Wrist support...

[Travan]

Last year I got back into bowling for the first time in a decade. I struggled to get back into a groove. I used a wrist support off and on mainly because I didn't want to be thinking about my hand position on my approach. So I figured the support at least kept my wrist the same every roll. I finally got comfortable with my release late in the season with the support. Finished with 170 average. In summer league, continued with it and finished that league with league high 207 average. So far this fall season my average is 186 and I've struggled off and on. I'll have great weeks and bad weeks. Not much in between. I've noticed a feeling of not having as much control of my release and it coming off my thumb a little too soon and killing my hook. Last few frames last week, I took off the support just for giggles. My release felt great and those frames were my strongest of the night. I could really feel the lift off my fingers and the ball was breaking much harder into the pocket. Question is, should I continue to experiment without the support, or does this sound like just a fluke deal?

[MICHAEL]

I know that wrist support's can make a huge differance!!! I like the mongoose!! It helps train, and gave me higher scores!!

[AZBowla]

Try it for a while without, and if you notice you're still inconsistent, then maybe look into a different brace. I just picked up a Robby Rev's brace for $25 at the local pro shop and it works great! I can rev the ball up more without it, but the consistency I get with the brace on is better for my score. I broke 200 twice with this new brace so far and that's with me doing just about everything else wrong in my swing. I can't wait to see how much it'll help once I learn to execute a proper swing.

[Travan]

I think I'll try without for a while. I've bowled good and bad, with and without. I do like the consistency I get with it. The only reason I'm thinking of trying to go without it is because I've read that the reason a lot of pros don't use one is because it limits their adjustments on different conditions, and that wearing one can actually weaken your wrist. In the summer when I averaged 207, it was a trio league. Not as many bowlers. And the bowlers in our winter league are also more crankers than the summer, which messes with the oil too. I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. I'm definately not throwing the support out so I can always go back to it.

[Zothen]

I use a Storm Scorpian adjustable brace and have had some pretty good scores.

Zothen

[J Anderson]

Feel free to disregard this advice since I have never owned or used a wrist support/brace.

If you are using the correct weight ball, there is no need to always use a brace. I understand that they can be of use in training to learn the correct hand/wrist position for a good release. Of the better bowlers that I know very few of them wear a wrist device, and most of them are over 50 and bowled through a period when it seemed like every pro bowler had been issued a wrist brace along with his PBA card.

I would definitely see how things go with out it and save the brace training.

[Travan]

Went and bowled a series last night. 220, 221, 245. 686 series. Got more pin action than I was getting with the support. I think I'll stick with this for now. If I see myself struggling I'll use it on a temporary basis, as J Anderson said, to correct my wrist position.

[Zothen]

I for 1 disagree for the simple fact that some people like myself need wrist support due to being double jointed. I used to use a 16lbs ball back in the late 87-92 and ended up with wrist problems that required surgery. Doctor told me it was to much play in my wrist which resulted in a cyst and minor bone spurs. I wore a brace from 92-00 and again when I came back in late 2011 and have not had any problems. I have tried bowling with out the brace and it is painful after 1-1/2 games. I also now use a 15lbs ball!

Zothen

[sprocket]

A wrist support is fine as long as you use it to hold your wrist flat. If you use it in the cupped position it will shorten your back swing and make a powerful release impossible. It would be assumed that anyone using a wrist support to cup the ball is doing so in an attempt to get more revs and a strong release. Power comes from UNcupping and UNcocking of the wrist during release. This is impossible if the wrist is LOCKED in the cupped position by the wrist support.

[Travan]

I for 1 disagree for the simple fact that some people like myself need wrist support due to being double jointed. I used to use a 16lbs ball back in the late 87-92 and ended up with wrist problems that required surgery. Doctor told me it was to much play in my wrist which resulted in a cyst and minor bone spurs. I wore a brace from 92-00 and again when I came back in late 2011 and have not had any problems. I have tried bowling with out the brace and it is painful after 1-1/2 games. I also now use a 15lbs ball!

Zothen
I think it's a person to person thing. For me, it wasn't actually for support. Just wanted to make sure my wrist was in the same exact position every time. Mainly because after getting back into bowling, I wanted one less thing to think about during my approach. Now that my approach has become second nature to me, I feel more comfortable not using it. But most definitely, if I was double jointed or had any type of wrist or arm issues, I'd just keep using it. I just got a Storm Modern Marvel last spring and it's 15lb. Does the support keep you from having any pain, or is the pain just less if you use it?

[Travan]

A wrist support is fine as long as you use it to hold your wrist flat. If you use it in the cupped position it will shorten your back swing and make a powerful release impossible. It would be assumed that anyone using a wrist support to cup the ball is doing so in an attempt to get more revs and a strong release. Power comes from UNcupping and UNcocking of the wrist during release. This is impossible if the wrist is LOCKED in the cupped position by the wrist support.
So then what's probably giving me more power on my ball without the support is that my wrist is now able to "uncock" on realease rather than remaining stiff and straight?

[Scojoy]

A wrist support is fine as long as you use it to hold your wrist flat. If you use it in the cupped position it will shorten your back swing and make a powerful release impossible. It would be assumed that anyone using a wrist support to cup the ball is doing so in an attempt to get more revs and a strong release. Power comes from UNcupping and UNcocking of the wrist during release. This is impossible if the wrist is LOCKED in the cupped position by the wrist support.

Totally agree with this, I have a high end moro brace and in a cupped position I can rev it off the lane. I have to uncup it to even try to throw a straight shot

[Zothen]

I don't have any wrist pain at all!

Zothen

[sprocket]

Totally agree with this, I have a high end moro brace and in a cupped position I can rev it off the lane. I have to uncup it to even try to throw a straight shot

Some might think you're actually disagreeing with me because I said power comes from being able to uncup the ball through release and many might equate hook and revs to power, but there is actually a lot more to power than that. It sounds like you understand that.

To further clarify: With the ball trapped in a cupped position speed is lost and so is PROJECTION which is the ability to send the ball out left to right even though it's rotation is right to left. This keeps the ball from hooking early and conserves it's energy until further down the lane. A cupped wrist that stays cupped can give hook, but it is usually EARLY hook.

[sprocket]

So then what's probably giving me more power on my ball without the support is that my wrist is now able to "uncock" on realease rather than remaining stiff and straight?

That's right, however there is nothing inherently wrong with keeping the wrist flat and straight all the way through. That would be a stroker type release and it can be very effective. Sure there's less rotation and power than with a cranker release but as long as there's enough roll in the back end to carry the pins, the power is sufficient. I'm pretty sure Earl Anthony used a wrist brace of some type and he was deadly accurate.

Flat and straight all the way through is OK in my opinion. I just happen to think cupped and staying cupped all the way through defeats it's intended purpose.

[billf]

Braces are great to learn the position for training and if needed during league. If you need it, use it. I'm currently using mine again due to a hairline fracture of the ulnar bone (again). I don't get as many revs and naturally ball reaction is down. It's simple really. With the brace I can't uncup to generate the power. I also have a little more trouble getting my thumb out. But at least I can still kind of bowl with a fractured wrist!

[Travan]

Yeah, I've noticed I seem to get more revs, and even when I don't hit the pocket perfectly, I will still get more pin action and get some strikes I wasn't getting before. And I'm seeing less occasions where I slam the pocket hard and leave something.

[Travan]

Well, I guess after a week or two of bowling without the support, I'm reminded why I wore it to begin with. I begin to struggle with wrist position, which makes it impossible to adjust to lane condition properly. Had two bad games in the 160's, then started my third game with opens in the first four frames. Put the support back on and had 5 strikes in the last 6 frames with no more opens. So I guess I just need to use it from now on. Just not very accurate without.

[e-tank]

I like using a brace cuz its one less thing for me to worry about on my approach. I can bowl the same without it but when i have a mental lapse at least wrist position wont be one. Mine is a wrist brace/glove so the the pinky and index finger have grip on outside aswell as the top of the palm which allows better ball control.

[MICHAEL]

I purchased the Mongoose lifter, on Bowlingball.com. I must say this about it! I am a lot more accurate, and have great rev’s. Like many of you, sometimes it can make a huge difference in my game! I don’t have any physical problems with my wrists,,, (when I work out at the gym, I do wrist curls, 3 different directions JUST FOR BOWLING lol)

I find that when I am missing my mark, putting the Mongoose on HELPS keep me on target!

As a Prolific English Writer once wrote, (To wear, or not to Wear, that is the question) ,,, the answer is ,,, IT DEPENDS! No simple answer to the question.

Sometimes it will be a great tool that can enhance your game, and other times it might actually be a hindrance in achieving specific wrist movements that skilled bowlers use in their delivery. I will use mine often, but not all the time!

I for sure take it off when I am shooting the ten pin! I have much more accuracy picking it up without, ( ASK JASON lol)! It seems to hook left of the pin when I wear the mongoose wrist support! I get a different rev angle when its on, and a niece looking roll going down the lane with the Mongoose! You might say it gives me goose bumps!!! LOL,,, sometimes I crack myself up…… LOL..lol….

My high scores lately 749, 721, and 700 were all bowled witout the Mongoose, but it I helped train me to position my wrist properly and in a sense helped with the scores that way!

[Hammer]

I have tried bowling without a wrist support a few times and my wrist does not like it. I have a Robby's Plus wrist support that I use all of the time and I have no trouble
putting enough revs on the ball for a solid pocket hit. Sometimes I get the ball to hook too much and this is with a urethane Blue Hammer with a length layout. I have had this ball since the beginning of November and my highest game with it is a 236 with wrist support of course.

[Perrin]

Hammer do you find yourself having to keep your speed down to get a good hook with the Urethane ball?


My fist ball was a teal urethane rhino and in learning to hook that ball I had to teach myself to throw pretty slow.


Now I struggle with Dryer conditions because of trying to keep my ball-speed up. :(