The local PBA member/pro-shop operator here uses a wrist support and has suggested I use one, too. His argument is that it encourages a proper release and takes one variable out of the delivery equation: movement of the wrist in different ways on different swings. On the other hand (ha, ha), I was told that a youth coach recommends strongly that juniors, at least, not use supports, because they don't allow proper development of the bowling-hand muscles and can become a "crutch."

Who's right? And is the answer different for adults and juniors? My 17-year-old son (and novice bowler) was in his first regional YABA tournament yesterday, and we didn't see any bowlers (in the handicap or scratch divisions) wearing supports. (My son didn't do very well, by the way. The lanes were oiled heavily from the foul line to the pin deck and from edge to edge; no recreational "house shot" there! He adjusted as best he could, but not until the third game...too little, too late. Oh, well...another "learning experience.")

I strongly agree with the PBA member Pro Shop operator on this issue. I wouldn't bowl without one, because I used to bowl without one. And over a course of time my wrist got weak and couldn't support the weight of the ball. But it really boils down to experience. Because experience is the greatest teacher of all. Heck there are some pros out there on the tour that wear one. Even my late idol Earl Anthony wore one throughout his entire career and he's a legend. It's just all a matter of preference. I'm a coach myself and most of them wear a wrist supporter. And there are a few who don't. Wrist supporters serve a multitude of purposes. Number one they can help maintain the position of the bowling wrist stay in the proper wrist position for a good and solid release. Which prevents the wrist to break and flop during the release and it would screw up the shot. For my students who don't use a wrist supporter have already strong wrist so therefore they don't need a wrist supporter. Everyone has their own preferences. You should experiment with one and see if it helps your game. If it helps then stick to it and make it your preference and forget what other people try to persuade you into. What may work for you may not work for some other people and vise versa. And if the supporter doesn't help you then you didn't lose anything other than a couple of dollars in trying it. You never know if something works for you unless you try it. I always say don't knock it until you try it.

Wrist supports: "it encourages a proper release and takes one variable out of the delivery equation"... "they don't allow proper development of the bowling-hand muscles and can become a crutch".


I believe that both of these are true statements. Now let me expand on that thought.

Your Pro Shop operator was talking to you, about your game. Thus, a wrist support may be a good idea for your game.

Keep in mind, I don't know what you do for a living. You might be a white-collar manager-type who does little typing or anything with his hands on a daily basis, or - you may be a blue-color laborer type that carries drywall around all day. My point is that your Pro Shop operator was talking to you about your game.

Now when you were speaking to the youth coach, he did not recommend wrist supports for JUNIOR bowlers and I believe his statement is correct - for JUNIOR bowlers.

While it gets down to an individual basis, I would not recommend wrist supports for junior bowlers, also. Now if adults are struggling with their release, then a wrist support can be a good tool to utilize.

I'm getting to the age where I will probably start using a wrist support myself, but I'm still resisting. I do not want to be dependent on an "aid", however if I can't strengthen my wrist through Weight Training - I'll be forced to use a support.

So in summary - wrist supports for juniors - bad idea. Wrist supports for adults - good idea.

Good luck,

Marty

There really is no right or wrong answer on this I think you either need one or want one (not the same thing) or you don’t.

In general I suggest to my younger bowlers that they make do without one, this is because they are usually using lighter bowling balls and you do not want to stifle their muscle development.

After that it boils down to “do I need one and what do I want it to do for me”.

Some wrist straps are little more than “wrist positioners”; they help you to place and maintain the ball in the right position and keep the wrist / forearm firm in order to generate that happy hook.

Others aid the bowler to maintain a cupped wrist and a fast exit off the thumb generating revs that they might otherwise not be able to produce.

I have a Robbys II that I use occasionally but I usually take the palm-stay out and some time ago I was forced to use an Eagle for a couple of years to help combat tendonitis.

Speaking personally I find wrist supports limit my ability to make subtle hand position changes and although there are times when I think I would benefit from the support I have to say that I plain just don’t like wearing them.

Hello Bowling Fans.
"First of all let me say that I had a lesson this weekend in Houston with Susie from Strikeability and she was terrific! I whined in a earlier post about her cost ($75/hour), but as they say you get what you pay for! She used BowlerMap and this was a really good tool to see what I was doing and we even compared my form to the pros. All this being said, she suggested a few things to me and I wanted some of your opinions;
1: She said that I would never be as good as I could be wearing a brace? She said if I had to wear one, I could, but not to set it to cup so much. I thought this helped get more hook on the ball?"--rusave123 quoting coach Susie Minshew.


The local PBA member/pro-shop operator here uses a wrist support and has suggested I use one, too. His argument is that it encourages a proper release and takes one variable out of the delivery equation:--First Strike

strongly agree with the PBA member Pro Shop operator on this issue. I wouldn't bowl without one, because I used to bowl without one. And over a course of time my wrist got weak and couldn't support the weight of the ball. But it really boils down to experience.--Mary Allen

I believe that both of these are true statements. Now let me expand on that thought.
Your Pro Shop operator was talking to you, about your game. Thus, a wrist support may be a good idea for your game.--Marty

There really is no right or wrong answer on this I think you either need one or want one (not the same thing) or you don’t.--Magpie

Amen!--Darrell

What I'm hearing about this is...it depends. My experience so far is mixed. At first (a week ago), using the wrist support (an adjustable Vise model, btw) enabled me to generate much more hook and a much harder-hitting shot than I had without it. Then (last Friday) I tried changing my delivery (more wrist cup, more lift on the release) and was able to create about as much break and hit without the support as with it. Sunday night, though, I wasn't able to produce as much hook without it and left a lot of 5 pins, 7 pins, 10 pins, 5-7 splits, even 4-9 splits...all from relatively solid-looking shots that just didn't have enough entry angle.

At this point I'm wondering how much of the difference between Friday and Sunday was me and how much it was the lanes. I bowl in league tonight and will experiment some more with and without the support to see if I can figure this out.

A related question, though: How much wrist cup is "correct"? I had always bowled with a neutral wrist (and I've been a classic stroker), but do the new reactive balls need a different technique do release their full potential?

The local PBA member/pro-shop operator here uses a wrist support and has suggested I use one, too. His argument is that it encourages a proper release and takes one variable out of the delivery equation:--First Strike

Totally agreed on the above sentence from First Strike..Just my 2 cents :p

"do the new reactive balls need a different technique do release their full potential?"

In my opinion, your Pro Shop operator should be able to come up with a drilling configuration that will maximize your ball's reaction to your release. In other words; the ball should work for you (the stroker), not you work for the ball.

I realize this is kind-of a "non-answer", but I firmly believe that your ball driller should be able to come up with something for you that will let you achieve your desired ball reaction.

Marty

I used to use a brace to help my weak wrist and to give me a nice release and nice revs. It worked. What also happened was my wrist got even weaker and more dependent on the support. I stopped using the support and worked instead on building up stronger wrist muscles. I now bowl all the time without the support and I hook the ball more than I ever did. I have a nice clean release.
The cup the ball question, I cup the ball a lot at the top of my backswing. My wrist collapses into a flat position at release. This adds revs onto the delivery. If you bend your knees on your powerstep and deliver the ball nice and low into the lane, then you will also get plenty of revs on the ball.
I agree that if you need it then use it. If your wrist is strong enough to bowl without it then don't use it. If you use a wrist brace then that takes out hand positions out of the equation. I flatten out my wrist for my spares. that would be difficult with a wrist brace. Sometimes I like to flatten out my wrist to kill some of the revs on drier lanes.
Also, if you are having trouble maintaining a straight wrist, is it possible the ball is a pound too heavy? Maybe a drop in ball weight to a lighter ball is needed.

Thanks for all the shared experiences and opinions. For now, I've decided to stick with the wrist support. The main reason: consistency of release. At this point in my return to the sport, I find that the support makes a significant difference in that area.

I'll keep working on my delivery and release without the support during practice sessions, as well. Thanks for the tips on that, Smooth Stroker. (BTW, I don't seem to have any trouble taking hook off my spare ball with the support by just changing my hand position to thumb at 12 o'clock and following through without a wrist turn.)

I already work out a lot, including wrist- and finger-strengthening exercises, so that should keep those muscles in good shape. I don't know about dropping ball weight. I already went from 16 (my old, hard-rubber ball) to 15 (my new, reactive Zone Classic), and the 15 feels fine. (One test I found--hold the ball at your side, do a wrist curl, and see if you can hold the ball in that position for 20 seconds--I pass easily, even with the 16-lb. ball.) So I'm reluctant to drop another pound, but I'll see if I can find a 14-lb. to demo somewhere.

Maybe as I refine my technique, I'll find I don't need the support. But for now, I'm leaning on it.