If you think that bowling is easy, stress-free, as well as injury-free then you are sorely mistaken. There are countless ways in which you can damage your body- particularly the wrist joint area. And don’t be fooled either into thinking that seeing a brace of any kind means that they are not at peak performance level, this couldn’t be further from the truth and more about protecting themselves as a preventative measure.
Professional and top-tier athletes all wear some form of supportive equipment at one point in their life and the brace has helped them get to where they are. They want to have as long of a career as possible and to enjoy playing the sport that they love, and if it means wearing a brace perfectly created and structured to assist then so be it.Â
The importance of protective gear.
No matter which sport you are good at there is always a chance of an injury or an accident, it may be physical, mental, or internal but these things happen. Keeping your joints, muscles, and ligaments safe is vital for performance and endurance.
Tenpin bowlers are seen around the world with all sorts of colors and shapes of wrist braces, this is because the number of balls they throw down lanes are endless and countless and if not taken care of from the get-go the wrist will soon feel the impact.
Repetitive strain can take months to heal and rest, and if you are at the height of your career it could set you back and could cost you tournament places and potential winnings.
Speak to your doctor about support, get help on which brace is best suited to your wrist issue or strain, and if possible have a chat with industry professionals who will have seen and dealt with all situations. They can guide you in the right direction and show you the available options on the market.
To get you started click here to see what others have to say about the varieties available, the positives that come with wearing a wrist brace while you bowl, and the pros and cons to weigh up against the ones you like. There is something for everyone, take your time and do your research, your bowling scorecard will thank you for it in the long run.
What to look for in a wrist brace.
If it were up to me and I was a professional bowler I would go for the best looking one in my favorite color, and while they do have fashion-forward accessories when it comes to bowling it may not be the most appropriate attire.
You want something that is going to protect and support your wrist while keeping it in the correct position time and time again, not causing strain due to the same movements for hours on end, and if it looks good while you’re doing it then you have the best of both worlds.
Depending on how often you play, or even more so if you are playing multiple games in a day for say a tournament the wrists tend to get tired, thus the newer versions of wrist braces have a metal backing plate stitched into the material just to give you that added support and firmness and prevent strain.
If you are looking to learn a new skill or technique there are great supports that are tweaked and pulled into position and essentially lock your hand into the required position to be able to throw a particular angled ball. Some are more advanced with nuts and bolts for maximum wrist position security, but if this is not in your budget (some can get pricey) then a suitable but quality regular glove and wrist support will be fine.
People tend to get confused between wrist support and simply taping your wrist thinking it will have the same effect, it won’t. See this blog forum https://www.quora.com/Is-there-a-difference-between-a-bowling-glove-and-a-bowling-wristband where people explain their experiences with both versions, how they found them suitable for which need and conclude for there.
At the end of the day it is you who will be wearing it, opt for something comfortable, and that you are happy to spend money on.
Should you or shouldn’t you?
You enjoy bowling but still not sure how legitimate the claims of wrist braces and the need for supports truly are, well I have a quick way to help you decide. Commit one weekend to go with a group of mates to the bowling alley for snacks, drinks, and a handful of back-to-back games, and tell me by the end of it if you feel anything fatigue or strain in your wrist.
Now imagine doing that continuously through the weeks and months, it is not about appearances and being ‘cool,’ it is about staying safe while playing the sport you love.
