Bowling is a fun sport that can bring people together for a bit of healthy competition.
It’s a fun activity for children and families, but there is also a more serious side of bowling that isn’t often seen. Many bowlers contain people who practice honing their craft day in and day out so that they can impress at the next bowling competition.
Bowling is more about how many pins you can hit down with one ball, and there are many different techniques that you have to learn to ensure that you’re ready for every situation. This means that bowlers have to put in hours of daily practice to get ready to showcase their sport.
Something that many people gloss over is how heavy the bowling balls are. The majority of balls range from 6 to 16 pounds and the bowler will choose the weight of their ball depending on their abilities.
Even if you were to use the lightest ball for practice, it’s still going to put a lot of strain on your forearm and wrist after hours of practice.
If bowlers don’t look after their wrists, they could end up with a career-ending injury.
So, the best bowling wrist support is an incredibly important piece of gear to carry with you. Wrist supports are inexpensive and accessible, so we urge you all to get one as soon as possible.
Let’s get the ball rolling, shall we?
In a hurry?
If you’re desperate to get your new bowling wrist support and don’t have enough time to read our entire article, we have you covered.
Our favorite bowling wrist support is the Kool Kontrol Bowling Wrist Positioner from BowlingBall.
Here are a few reasons why we liked this model so much:
- The metal supports to ensure that your wrist remains in a steady alignment throughout the game.
- Supportive design around the wrist and palm which has been used by professionals for years.
- The fabric is very breathable and therefore comfortable.
Top 5 Best Bowling Wrist Support
OUR TOP PICK
The first place goes to BowlingBall’s Kool Kontrol Bowling Wrist Positioner. This support is made from fabric, but not just any old fabric.
In fact, the unique blend of material for the construction of this wrist support allows sweat to evaporate so that it’s not just sitting on your hands underneath the support. Say goodbye to clammy hands and hello to comfort!
If it ain’t broke, why fix it? BowlingBall adopts the same shape of wrist support that bowlers have been using for years and that has been proven to work. The support wraps tightly around the wrist and reaches up to the palm, giving enough support but not overpowering your arm.
If support was too chunky it might throw your game off.
There are metal supports down the front and back of the Kool Kontrol Wrist Positioner, ensuring that your hand and wrist does not stray from the proper alignment.
There are three Velcro straps to ensure well-fitting wrist support that can be easily adjusted mid-game if you see fit.
Pros
Breathable construction.
A classic shape that is proven to support the wrist.
Metal supports for perfect alignment.
High-quality Velcro straps.
Cons
No added finger support.
EDITORS CHOICE
The Brunswick Bionic Wrist Positioner is the real deal for any professional bowler or beginners who are looking to raise their game.
The aluminum construction is incredibly durable yet lightweight, offering you the maximum stability for the best comfort possible.
There are plenty of adjustments up for grabs during your game which can all be completed without removing the wrist support. The ability to customize the lateral positions and wrist cupping can help you to find the best positioning for your personal style and game.
The Bionic Wrist Positioner not only includes suitable support for your wrist but your fingers as well. Once you strengthen your technique so that your wrist remains in the correct position, you can still wear this support to amplify your performance.
Pros
Strong aluminum construction.
Lots of adjustments to play with.
Lots of finger support.
Cons
Metal might be less comfortable than fabric.
BEST VALUE
The Storm Xtra wrist support is made from fabric, making it very easy to adjust throughout your game.
It also weighs next to nothing so you won’t be weighed down, and the additional weight won’t make you too uncomfortable. While it is lightweight, that doesn’t compromise the stability it offers your wrist.
Velcro is used as the clasp which is simple enough to adjust mid-game but still durable enough to trust to not come undone. The glove also has an extended area for your fingers, ensuring that they too are in the correct positioning throughout the game.
The Storm Xtra wrist support is shorter than many of the other models that we’ve looked at on our list so far, which means that less of your skin is covered. While there is no confirmation on this, we think that the less fabric there is the more room for breathability there will be.
Pros
Lightweight yet stable fabric support.
High-quality Velcro clasp.
Might be more breathable than other models.
Cons
Fabric is not as stable as metal.
RUNNER UP
The support brace from Mongoose is one of the most supportive pieces of bowling attire that you could possess.
Mongoose already has had a lot of praise from their Lifter and Equalizer wrist supports, so they have mixed the two together to offer the best of both worlds up in the Optimum style.
Unlike a lot of the wrist supports on the market, Mongoose makes sure to look after the fingers as well. The wrist, palm, and fingers are covered with stability from this model, ensuring that every part of your hand works as it should.
The fabric is very lightweight, breathable, and comfortable, so even though there is more fabric covering your forearm and hand, you won’t see this affecting your game for the worse. There are three colors to choose from to customize your wrist support.
Pros
Mash-up of two of the manufacturer’s best-rated products.
Plenty of support for your entire hand and wrist.
Three colors to choose from.
Cons
Higher price point than the market average.
RUNNER UP
Last but not least is the Robby’s Revs II wrist support.
This model is made from durable alloy material. Metal is much more stable than fabric or plastic, so it makes sense that some brands prefer to use metal on their wrist supports.
The type of aluminum alloy that Robby’s uses is lighter in weight than steel and, in fact, it is lighter than most other materials that you could use for wrist support. This is a great benefit as you won’t have to worry about your support weighing you and your performance down.
‘Revs’ indicates that the wrist support has been made to increase the number of revolutions your ball experiences, which can be invaluable in high stakes matches.
There is also an adjustable knob that affects the tension on your support - giving ‘tricks up your sleeve’ to a whole new meaning!
Pros:
Very durable wrist support.
Lightweight and stable.
Adjustable tension knob.
Cons:
The instructions might not be the clearest.
Best Bowling Wrist Support Buying Guide
Our buyers guide is here to help you choose the best bowling wrist support for your personal style and preference.
There are some important factors to remember when it comes to finding the best bowling wrist support, so make sure that you remember the below factors while you’re comparing different alternatives.
Comfort
There is no use using a bowling wrist support when it is too uncomfortable to keep on throughout your game.
The support will need to be used the most nearing the end of the match, so if you have to take it off towards the end of your match you’ll be removing it when you need it the most.
Another thing to consider is that uncomfortable wrist support might hinder your game by preventing you from being able to throw the ball properly.
Make sure that you look out for comfortable wrist supports that won’t rub against your skin or chafe during a prolonged period of time.
Size and Orientation
Speaking of chafing and comfort, the size of the wrist support is an important thing to look into. Some wrist supports offer different sizes such as small, medium, and large, and others come with adjustable straps to fit your wrist or hand.
The different size options are often more comfortable than the one size fits all as there is no additional fabric having to be tucked into the different folds. This additional material is the ideal place to chafe your skin, so look out for this.
Moreover, some wrist supports don’t specify the orientation of them. In other words, they don’t mention whether they’re left-handed or right-handed.
If you’re stronger on one hand and accidentally opt for a brace for the wrong hand, your purchase is going to be pretty redundant and unhelpful.
So, make sure that you choose the right size and orientation of your bowling wrist support to ensure that you don’t become uncomfortable halfway through your match and the support remains effective and consistent.
Breathability
Bowling is considered a sport and therefore we can assume that you’re going to be exerting quite a lot of effort throughout the match.
Moreover, bowling alleys are often full of people and therefore they’re hot and there isn’t much ventilation to cool you down.
We don’t want to send you down a rabbit hole thinking about how much sweat resides in the holes of the bowling balls … but we will encourage you to take your own ball to the lanes next time.
Anyway, getting back on track, wrist supports are very tight-fitting and thick, much like a cast if you were to break a bone but with much more mobility. So, it stands to reason that your wrist and hand are going to get very hot underneath the support.
For this reason, you’ll need wrist support with great breathability to keep you comfortable throughout the game.
Moreover, a sweaty hand could compromise your throws and cause your performance to falter, so breathability is very important when it comes to your bowling wrist support.
Stability
The whole point of wrist support is to keep your wrist stable and comfortable, so it needs to be rigid and stable enough so that you can avoid an injury.
When you’re a beginner to bowling, you might want to use a wrist support to ensure that you keep your wrist properly aligned.
Beginners might want to find a bowling wrist support with metal rods down the sides to ensure the best stability possible.
Durability
Your wrist support should be durable enough to withstand multiple matches and practice sessions.
The majority of bowling wrist supports are made from fabric and this can be quite easy to rip or falter. However, this is what makes the support so malleable and usable during your game.
The clasps are also often made from velcro, which is also not very durable if it’s low-quality. So, you’ll need to ensure that all of the materials on your bowling wrist support are high-quality and of good durability.
Mobility
As we’ve mentioned before, the wrist support needs to be malleable enough so that you can still operate your hand while wearing the support.
There is no use wearing support that prevents you from being able to play your match to your highest ability. However, your wrist support does still have to be stable enough to offer a decent amount of support to make it worth using.
Ultimately, you need to find the best brace that adopts a happy medium between mobility and stability.
Tailored to Bowlers
There are two types of wrist supports that you can find on the market when looking for one to use during bowling, and one is definitely better than the other.
The first, which we have used in our list above, is wrist supports specifically tailored for bowlers. The second is the usual wrist support that is used for sprains or other injuries.
While the latter will help you to ease the pain and prevent you from injuring yourself, even more, it often won’t be as beneficial as a heavy-duty alternative that is made for bowling.
We would suggest that you choose the former option, although they typically are a little more expensive than normal wrist supports.
Price
Like with most things, you get what you pay for when choosing a bowling wrist support. If you’re wanting a high-quality model that will be durable, stable, and mobile all at the same time you should look for one of the more expensive options.
Having said that, there are still plenty of great options available that are more budget-friendly.
So don’t become discouraged if it's not in the budget to get one of the premium bowling wrists just yet. You can work your way up to them while getting by with a budget-friendly bowling wrist support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my wrist hurt from bowling?
The majority of bowling injuries comes from the fact that you’re doing the same motion over and over again, which can put a lot of pressure on one small area of your body.
Your wrist can also easily turn into an unnatural position. When your wrist is turned in such a way, it is most compromised and therefore likely to sustain an injury.
Professional bowlers will be able to learn how to position their wrists properly to avoid injury, but beginners will need to learn how to do so with the help of wrist support.
Even the best bowlers can injure themselves with one wrong throw; however, so it’s common to see the professionals wearing wrist supports as well.
How to pick the right size of bowling wrist support?
You can determine the right size of wrist support you need in three simple steps, so don’t simply guess and hope for the best!
- Firstly, place the end of a tape measure at the beginning of your wrist. Measure four inches up and mark it with a pen.
- Take the measurement of your forearm around where you just marked, so now you have the circumference of four inches up your arm.
- Now measure the thickest part of your palm to get the circumference of your hand.
You can use these hand and forearm measurements to get the best size of bowling wrist support for you.
Most brands will offer a size guide on their advertisement that you can use these measurements against it to find the best size.
Why do you need bowling wrist support?
We’ve already mentioned that bowling balls are heavy and this can put a lot of strain on your wrist after prolonged throwing.
Wrist support will stop the throwing hand from collapsing due to the pressure of the ball. Moreover, the support will limit how much you can tilt your wrist, minimizing the risk of injuring yourself halfway through your game.
If you have a great form throughout the entirety of your game, you do not need to wear a wrist support. Having said that, many professionals still prefer to wear one just in case something were to go wrong.
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