While it might not seem like an athletic sport, bowling can still prove painful if you fail to use proper technique. Trying to bowl with a ball that's too heavy or failing to find the proper release point can lead to pain in the wrist, hand and fingers. Several manufacturers produce wrist and finger supports to not only improve your follow-through but also help prevent injury and ease the discomfort associated with bowling. Most bowling supports fall into five main categories.
Wrist Strap
The simplest and least expensive wrist support is the wrist strap. Typically made of leather or stiff fabric, the wrist strap only covers the wrist and does not extend into the hand or up toward the elbow. Straps offer only minimum support but can help those suffering from minor wrist pain when bowling.
Wrist Glove
Despite its name, a wrist glove doesn't cover any of the fingers. The wrist glove is an extended strap that reaches just above the wrist and hooks around the thumb. Typically made from leather and secured with Velcro straps, wrist gloves may also contain pieces of metal in the front or back for additional support. Gloves prevent the wrist from flexing backward or turning. Wrist gloves are popular with beginning bowlers who might have difficulty keeping their wrists straight while releasing the ball.
Extended Wrist Support
An extended wrist support stretches farther up the arm toward the elbow. The extra length helps stabilize the entire wrist and forearm, resulting in a more consistent stroke. Extended wrist supports have more bulk and carry more expensive price tags, making them suitable for serious bowlers only.
Full-Length Wrist Supports
Full-length wrist supports cover the wrist, most of the forearm and even extend up the hand to the base of the fingers. Aside from the two strap supports for the wrist and forearm, many models will add additional straps for the fingers and the palm of the hand. This type of support allows you to secure your middle two fingers to keep them in the ball longer, resulting in greater loft. Using the palm strap may also lead to improved grip, which might benefit bowlers who curve or hook the ball.
Finger Support
Bowlers with sore fingers can wear cushioned finger sleeves that can help prevent blisters and improve grip. Padded grips might also be added to the bowling ball's holes to ease finger discomfort. As mentioned above, full-length wrist supports may also provide finger support for the middle and ring fingers, preventing them from bending backward on release. Bowlers who don't want to wear a bulky wrist brace may opt for only finger braces such as SteelFingers, which is a padded device worn over just the middle and ring fingers to keep them rigid throughout your arm swing.
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