Knocking down those ten pesky pins is a classic American pastime that has remained popular throughout the decades, providing fun for all the family and competitive leagues for pros.
Whether you’re an old-school player or a bowling novice, there’s always room to mix things up and improve your technique.
Have you noticed any repetitive strain injuries from hitting the lanes, or found sweaty palms are reducing your grip?
Much as your shoes and ball are an important part of your game, the right glove can boost your game, and protect your hands to boot!
Assembled in this article for your perusal are five of our favorite gloves on the market right now, hailed by customers for their comfort and improvement of play.
No clue where to start? No worries! We’ve done all the heavy lifting here, assembling a robust Buyer’s Guide to help you pick the right glove for you.
If you’re still not sure whether a bowling glove is for you, consult our Frequently Asked Questions section.
Having scoured the internet for burning queries from customers, we’ve got the answers right here, provided accessibly in one easy article.
Sick Of Striking Out? Here’s Our Top Pick:
Top 5 Best Bowling Gloves
OUR TOP PICK
Widely recognized as the number one bowling glove amongst amateurs and professionals alike, if you’re strapped for time, you won’t go wrong with a React/R.
Ebonite allows you to choose a glove that fits you, depending on whether you bowl with your right hand or left, and their sizes range from small to extra large.
Giving users complete control during the entire swing, whilst aiding the prevention of blisters and callouses on your hands and fingers, anyone’s game is sure to improve.
A specially-designed gripping compound is inbuilt for improved control and accuracy, retaining hold over your ball even on the most precarious of swings.
Their clever use of leather in the palm and fingers ensures long-lasting durability and a thicker forcefield of protection between you and the ball.
Likewise, all openings - from wrist to fingers - have been leather-lined for additional hardiness, great if you’re a particularly zealous player!
An elastic wristband works in conjunction with a hook and loop closure system, for a secure fit that won’t restrict the blood flow or irritate the skin.
Ergonomically designed to allow adequate grip, release and control simultaneously, newbies and old hands alike will see their techniques enhanced.
Pros
- Synthetics and leather combine for a flexible, durable glove
- Reinforced holes for added hardiness
- Stretchy enough for movement whilst retaining grip
- Easy to remove between frames
Cons
- No padding in the palms
EDITORS CHOICE
From a manufacturer you can trust at a price that’s hard to fault, we recommend the Brunswick gloves for any right-handed players looking to sharpen their skills.
A deluxe, non-slip grip is built into your palm, improving delivery and control when swinging and keeping that ball nice and steady as you line up the shots.
Soft, stretchy material provides padding and improves comfort, as well as allowing for maximum flexibility for those trickier techniques.
Whipping it on and off is swift and simple with a velcro strap closure, offering a snug and secure fit without compromising on comfort.
Fully covering only your index and pinky finger, the remaining two and your thumb are exposed for adequate ventilation whilst playing.
With that trademark Brunswick logo bearing the seal of quality, you can rest assured that your purchase is guaranteed to last.
Although available in a variety of sizes, this particular listing is for Mediums, with a handy chart to help you work out which is your best fit.
Cost effective and long-lasting, you’ll save money by opting for a product that’s budget-friendly and built to last.
Pros
- Produced by a manufacturer bowlers can trust
- Non-slip palm grip
- Stretchy material for movement and spins
- Well-ventilated
Cons
- Other sizes must be found on separate listings
BEST VALUE
Perfect for players with any hand preference or dominance, Mumian are offering a pair of professional quality gloves for the cost of just one from other manufacturers!
At such an affordable price, you’d be a fool not to at least try them out, and judging from the customer feedback, you won’t regret it.
Available in four bold, attractive colors - red, yellow, green, and orange - there’s a design to suit even the most style-conscious bowler on your team.
Utilizing a zig-zag grip pattern of anti-skid silicone, the tread is durable and an excellent twist-enhancer if you like to put a spin on your swing.
Composed of breathable, elasticated lycra, they’re breathable and protective all at once, allowing plenty of movement range for users of all abilities.
Leaving your two middle fingers and thumb free, you’ll have plenty of dexterity in movement whilst maintaining a steady, flat palm
With a choice of medium or large depending on the width of your palm, it’s easy to pick out a pair that will offer a comfortable, professional fit.
Manufacturers recommend that washing your hands and naturally drying afterward before use will keep these gloves in tip-top condition.
Pros
- Two size options for optimum fit
- Breathable, flexible lycra material
- Four designs to choose from
- Anti-slip silicone grip in palms
Cons
- There doesn’t appear to be a small size option
RUNNER UP
With your choice of left and right-hand variation, and a lengthy size chart ranging from small to extra extra large, there’s bound to be a bowlingball.com glove for you!
Its trademarked textured and tacky palm offers more contact with your bowling ball’s surface, allowing you to add lifts, turns and revolutions that will rack up your points.
A hook and loop closure system will keep the glove firmly on whilst playing and minimize friction, and is easy to remove quickly in-between frames.
Customers report that its stretch offers a great fit, with durable seams that won’t split under the pressure of protecting your hand.
Best-suited to more experienced players, it doesn’t feature any added weights, so if your stability is already on point or you’re heavy-handed, this is a great choice.
Nylon strapping provides more than adequate wrist support, so for regular bowlers, it will help reduce the chances of injury from repetitive play.
Uniquely styled to keep your fingers and thumb free whilst retaining monster gripping power, it’s an excellent gift for the pro bowler in your life, even if that’s you!
Pros
- Secure hook-and-loop open/close system
- Wide range of sizes to suit all players
- Flexible and comfortable for continued use
- Well ventilated
Cons
- No stability-increasing weights in the palm
RUNNER UP
In luminous green and highlighter orange, these bold and bright gloves from Snow Fox Sports are sure to help you stand out on the lanes at the next game.
Right and left-handed bowlers alike can pick up one of these babies, as it is available in both variations.
Composed of a superior, breathable elastic lycra, the professional flexible design is both comfortable and breathable for maximum protection from sweat and sores.
Anti-skid silicone printing is embedded into the palm, ensuring maximum grip from the start of your swing to release, for perfect control every time.
Adjustable velcro strapping allows you to create the perfect fit for you, whether you opt for the medium or large glove - the useful size chart should help you decide.
Convenient to put on or take off for a quick bowling break (yes, we mean snack), you won’t waste the first half of your turn struggling to get your glove on!
Where most bowling gloves might stop at the edge of your palm, the Boodun extends to offer more support to your wrist and prevent strain.
Included as standard with every purchase is a free sweat wristband to match, so if you’re a nervous bowler prone to sticky palms, it’s an extra sweet deal.
Their thirty-day money-back guarantee assures you of the product’s quality, but means you can easily obtain a refund if you aren’t satisfied with your new glove.
Pros
- Long-lasting and stretchy thanks to a blend of elastic and lycra
- Breathable for sufferers of sweaty palms
- Velcro strap for a comfortable fit
- Wrist support provides further protection
Cons
- Lightweight, so not good for beginners or shaky-handed players
Best Bowling Gloves Buying Guide
Prefer making a more informed decision before you commit to your next purchase, no matter how small?
We don’t blame you. Find out all you need to know about bowling gloves including reasons to get one and a breakdown of each important component to consider:
Why Use A Bowling Glove?
If you’ve been successfully racking up spares and strikes for years sans-glove, you might be wondering what the point in trying one out is.
We’re going to go ahead and guess you’re not as young as you used to be, in which case, your dominant hand needs all the help it can get to maintain its skill.
Helping to support your hand, arm, and shoulder, as well as the rest of your body, gloves can not only correct your form but provide padding for your fragile palms.
Repetitively throwing a heavy bowling ball can put a strain on many different parts of your body; by reducing the impact on your hand you’ll minimize injury when playing.
Whilst some gloves only cover a few fingers, others are styled more traditionally to protect the whole hand, with a range of designs to suit the needs of any bowler.
Features To Consider:
Yes, it’s just a glove, but if you really believed that, why not just use your pair from last winter?
Because you know there’s more to it than that.
Such as:
Left Or Right Handed?
Unless you’re blessed with being ambidextrous, the ability to use both hands with equal success, you’re bowling with one dominant hand: either your right or left.
Gloves are usually sold in pairs, but that isn’t often the case when it comes to bowling: you’ll need to pick one that fits your preferred bowling hand.
It sounds simple, but if you buy the wrong one, you won’t even be able to wear it, let alone see any benefits! Always ensure the design is clearly stated before you buy.
Material
You’ll find that the majority of gloves are composed of leather or nylon, as is the case with those for keeping your hands warm, because of their flexibility.
Nylon is the lighter of the two, so you’ll find movement is less restricted and your fingers can bend freely, but being thinner, it will also offer less protection.
Leather gloves are thicker and sturdier, so they’ll do a better job of looking after your palms and supporting your arm during each swing.
A mixed-blend glove that blends leather for resilience with spandex for a more comfortable fit is generally preferred by bowling pros.
Grip
By wearing a glove, you’re creating a barrier between your hand and the ball, which if you’re naturally sweaty can be a lifesaver for your game.
Additional confidence for new, nervous, or shaky players can be found by using a glove with reinforced or built-in grip, too.
This is usually achieved by producing gloves from tackier materials like leather or rubber in the palm, implementing rubber bumps, or both.
Not only does this decrease the risk of the ball slipping out of your hand, but it will also increase the stability of your swing, for a more precise technique.
Open Thumb?
Glove designs will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, with each offering a range of options to suit player preferences.
Perhaps the most important decision to make is whether or not you want to keep your thumb covered, or opt for a glove that leaves it free.
A full glove is going to be more expensive, obviously, as it utilizes more material to produce, but it offers protection from blisters and soreness from playing.
Depending on whether your ball’s holes are wide enough, you might experience pain if you often make use of the slot for your thumb, which not every player does.
However, the lack of ventilation from covering all fingers can result in sweaty palms, especially in those longer games or tournaments.
You’ll find it might take a series of trial and error purchases to choose the glove that’s right for you, so be sure to keep that proof of purchase handy!
Stability
Bowling beginners, especially the younger amongst us, might have trouble keeping things steady at first, which is of course the primary rule of the sport.
Holding your palm as straight as possible allows your hand more control whilst bowling, and certain gloves feature metal inserts that help to keep things straight.
Although this will lead to a heavier glove and a more cumbersome swing, newbies will appreciate the added stability from built-in plates.
Serving as a brace to maintain rigidity, you’ll increase the accuracy of your form whilst reducing the potential of a strain injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bowler’s Thumb?
So named as it’s a common injury amongst them, this condition can be a result of overzealous or repetitive bowling (or thumb wars if you’re especially competitive!)
Compressing of the ulnar nerve by adding pressure or continuous friction to the inside of your thumb results in feelings of numbness and tingling.
You might also experience pain in the webbed skin between your thumb and index finger.
All of these symptoms result in a difficulty using your hand normally, which means bowling is certainly out of the question!
Treating bowler’s thumb is quite simple: first, you’ll need to take a break from your favorite hobby and rest your hands for a while.
Long-term issues stemming from ulnar injuries can lead to fibrous or torn tissues around your nerves, which will be a big problem even outside of the sport.
Any potential causes, like a thumb hole that is too small and tight, should be corrected before you resume regular play.
You can also wear full-coverage gloves to protect your thumb during play and prevent any future injuries.
Why does bowling hurt my fingers?
Whether you ‘bowl thumbless’ or make use all of the holes your ball has to offer, it’s also possible to injure your fingers during the game, too.
It could be that your holes are too tight or too loose, both of which can cause friction against your skin, resulting in blisters or the buildup of callouses.
You can pick up inserts that make using each hole different by adjusting how far into the ball your fingers reach, which enables you to change up techniques.
This might help with friction injuries, but using inserts on just one or all of your fingers can cause strain by putting pressure on them during your shots.
As we’ve outlined above, the easiest way to protect your hands, including fingers and thumbs, whilst bowling is to use a glove every time you play.
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