Men’s Bowling Shoes Buying Guide

Bowling shoes have a rubber bottom to give the wearer traction while on the slippery surface of a bowling alley. This is the only thing most bowling shoes have in common. Their appearance, size, quality, and price can differ significantly from pair to pair. Many avid bowlers choose to buy their own shoes to avoid having to rent a pair each time they go bowling. Choosing a bowling shoe generally involves knowing the wearer’s shoe size, finding a comfortable shoe, and deciding which features are important in a bowling shoe.

Men’s bowling shoes can be purchased directly from most bowling alleys, and occasionally can be found at major department and sporting goods stores. Bowling alleys usually sell their rentals and most offer new shoes for purchase as well. Aside from these locations, bowling shoes can be purchased at some shoe stores and on the Internet, especially on large, consumer-to-consumer websites like Nordstrom.

Styles of Men’s Bowling Shoes
Performance and athletic are the two major styles of bowling shoes. Performance bowling shoes for men are designed to maximize performance with little regard to aesthetics. Athletic bowling shoes resemble tennis or running shoes. This kind of bowling shoe is designed to look sporty, but it still has a rubber bottom for support on the bowling lanes.

Performance Bowling Shoes for Men
Performance bowling shoes are also known as competitive bowling shoes. This kind of shoe is usually what professional bowlers wear. They can resemble sneakers, but this isn’t the primary focus of the design. Many older bowling alleys have performance bowling shoes for rent in a design referred to as retro or vintage.

Athletic Bowling Shoes for Men
Athletic bowling shoes are generally marketed toward the recreational or occasional bowler. When worn, the shoes look exactly like the standard sneaker. They often have a sliding sole on both shoes rather than just one.


Men’s Bowling Shoes with Sliding Foot Soles
Bowlers can choose between two types of bowling shoes: pairs with all rubber bottoms and pairs consisting of one rubber sole and one sliding sole. A bowling shoe with a sliding sole allows the wearer to slide as he or she releases the ball. The rubber on the opposite shoe allows the bowler to brake easily. Rental pairs usually don’t have a sliding shoe because the business’s patrons are less likely to slip and fall without it. Even professional bowlers may feel more comfortable in bowling shoes without a slippery bottom. Anyone who prefers to slide into a release will prefer a sliding shoe.

Left-handed Bowling Shoes
Most bowling shoes with a sliding foot are made for right-handed people, which comprise about 90 percent of the world’s population. The other 10 percent must wear special bowling shoes for a natural slide and release. These shoes have a slippery sole whose sides are reversed, since left-handed people tend to lead with their other foot.


Cost of Men’s Bowling Shoes
Bowling shoes often cost more than a decent bowling ball. Some features are bound to add even more to the cost of bowling shoes, though. Such features cost the manufacturer more, so those costs are usually passed on to the consumer. For example, genuine leather, especially whole grain leather, costs significantly more than artificial leather, also known as imitation leather, pleather, or leatherette.