BallReviews
Equipment Boards => Bags, Shoes, Accessories => Topic started by: lefty50 on August 07, 2015, 03:27:48 PM
-
Throwing this out there for one last round of feedback before getting new shoes this year. My 3G Tour Ultras have been great for way > 10 years (Mine say Dyno Thane from that timeframe) and are as comfortable as day 1. They still feel like slippers. However, white/silver isn't available in LH, and I can't stand black bowling shoes.
Now that time has passed for everyone to examine the more recent entries from Storm/Brunswick/Dexter, have any of the new models proven to be as reliable, comfortable or have a wider range of options than the Tour Ultras?
Thanks in advance
Steve
-
Anyone?
-
There are new 3gs coming out...
-
Dexters are proven...
-
Dexters are proven.....proven what?
Proven to be not very comfortable. My SST1's and SST8's were stiff and had a hard lumpy feeling. The right toe cap wore out on my SST8 and the shoe cracked behind the sole.
I bought my wife the women's SST1 ($100) last fall and she won't wear them because they hurt her feet so much. She's back to wearing her Brunswick $40 shoes and her feet stopped hurting.
I know a lot of people love their Dexter's, but a lot don't, especially after they tried something new like the TPU-X's. The TPU's are not without fault (toe cap problem), but for comfort I truly believe there is no shoe that currently compares.
Maybe the new Dexter SST9's are equally as good or better than the TPU's, but that has yet to be proven.
-
There is a difference between performance and comfort and the two don't always align
I was on Dexter staff all the years I bowled and understand the performance necessity side of the shoes...when I say performance there is a lot of research that goes into designing a performance shoe on any sport....as the shoes evolve they address issues with regards to fixing them...they have
You have to have certain features to create performance - for example, in a normal shoe the slide is stiffer for support than the push off shoe, to create acceleration...in interchangeable shoes such as the 8's, the two have to become closer in flexibility...so when you stiffen a push off shoe it tends to crack...they've created flex points in the shoes now to accommodate this...
I wore them for years, comfort is individual some are less critical than others
You increase comfort and can lose performance
-
My sst 8s are not comfortable but I have an original pair of the white ones..when they first came out...still in working order, still performing...but still uncomfortable :(
-
Just Rico
Hogwash!
To make such a statement that increasing comfort decreases performance shows you have never tried the TPU's. They perform as good or better than any Dexter's I own.
Try your "engineering statements" on the folks who designed and tested the TPU's and see what response you get from them.
-
I've worn TPU's...and trust me they're wearing down as much as any other shoe...no shoe is perfect as comfort is individual...how bout you choose which shoe you wish and allow the rest to do the same...as with most the 'better' bowlers...you obviously have a 'hard' on towards Dexter...that's fine
-
I have no "hard on" for Dexter. I just know that when I purchased my TPU's I discovered I could have comfort and performance that was lacking (comfort) with my Dexter's.
So be it...... you like Dexter's, I like TPU's. That's what makes this country great. We have choices and the ability to decide for ourselves what meet our individual expectations.
-
B-Holic -- I'm glad you like your TPU's. It is a free country, and you're free to shoe on whatever makes you happy.
But as Rico says, comfort is individual and subjective. It's not a coincidence that the vast majority of competitive bowlers wear Dexters. Go to a major senior event (US Open, Masters) where you're bowling lots of games over a full week and look at what they're wearing. Most of the time it's a Dexter shoe, and it's by choice. Nobody choses discomfort when there are better options. That's proven in the real world over and over.
As I outlined in the topic I started, the new Dexter "9s" correct whatever flaws were present in the SST8s, real or imagined. When your TPU's wear out, they're at least worth a look.
-
For years now Linds could not be worn in PBA competition. Now they can except for national tour. I know there were a lot of bowlers not too happy when they couldn't wear their Linds anymore. IMO, they were the best bowling shoes. I had to switch to Dexters. I loved my original 6's. I went to the 7's and they were ok not great but ok. As Rico stated, it's personal choice and you may lack performance over comfort. My Lind's were not as comfortable as my Dexter's but they performed excellent as well as wear.
-
To explain a loss of comfort for performance...to create support a shoe needs to be firmer or stiffer...you find this also in golf shoes...
-
I still wear my original Linds, have 4 pairs with different soles, heels, etc. I look on ebay every day as trying to find lefty "old style" Linds in size 14 is not easy. I have tried Dexters and switched back to my Linds within a month.
To each their own
3835
-
The brothers Linds are restitching and/or recoloring original Linds and I believe it is the lady that was doing it originally
-
Rico,
Thanks for the info. For whatever reason the Linds have always worked very well for me. I believe part of it is the "platform" style shoe versus the flat bottom. I just never could get consistent with Dexters when I had them (I believe they were the SST 5s). Knock on wood, I have never had a toe wear out or a pair come apart. Been wearing them for 20+ years.
3835
-
I wore Linds till '92...then not longer after ended up on Dexter staff...
-
How many pros not on staff with Brunswick would wear their shoes if on staff with Storm/Roto, Ebi brands etc? Linds, Dexter and a few others are only shoes not bowlingballs, shoes, bags etc.
Be patient and see what people say for comfort when it comes to the new 9s.
-
Still keeping this thread alive... I PM'd ThomasR but never got a reply, so not sure when the 3Gs are coming but I heard they might be starting to show up. It's either them or the 9's, so all input greatly appreciated....
-
This is difficult to respond to. On paper, "The 9" is a better shoe. Hands down. But it's new, and longevity still needs to be proven. Still, if you like the feel of the 3G's, and you already have a stash of replacement sole/heels, why change? With due respect, color is the last factor I'd consider in shoe selection, but to each his own.
-
I want to know how this toe guard is going to last longer than what they came out with before on the Dexter's
-
I want to know how this toe guard is going to last longer than what they came out with before on the Dexter's
The toe guard in the 9s is part of the replaceable sole. Destroy the toe through dragging, and simply put on a new sole. I have the 9s, and it integrates perfectly into the shoe. It's the best design on the market.
-
So I would only have to buy a new sole then. Sounds sweet! The 9's do look nice. Would anyone who as the 7's and now the 9's advise if the sizes are the same?
-
Look at the Dexter catalog...it explains the shoe prints and their differences between the SST's...I believe the 9'a are slightly tighter than the 8's...maybe 1/2 a size
-
So I would only have to buy a new sole then. Sounds sweet! The 9's do look nice. Would anyone who as the 7's and now the 9's advise if the sizes are the same?
I asked Dexter about how the SST7's sizes compared to the 9's (I'm thinking about getting them) heres their reply.
"Thank you for your interest in Dexter Bowling! If you wear a size 12M in the SST7's you should stick with that size for THE9's. Our shoes run true to size so whatever size you typically wear in a normal street shoe is what we recommend you purchase in our shoes. "
-
That's been my experience in size for Dexters.
-
3G's are great shoes. The Dexter 8's are a great shoe. I currently own both and rotate them between leagues. My only problem with the 3G's is that they have never come up with anything new. They brought back the white & grey after sitting them down for 4 or 5 years. The new stuff coming out now is just a some added color to the side of the shoe. They don't seem to care what the customer wants when it comes to styles, design or color. I guess I like Dexter's better because at least they provide some different choices.....
-
That's where I'm at. Great shoes, no question, but a total lack of options, especially for lefties. I understand market demands, etc... Heard it all before, but still. That's why I've been thinking of switching, but "IF" the new 3Gs are as good as the old, I couldn't possibly do better plus, as Steven said, I've already got soles and heels broken in and ready. bottom line, I hate to support a company that doesn't support the options I like, but can't argue with the shoe itself. It's been a long research and thoughtful selection process. I just wish I'd spent this much effort evaluating my first 2 wives... :)
-
So I would only have to buy a new sole then. Sounds sweet! The 9's do look nice. Would anyone who as the 7's and now the 9's advise if the sizes are the same?
I asked Dexter about how the SST7's sizes compared to the 9's (I'm thinking about getting them) heres their reply.
"Thank you for your interest in Dexter Bowling! If you wear a size 12M in the SST7's you should stick with that size for THE9's. Our shoes run true to size so whatever size you typically wear in a normal street shoe is what we recommend you purchase in our shoes. "
My SST8's are size 9.5, and my 9's are also size 9.5. To Ric's point, the 9's have a slightly more narrow profile, but it's slight. I think for most, your size in SST8's will be the same for 9's. If you're on the line between sizes, you might need to go a half size up.