Considering using a Wrist Support (Need Advice)

[tumblebug1949]

Hi all,

I am considering using a wrist support and would like your opinion on which Brand / Model is best.

A little background on my current bowling.
I am 62 years old and in decent health.
I am 6'2 and weigh 205.
I have been bowling for about 4 months now and average 4 games a week.
I am using a newly drilled 15 lb. Storm Reign and a 15 lb. plastic ball for spares.

I would estimate my ball speed to be medium. Not fast, but not slow.
I am getting very little hook in the Reign, because I am not getting many rpms with my release. I have watched numerous articles and videos about the proper release providing the revs. but don't seem to be able to get it done.

I have decided that I am letting my wrist bend to the rear during the downswing and can only get more reaction by preventing the wrist from moving back.

I am hoping that the use of a wrist support will teach me the proper position of the wrist and help strengthen my wrist as I bowl more.

The wrist supports I have been comparing are the higher lines of Storm, Brunswick and Pro Release brands.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks
Tom

[Bowling Wonder]

Hi Tom. It sounds to me like your main concern is wrist stability. In your case, a wrist support will help this, and will also promote correct muscle memory. I use a Robby's Plus wrist support. Also, try doing some exercises to increase wrist strength. Lastly, if you would like more hook on your ball (as you seemed to mention), your finger positions should be examined. Where are they at the release? What I recently learned is to spread the index finger and keep the little finger in tight. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Good luck, and good bowling!

[BallBuster]

I have used a couple different wrist supports and found them to be mostly the same. There are straight rigid wrist models as well as the ones with a hinge to tuck the wrist even tighter. That one probably isn't necessary for you. One warning with this piece of equipment is that you may wind up coming around the side of the ball on your shot when you should be staying behind it. Other than that, you should see your ball hooking more. Good luck!

[JerseyJim]

if you would like more hook on your ball (as you seemed to mention), your finger positions should be examined. Where are they at the release? What I recently learned is to spread the index finger and keep the little finger in tight.

Tom, I second Bowling Wonder's suggestion about finger position on the ball. It makes a difference in axis rotation. Here's an article from Joe Slowinski on altering axis rotation. There's a lot more on the subject beyond this article, but it's a good start. http://bowlingknowledge.info/images/stories/slowinski_4_point_btm_nov_2006.pdf

[tumblebug1949]

Thanks all for the advice. Jim, I have looked at several articles and watched every video I have found about having the proper finger / wrist location at release. I have read that the thumb should come out just as the ball gets to the back of the ankle on the sliding foot. The fingers should come out just shortly after that with the hand coming up as if to shake hands. I have tried to get this accomplished over the last 9 games and have not gotten it done. This Article is the best I have seen for showing the ball reaction as the grip rotates counterclockwise.

I will give it more time and try to incorporate this lesson into my game.

I also noticed that my thumb seemed to have extra room in it's hole today. I may try some tape to tighten it up a little. I don't want to get in the habit of squeezing the grip.

My next league group starts in early January. I was hoping to have learned a little control before then. We do bowl more for fun than competition although the better one bowls, the more fun they seem to have.

Thanks again all,
Any additional thoughts would be appreciated.

[littlelegs]

Regarding wrist supports I used one for almost an entire season to stop myself from breaking my wrist. I tried several times during the season to stop using it but had the same issue every time I tried.

Eventually though the muscle memory must have kicked in as I can now keep a slight bend in the right direction without too much trouble and no wrist support. I've had/have other areas of my game that still need a lot of work, but thankfully breaking the wrist backwards is no longer one of them.

As for tape, I love Ron Cs magic carpet. As it naturally has some give in it I find that it stops the need to keep removing/inserting tape as my thumb swells or shrinks.

[tracy]

i wondered the same question awhile back and bought a new one (because my strap broke) but since then,put it away. i have used one most of my bowling years and started to wonder the effects of the support. what i have found by not using it is that i hit my mark atleast 99% of the time and my ball speed has gone up from 13 to 15-16 consistantly now and my wrist and arm don't get the stress that i had wearing it (from the lift). i am 66 years old and have been bowling around 40 years now and since i have not been wearing the support , my average has been coming back up to the 195-200 range. i think when you wear the support, it takes away from the ball re-action that it's suppose to have and with out it, the ball does the work that it's drilled to do .just my opinion on my support and bowling style that i have and also without wearing it, it seems that i can take the conditions out of play more than when i wear it. i hope this gives you another perspective on wearing a writst support and something to think about as far as conditions coming into play.

[10-in-the-pit]

If you don't want to spend the money to experiment, you could ask to try out someone's wrist support and see how it works on the lanes. Using a wrist support generally increases revs which could increase carrying power.

[tumblebug1949]

Hey 10-in-the-pit,

I don't know anyone in this area that uses one. I was playing in a league (the first in years) but it ended late November. I have another league starting in January but I wanted to have used it enough to be somewhat consistent with it.

I had decided to go for the one I thought was the best buy and also had been given some good reviews. It also could be cleaned and you can get replacement straps and pads. To me, the best was the Moro Pro Release. I prefer the extended version. I wanted to use it to learn finger and wrist positions and what to expect from the different positions. As it turns out, all the stores are out of the size I would need. It only comes in sm/md and md/lg. The medium/large right handed is what I would need. The only place I could find that had it in stock right now was $5 higher than normal and charges a processing fee. Any store that charges a packing or processing fee may as well close their doors because I won't buy anything from them. To have a little higher price is one thing. To add a $5 fee right at check out is quite another.

Anyway, I have a Brunswick Command X Positioner Leather coming. It should help me keep my wrist more forward and help build wrist and finger strength at the same time. I may still send for the Pro Release later if I think it would help.

Anyway, that is where I am at right now.

Tom

[10-in-the-pit]

Cool, does the wrist brace say it will build wrist strength rather than train you how to keep your wrist in the proper position? It has been several years since I have used a brace and it taught me to keep my hand behind the ball.

[tumblebug1949]

To my knowledge, the Brunswick Command X Positioner doesn't say that it will help in any way to build wrist strength. I can't say I have seen any brace that says that. I am thinking that because the mentioned Brunswick brace is leather with a metal rod in front and back of the wrist, it still will allow the wrist to feel the weight of the ball. The more expensive RIGID wrist supports take the weight of the ball completely off of the wrist thus causing you to not use your wrist muscles. A muscle not used will not gain strength. This is my thought anyway. The Command X is maybe not as good at training you on the wrist and finger positions because it only assists in holding the wrist straight and does not give much support to the fingers.

Items like the Gizmo or Pro Release and others like these are better at teaching effects of wrist position because they lock the wrist in a variety of positions both forward and back as well as from side to side.

Both training variations have good points however the best wrist support is the wrist itself. Some of us just need to learn what the wrist positions do and get a little help with our game until our wrist builds enough strength to do the job on its own.

My opinion may turn out to be wrong but just like everything else in life, a person has to start somewhere.

Good Bowling

[StormGirl]

the popular wrist brace in my area seems to be the gizmo gadget. i have one myself and couldn't be happier with it. its an amazing training tool