Bowling Wrist Support — Do I Really Need One?
The short answer is probably not. But “need” is a strong word, and there are some exceptions. Most bowlers likely don’t need a bowling wrist support but have used one for a long time and are just more comfortable bowling with it, and that’s just fine — nothing wrong with that at all. I was one of them for quite a long time.
My Experience
I started using one year ago because at the time it was a very popular thing to do, but I didn’t really need one. I used that thing religiously for ten straight years. Over those years, I spent a lot of money buying the newest best thing in wrist support technology.
Then, one league night during the second game, the buckle closest to my hand on the latest contraption broke. There was no way to use it, and the pro shop was closed. Bowling the rest of that night out was quite a challenge. I had no idea how dependent my wrist had become on those devices.
The muscles in my wrist and forearm had become so weak that I couldn’t really support the ball through my backswing. By the end of the third game my arm from the elbow down was so fatigued, it took all that I had to keep from dropping the bowling ball!
And the next day, forget about it — my whole forearm was so sore I couldn’t even pick up a glass or a turn a key in a door. I had learned my lesson. I was SO done using unneeded equipment.
What I mean by unneeded is that there was nothing physically wrong with my wrist when I started using a bowling wrist support. Now, there certainly is a place in bowling for these devices, an actual need.
As I see it, there are a couple of very good reasons for using them.
Reasons to Consider a Wrist Support
Definitely, if you have any physical issues that inhibit your ability support a bowling ball without your wrist breaking back; you could benefit from the use of a wrist support.
As a teaching device, most bowling wrist supports are designed to prevent your wrist from breaking or bending backward toward the back of your hand. This keeps your wrist in a neutral position (this is good) allowing your hand to stay behind the bowling ball until release.
If you have trouble staying behind the ball naturally, using a wrist support for a short time to feel what it’s like to have your wrist in the right position could be helpful. But I recommend not allowing yourself to become reliant on it.
Once you understand what good hand a wrist position feels like, take the support off and do your best to copy it on your own. You will eventually build up the muscles in your arm, not needing the support.
A bowling wrist support can be a very effective tool when used properly and there should always be shelf space for them in the pro shop. Those of you that have a physical need to use them and use as a teaching devices are both really good reasons to get one.
My point in this tip is to convince those of you who don’t have a physical need to use a wrist support, to take it off and trust your own physical ability.
Be patient, if you’ve been using one for a while, it takes some time to build the muscles back up, but it can be done!
Have fun out there!
