If you’ve ever been bowling, you know that when you arrive you have to switch out your shoes for special bowling shoes.
If you’re new to bowling, you might be wondering: Why do you have to wear bowling shoes?
In this article, I will cover some key information about bowling shoes, including why you have to wear bowling shoes.
Let’s get started.
Why Do You Have To Wear Bowling Shoes?
There are a few different reasons why you are required to wear bowling shoes when you go bowling.
Firstly, wearing bowling shoes helps you slide while you’re bowling. So, why is sliding so important? Sliding is important as it enables you to achieve a smoother motion when you’re bowling the ball.
Although the bottom of bowling shoes is designed to be slick so it’s easier to slide, the heels are generally made out of rubber. This helps you to stop sliding after you have bowled. Without this rubber sole that acts as a stopper, you’d keep sliding, which could be a hazard for multiple reasons.
In addition to this, you have to wear bowling shoes because they help to protect the bowling lanes.
Bowling lanes tend to have polished wood floors, which gives the lanes a shiny and slick appearance.
It’s no surprise that outdoor shoes can get caked in dirt amongst other things. If you were allowed to bowl wearing the shoes you wore to the bowling alley, the bowling alley lanes would soon be coated in dirt, grass, water, stones, and other debris that you’ve picked up on your shoes outdoors.
The dirt and debris can quickly cover the lanes and make them less slick. This could affect your game and require additional cleaning from the bowling alley staff once everyone was finished playing.
Debris can even scratch the surface of the lanes, which can be both costly and a challenge to repair once it’s damaged.
Making bowlers wear special shoes when they’re bowling, then, is in your best interest, and means that they can better control what ends up on the floor.
So, even if it feels like a hassle to rent bowling shoes, as you can see from the reasons above, it’s very necessary to do so!
Should You Purchase Your Own Pair Of Bowling Shoes?
The answer to this question depends on how frequently you go bowling! While you might be someone that cringes at the thought of wearing a pair of pre-used bowling shoes, bowling alleys thoroughly clean each pair of shoes once they are returned by the bowler.
That being said, if you really enjoy bowling and take it up as a hobby, then you might decide that it’s worth it to take it to the next level with your very own pair of bowling shoes.
To get a better idea of whether this option is right for you, you will need to calculate the amount of money that you spend renting bowling shoes and compare it to the price of a decent pair of bowling shoes.
The likelihood is, if you’re going bowling frequently enough, then it is better to invest in a pair of your own shoes as opposed to renting them every single time you visit the bowling alley. While it’s costly in the first instance, over time, the initial cost will balance out with the number of times that you visit the bowling alley.
However, in the same breath, if you think that your interest in bowling is likely to die out soon and you won’t get the use out of the shoes, then you might be better off renting the bowling shoes until you know you can fully commit to bowling.
After all, if you’re investing in your own pair of bowling shoes, you will want to make sure that you’re using them to get the most out of your purchase.
Where Should You Buy Bowling Shoes?
You can buy bowling shoes online and in-store from a variety of sports retailers.
If you’re serious about purchasing your own pair of bowling shoes, I highly recommend that you do your research and try on a few pairs of shoes to get the best fit.
You don’t want to buy a pair of shoes that are uncomfortable and don’t fit you properly, as you just won’t get the use out of them.
Additionally, an ill-fitting pair of bowling shoes will likely end up affecting your game, and you don’t want to hinder yourself.
This is why it’s best to go into the store and speak to a professional. They can measure your feet and can give you advice on the shoes that they’d recommend you get.
This means you’re much more likely to get a pair of good-quality bowling shoes as opposed to a dud pair that you find online.
How Expensive Are Bowling Shoes?
How expensive your specific bowling shoes are will largely depend on where you buy or rent them, as some bowling alleys charge more than others do.
That being said, on average, you’re looking at around $4 to rent a pair of bowling shoes.
The starting price for buying your own bowling shoes is around $24, meaning that if you go bowling a minimum of 6 times, then you will have already made your money back.
This is why many people who have an interest in bowling decide to buy their own shoes, as it’s a no-brainer if you intend to visit the bowling alley frequently enough.
Be sure to shop around to ensure you’re getting a good price for your bowling shoes if you decide to buy your own.
In Summary
You need to wear bowling shoes when bowling to help you slide, and also to protect the bowling alley from the dirt and debris that you can pick up on your normal shoes.
Hopefully, this article has given you a better idea of why you need to wear bowling shoes at the bowling alley and why bowling shoes are important.
Good luck and have fun when you next go bowling!
I wanted to create my website to inspire others to pick up their bowling balls and get to their local lanes. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a friendly game of bowling with your friends and family, so what are you waiting for?
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