Weak wrist

[SherwinS]

Hi, I'm new to bowling. Just starting to learn how to hook with my new bowling ball. I found out it was really hard to straighten my wrist and it was always break. I wonder how is the proper technique to do it? I've been searching a lot an still couldn't find the solution.

[J Anderson]

Hi, I'm new to bowling. Just starting to learn how to hook with my new bowling ball. I found out it was really hard to straighten my wrist and it was always break. I wonder how is the proper technique to do it? I've been searching a lot an still couldn't find the solution.

Here is an old thread that talks about wrist strength: http://www.bowlingboards.com/threads...wrist-strength

The video that Daniel had the link to is no longer out there but it showed a body builder with a short bar, approximately 18"-24" long with a cable or chain attached to the middle with a stack of weight plates at the other end. The guy uses his wrists to rotate the bar to lift the weights up and then rotates it the other way to let them back down. One of the posts in the thread explains how you could make a similar device for yourself.

While some wrist strength is necessary, timing and technique are even more important. If you try to use the large muscles of your shoulder to accelerate the ball into the down swing, no matter how strong you are (unless you are Iceman), your wrist is not likely to be able to overcome the inertia of the ball. The key is getting that feel for when the ball transitions from back swing to down swing.

[axslinger]

Sometime simpler is better. I have been using a Brunswick wrist brace for the last couple months simply because my wrist would get sore and it was tough for me to support my 15 lb. ball. Last night I bowled on our league. I started bowling without my wrist brace, (I forgot to put it on) and I found that I had "trained" my wrist as well as built some strength and didn't seem to need it. I had no issue bowling the last game or two without the brace and had no issues whatsoever.

[Hendu71]

Sometime simpler is better. I have been using a Brunswick wrist brace for the last couple months simply because my wrist would get sore and it was tough for me to support my 15 lb. ball. Last night I bowled on our league. I started bowling without my wrist brace, (I forgot to put it on) and I found that I had "trained" my wrist as well as built some strength and didn't seem to need it. I had no issue bowling the last game or two without the brace and had no issues whatsoever.

I agree with axslinger. I recently purchase a Storm Gizmo XF wrist device. On one of the Talk Bowling episodes on youtube, it said that if you put one of these on, and it feels horribly wrong, then you probably need it, because your form is bad. Well, I put it on, and it felt horribly wrong. I haven't determined for sure that I have weak wrists, but I knew immediately that my cupping of the ball and release was bad. Which of course caused caused less revs and weak hooks. I don't intend to use this as a crutch forever, and more like a training device. My hope is i will develop enough of a muscle memory to be able to get along without it.

[axslinger]

I agree with axslinger. I recently purchase a Storm Gizmo XF wrist device. On one of the Talk Bowling episodes on youtube, it said that if you put one of these on, and it feels horribly wrong, then you probably need it, because your form is bad. Well, I put it on, and it felt horribly wrong. I haven't determined for sure that I have weak wrists, but I knew immediately that my cupping of the ball and release was bad. Which of course caused caused less revs and weak hooks. I don't intend to use this as a crutch forever, and more like a training device. My hope is i will develop enough of a muscle memory to be able to get along without it.

That's how it worked out for me. Now it feels natural bowling without the brace but it took a couple months of regular bowling, multiple games, for it to "set in". I'm sure I'll still use it from time to time just to retrain myself.

[bobforsaken]

Same story for me. Tried cupping my wrist when I first started bowling earlier this year and it felt like my wrist was going to pop or I was going to pull a muscle. Used a wrist brace to at least keep my wrist straight and bowled like that for a couple of months. Later, I tried cupping my wrist and it was much easier, but it would be sore after bowling. I started putting on the brunswick air command without the inner brace to allow me to cup my hand but keep some compression while I bowled.. no pain. Did that for a few weeks.. Now I can bowl with a cupped wrist with now pain and no brace.

Funny.. I don't feel any stronger, but I definitely trained some muscles in the process. Go slow and don't hurt yourself.

[Hobbit]

What weight did u start at Bob? I read u are now using 15lb gear?

I began using 11lb, and last night went up to 12lb (still only plastic house ball), however it had a better feel to it.. So, going to stick with 12lb for a few weeks and get use to that before looking at moving up in weight again.

Hey Axslinger, I am not in a rush here to improve, as it is a gradual process for me, but it was good hearing u took just a few months to get the weight issue sorted out.

[epiepenburg]

What weight did u start at Bob? I read u are now using 15lb gear?

I began using 11lb, and last night went up to 12lb (still only plastic house ball), however it had a better feel to it.. So, going to stick with 12lb for a few weeks and get use to that before looking at moving up in weight again.

Hey Axslinger, I am not in a rush here to improve, as it is a gradual process for me, but it was good hearing u took just a few months to get the weight issue sorted out.

If you are using a house ball, the ball will actually feel heavier because it's not drilled to your hand specs. A properly drilled ball will feel lighter that it actually is. Just don't make the move to fast, if your wrist and hand hurt the next day, perhaps the ball change is too fast.