling shoes with the interchangeable heels and soles. These shoes are not the cheapest, but if you are serious about bowling you need to get good equipment. These shoes have a tremendous advantage. They make it able to mix and match the heel and sole to give you the proper reaction for your style. Some bowlers want less slide some want more, some centers have sticky approaches some are slippery. If you have this type of shoe you will occasionally have to get replacements because they will get worn out. This is also an advantage because the heels and soles are a lot cheaper than buying new shoes. If you are serious about bowling you need to get good shoes and have good equipment. There is a link below where you can get the replacement heels and soles that you need and a link for bowling shoes.
