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?