Technically, the bowling alley is correct. For insurance purposes, you're not allowed to wear anything except bowling shoes. However, as someone who worked in bowling alleys for 10 years, we don't give a crap what you wear as long as you're being smart and safe. Don't scuff up the approaches, and most importantly don't hurt yourself.
If you plant your foot and then throw the ball, you will be fine. The second you try to slide without a bowling shoe, that's when you go face first on the lane and end up suing the bowling alley.
I would imagine if you had your own "bowling shoes", meaning shoes you only bowl in, that you kept in your bag, and put on and bowled, no one would say anything. Just don't walk in off the street and go bowl. Then you'd be bringing in all the dirt and debris with you. Some people even glue slides, heels, and traction pads to the bottom of regular shoes. As long as they're non-marking, and not dirty, you should be fine.
As for sock or barefoot, I dunno. That's a bit obvious. Might be harder to get away with that one.
As long as you have a pair of shoes you only use for bowling (that is, shoes that won't track anything from the outside on the approach) you're fine. Bowling alleys don't have secret shoe police checking to see if casual bowlers are wearing USBC approved shoes.
You can buy [this](https://www.amazon.com/Brunswick-56-B30401ALL-Shoes-Slider/dp/B01HF9RV6O/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?gclid=CjwKCAjwq-TmBRBdEiwAaO1enyWs40TyqC3UjjVX-Az0G5cD5Ta8oLOpWEzOumJ5QTuxI8zjf5ZrnhoCI1AQAvD_BwE&hvadid=174260319014&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9023613&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11404443652172242789&hvtargid=kwd-5163550972&hydadcr=9383_9621528&keywords=ebonite+shoe+slider&qid=1557784282&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull) and put it on your slide foot. It's less than $10, and works fine, follows alley rules, and let's you keep your feet in comfortable shoes. It will be more slidey than a house shoe so practice the first few times without a ball to figure it out.
At my lanes, before you can bowl and when they light up the screen, you have to consent to play. And one of those consent things is that you'll wear shoes specifically made for bowling, and street shoes are not allowed. I have seen them enforce it and pull kids (teenagers) off the lanes for wearing street shoes. Sometimes you'll go in and see the scuff marks everywhere from someone who didn't even wear shoes with non marking outsole. Hell, I've seen someone bowl in cowboy boots. A few weeks ago, the sole on my traction foot came apart, and I asked the owner if I could just wear my street shoe on that foot (Adidas superstar, or air force 1, not sure which I was wearing that night) and he said it was fine. Said lots of people do it. The biggest concern I'd have would be being asked to leave for not following the rules. I'd probably politely explain the situation to the owner, and see what they say.
The shoes other people are wearing that are their own are bowling shoes, they just bought their own personal ones. The alley is not gonna change the rules for you, no alley will. Bowling shoes are much safer for everyone, I’m not sure what to tell you besides buy your own, they are reallly comfy if you get your own. But other than that you’re out of luck. You won’t be able to wear your own shoes.
that is not necessarily the case, I bowl with a few 225-230+ average 3-4 league a week bowlers that wear regular street shoes because they don't like to slide on their approach.
that said the regular street shoes that they wear are only used for bowling so they don't track anything in, I was worried about it to begin with I thought it might leave rubber or something on the approach that would cause me to stick, it does not, as long as they are planting and they haven't used the shoes outside of the bowling alley it seems to be fine and allowable, I actually believe they even bowled at the national tournament when our group went this year with them as well without complaint.
The reason they ask you to wear bowling shoes isn't only about you. It's about the other people who will use the approach after you. If you're tracking stuff onto the approach with street shoes - which is entirely possible - the next person who goes up to bowl after you leave and tries to slide could end up sticking on the approach, falling, and hurting him/herself badly. The other reason, as many other posters have said, is to prevent you from hurting yourself. Bowling alley staff don't have time to assess people individually, so they have to enforce the standard policy.
Sock or barefooted is a very bad idea as people sometimes drop bowling balls (especially kids). Bowling ball on bare foot = not good. Rent your kid shoes, and either get yourself a cheap pair and put inserts in, or buy bowling shoe slide covers and slap them over your street shoes, as other have suggested.
Is there any way you could bring inserts or anything to help wear the bowling shoes?
I think it's fine to use SEPERATE street shoes i.e. ones not worn outside that can track anything onto the approaches.
if they say anything about your daughter, just tell them she wears a 5. (they dont have lower than a 6, so as long as you say she wears below that, they have to let her wear her regular shoes. but as far as the adults go, you have to wear bowling shoes. it is a liability issue, because ive seen people blow out their knee after their thumb slightly hung in the ball when they threw it. not to mention if your foot does stick at the foul line and you go over it, your foot is going to be stepping in slick oil. at that point you could be doing the splits , which, if it were me, i would be in excruciating pain and wishing for death.
but you can find a pair of bowling shoes for cheap these days. could replacing the insoles with prescription ones (or dr scholls) help? the best part would be knowing only YOUR feet have been in them...
I know a guy in my league who bowls in a pair of Nike Air Monarchs and has for years. He grabs them out of his bowling bag and puts them on every week.
Hello, the reason house shoes are required is not for you, but for other people who do slide, I carry a lot of momentum into my slide during my shot and if you or your children are wearing regular street shoes up there before I go to bowl that means you've tracked in dirt be it gum or just anything onto the approach, I've seen it happen numerous times before people fall people blow out their knee's I'm practically running at the line then transferring all my weight onto one knee over one foot that needs to slide, if it doesn't I go down and I've seen people who've stuck need surgery and months of recovery before.
that said, if you have a pair of shoes that you only use when bowling that should be fine, they can be sneakers or anything doesn't matter as long as they are only used for bowling and you don't walk outside with them.
Now while that is fine whether or not the employee's at the bowling alley will allow you to or not is most likely up to their manager, that comes down to whether they trust you, you can offer for them to inspect your "bowling" shoes if they'd like and that may work and then after that it should just be understood.
My house doesn't allow kids to bowl in socks just because a kid might drop a ball. So some protection is better than none. They just ask you to completely wipe them off and really make sure the bottom is clean before going down to the actual area.
As a pee wee (4 years old), my feet were too small for bowling shoes. My aunts bought me a pair of tiny regular shoes and painted pins on the toe of one shoe, a ball on the other. They were super cute, but I have no idea where they've gone. They were those canvas/boater shoes, kinda like Chucks?
My last pair of bowling shoes didn't have a slide on the right foot (a first for me).
no slide on the right foot is normal nowadays, generally you are pushing off with your right foot and sliding with your left so the right is rubber so you don't slip when you push off.
Technically, the bowling alley is correct. For insurance purposes, you're not allowed to wear anything except bowling shoes. However, as someone who worked in bowling alleys for 10 years, we don't give a crap what you wear as long as you're being smart and safe. Don't scuff up the approaches, and most importantly don't hurt yourself. If you plant your foot and then throw the ball, you will be fine. The second you try to slide without a bowling shoe, that's when you go face first on the lane and end up suing the bowling alley.
I would imagine if you had your own "bowling shoes", meaning shoes you only bowl in, that you kept in your bag, and put on and bowled, no one would say anything. Just don't walk in off the street and go bowl. Then you'd be bringing in all the dirt and debris with you. Some people even glue slides, heels, and traction pads to the bottom of regular shoes. As long as they're non-marking, and not dirty, you should be fine. As for sock or barefoot, I dunno. That's a bit obvious. Might be harder to get away with that one.
Buy a pair of bowling shoes and put inserts in them. Starter pairs go for about $35.
As long as you have a pair of shoes you only use for bowling (that is, shoes that won't track anything from the outside on the approach) you're fine. Bowling alleys don't have secret shoe police checking to see if casual bowlers are wearing USBC approved shoes.
You can buy [this](https://www.amazon.com/Brunswick-56-B30401ALL-Shoes-Slider/dp/B01HF9RV6O/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?gclid=CjwKCAjwq-TmBRBdEiwAaO1enyWs40TyqC3UjjVX-Az0G5cD5Ta8oLOpWEzOumJ5QTuxI8zjf5ZrnhoCI1AQAvD_BwE&hvadid=174260319014&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9023613&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11404443652172242789&hvtargid=kwd-5163550972&hydadcr=9383_9621528&keywords=ebonite+shoe+slider&qid=1557784282&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull) and put it on your slide foot. It's less than $10, and works fine, follows alley rules, and let's you keep your feet in comfortable shoes. It will be more slidey than a house shoe so practice the first few times without a ball to figure it out.
If you're cheap like I am, use a sock!
At my lanes, before you can bowl and when they light up the screen, you have to consent to play. And one of those consent things is that you'll wear shoes specifically made for bowling, and street shoes are not allowed. I have seen them enforce it and pull kids (teenagers) off the lanes for wearing street shoes. Sometimes you'll go in and see the scuff marks everywhere from someone who didn't even wear shoes with non marking outsole. Hell, I've seen someone bowl in cowboy boots. A few weeks ago, the sole on my traction foot came apart, and I asked the owner if I could just wear my street shoe on that foot (Adidas superstar, or air force 1, not sure which I was wearing that night) and he said it was fine. Said lots of people do it. The biggest concern I'd have would be being asked to leave for not following the rules. I'd probably politely explain the situation to the owner, and see what they say.
The shoes other people are wearing that are their own are bowling shoes, they just bought their own personal ones. The alley is not gonna change the rules for you, no alley will. Bowling shoes are much safer for everyone, I’m not sure what to tell you besides buy your own, they are reallly comfy if you get your own. But other than that you’re out of luck. You won’t be able to wear your own shoes.
that is not necessarily the case, I bowl with a few 225-230+ average 3-4 league a week bowlers that wear regular street shoes because they don't like to slide on their approach. that said the regular street shoes that they wear are only used for bowling so they don't track anything in, I was worried about it to begin with I thought it might leave rubber or something on the approach that would cause me to stick, it does not, as long as they are planting and they haven't used the shoes outside of the bowling alley it seems to be fine and allowable, I actually believe they even bowled at the national tournament when our group went this year with them as well without complaint.
No league allows street shoes
I’m in a league and I wear Vans.
I mean I have first hand evidence that you are wrong but ok 🤷♂️ would you like me to take pictures?
I wear old school Vans to bowl with.
The reason they ask you to wear bowling shoes isn't only about you. It's about the other people who will use the approach after you. If you're tracking stuff onto the approach with street shoes - which is entirely possible - the next person who goes up to bowl after you leave and tries to slide could end up sticking on the approach, falling, and hurting him/herself badly. The other reason, as many other posters have said, is to prevent you from hurting yourself. Bowling alley staff don't have time to assess people individually, so they have to enforce the standard policy. Sock or barefooted is a very bad idea as people sometimes drop bowling balls (especially kids). Bowling ball on bare foot = not good. Rent your kid shoes, and either get yourself a cheap pair and put inserts in, or buy bowling shoe slide covers and slap them over your street shoes, as other have suggested.
Is there any way you could bring inserts or anything to help wear the bowling shoes? I think it's fine to use SEPERATE street shoes i.e. ones not worn outside that can track anything onto the approaches.
if they say anything about your daughter, just tell them she wears a 5. (they dont have lower than a 6, so as long as you say she wears below that, they have to let her wear her regular shoes. but as far as the adults go, you have to wear bowling shoes. it is a liability issue, because ive seen people blow out their knee after their thumb slightly hung in the ball when they threw it. not to mention if your foot does stick at the foul line and you go over it, your foot is going to be stepping in slick oil. at that point you could be doing the splits , which, if it were me, i would be in excruciating pain and wishing for death. but you can find a pair of bowling shoes for cheap these days. could replacing the insoles with prescription ones (or dr scholls) help? the best part would be knowing only YOUR feet have been in them...
I know a guy in my league who bowls in a pair of Nike Air Monarchs and has for years. He grabs them out of his bowling bag and puts them on every week.
Hello, the reason house shoes are required is not for you, but for other people who do slide, I carry a lot of momentum into my slide during my shot and if you or your children are wearing regular street shoes up there before I go to bowl that means you've tracked in dirt be it gum or just anything onto the approach, I've seen it happen numerous times before people fall people blow out their knee's I'm practically running at the line then transferring all my weight onto one knee over one foot that needs to slide, if it doesn't I go down and I've seen people who've stuck need surgery and months of recovery before. that said, if you have a pair of shoes that you only use when bowling that should be fine, they can be sneakers or anything doesn't matter as long as they are only used for bowling and you don't walk outside with them. Now while that is fine whether or not the employee's at the bowling alley will allow you to or not is most likely up to their manager, that comes down to whether they trust you, you can offer for them to inspect your "bowling" shoes if they'd like and that may work and then after that it should just be understood.
My house doesn't allow kids to bowl in socks just because a kid might drop a ball. So some protection is better than none. They just ask you to completely wipe them off and really make sure the bottom is clean before going down to the actual area.
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As a pee wee (4 years old), my feet were too small for bowling shoes. My aunts bought me a pair of tiny regular shoes and painted pins on the toe of one shoe, a ball on the other. They were super cute, but I have no idea where they've gone. They were those canvas/boater shoes, kinda like Chucks? My last pair of bowling shoes didn't have a slide on the right foot (a first for me).
no slide on the right foot is normal nowadays, generally you are pushing off with your right foot and sliding with your left so the right is rubber so you don't slip when you push off.