Bowling Shoe Care: 7 Practical Tips

Bowling shoe care in a few minutes

Bowling shoe care is simple: keep the soles clean and dry, let the shoes air out after every session and store them sensibly. Your shoes touch the approach on every delivery, so the way you look after them shows up directly in your slide. These seven tips cover the routine for every bowling shoe, whatever it is made of.

If you are still choosing your first pair, start with our guide on how to choose bowling shoes.

1. Wipe the uppers after playing

Lane dust and oil residue settle on the uppers during a session. A soft, slightly damp cloth removes them before they build up. Keep water away from the slide sole while you do this.

• Leather uppers stay supple with a little leather conditioner every few weeks, applied to the upper only. Our guide to caring for leather bowling shoes explains how.
• Leave household cleaners, bleach and solvents in the cupboard. They can dry out or discolour the material.

2. Brush the slide sole

Dust and grit on the slide sole change how far you slide. Brush it before and after each session with a wire brush made for bowling shoes. A clean sole slides more consistently from one game to the next. How the slide sole works and how to adjust your slide is covered in our slide sole guide.

3. Keep the soles dry

Moisture on the slide sole makes it grip, and your slide becomes unpredictable. Even a small wet spot from a spilled drink can stop your foot short at the foul line.

• Only wear your bowling shoes inside the bowling center, never outdoors.
• If your shoes do get wet, stuff them loosely with paper and let them dry at room temperature. Keep them away from radiators, hair dryers and direct sunlight, because heat is hard on leather and adhesives.

4. Use shoe covers off the approach

Carpet, tiles and the way to the restroom or the bar all leave dirt and moisture on your soles, which you then carry back onto the approach. Slip on shoe covers whenever you leave the approach area, or change into your street shoes for longer breaks.

5. Air and store them properly

• Take your shoes out of the bowling bag when you get home so they can air out. Shoes left in a closed bag stay damp and start to smell.
• A shoe bag keeps them apart from your ball and protects the soles from grit.
• Cedar shoe trees absorb residual moisture and help the shoes keep their shape.
• Store your shoes somewhere dry and at moderate temperatures. A car boot in summer is not a good place: heat can deform rubber parts and soften glue.

6. Deal with odour early

Feet sweat during a long session, and the moisture ends up in the shoe. Airing them after every session does most of the work. In addition, a foot powder or a shoe deodoriser spray helps. If your shoes have a removable insole, take it out to dry separately.

7. Check the soles and heels for wear

Look at your soles every now and then. If your slide stays uneven even after brushing, or the sole has become visibly thin, it is time to act.

• Interchangeable soles and heels: many performance shoes have slide soles and heels that attach with hook-and-loop fasteners. Worn parts can simply be replaced.
• Fixed leather soles: a cobbler can replace a worn leather sole, so the shoe itself stays in use.

Care checklist

Shoes that are worth the care

Care pays off most with shoes you keep for a long time. BOWLIO bowling shoes are made of genuine leather, with a genuine leather upper and a full-length leather sole under both shoes. They are suitable for left- and right-handed bowlers, and the more often you wear them, the softer the leather becomes and the more comfortable the shoes feel.

Further reading: Caring for leather bowling shoes · Slide sole guide · Breaking in new bowling shoes