Just like Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Badminton, and other similar sports, the use of a single arm for a throwing or swinging motion is the most important skill to have. Unfortunately, this may lead to overuse and even severe injury. The repetitive movements of bowling place great stress on your wrist, hand, fingers, elbow, forearm, and arm, which is why it is very important to have the best elbow brace for bowling.
If you have had a history of bowling-related injuries (or even any injury as a result of physical activity), then you would know that having the proper support gear and accessories would ensure that you would never experience the same injury again.
If you would like to know more about bowling elbow braces, factors to consider to get the right elbow brace, and our top 5 recommendations, then keep reading.
What Are Bowling Elbow Braces For?
The best bowling elbow braces have multiple benefits, most especially for bowlers who are injury-prone or bowlers who have experienced elbow pain or tendonitis. If you want to make sure to avoid further damage or elbow pain, then a bowling elbow brace is exactly what you need.
We have listed below the particular advantages you can get out of using a bowling elbow brace (also known as elbow sleeve).
The Elbow Compression Support Applies Pressure and Provides Relief
If you have ever worn any sort of compression gear or apparel, then you would know how significantly affect your performance and movement.
Just like other compression accessories, the elbow brace works to apply pressure around your elbow and arm area, providing relief and much-needed blood flow and oxygenation.
Not only will you feel a slight improvement in performance and mobility, but you would also feel more comfortable and relaxed that you are using brace compression to ensure that you have a pain-free sports experience.
The Elbow Sleeve Stabilizes Your Joint
For those who have suffered from misalignment of the elbow joint, having a sleeve is not only advantageous but actually absolutely necessary.
If you engage in arm-heavy physical activities such as bowling, wearing brace support is the key to maintain rigidity and alignment of your joint.
Just like how a cast or sling is supposed to maintain alignment for bones to heal, the elbow brace compression support works to do the same.
Elbow Sleeve Reduces Forearm and Elbow Pain Caused by Muscle Tension
In any sport and physical activity, muscular pain is seen as a sign of muscle synthesis, growth, and development, but this is not always the case.
There are some forms of muscular pain that are unnecessary to experience, especially if the pain is felt for a prolonged period of time.
If you have a different kind of muscular pain that has lasted longer than usual, then a support sleeve may help alleviate the muscle tension, allowing your muscles to grow and recover in a proper manner.
The Elbow Sleeve is a Relatively Inexpensive Tool or Accessory to Minimize Trips to the Doctor
Frequent trips to the sports doctor take a lot of time, effort, and money. These will be inevitable if you frequently find yourself in elbow pain or injuries. This is not the best route to take.
Having elbow braces will help reduce your visits to the doctor as it would help alleviate the pain and minimize the risk of injury.
If you compare the cost of a one-time investment into an elbow brace or two, you would definitely be saving hundreds, if not thousands of Dollars on medical appointments.
The Elbow Sleeve is Good at Preventing Chronic Injury
Whether you have experienced elbow-related injuries or not, you have to ensure that it does not turn into a chronic injury.
Having a chronic injury may ultimately lead to an inability to engage in or fully commit to any sport, not just bowling.
If you feel that you are injury-prone, then buying the best support sleeve is a very good approach.
Elbow Sleeve Improves Grip Strength
As a result of the sharp reduction in pain, a support sleeve allows you to grip the bowling ball better.
Having a good grip of your bowling ball is an essential skill to provide you with the needed leverage to hook a shot or to throw it straight down the lane (also see the best bowling balls for hook shots and balls for straight bowlers).
So if you have been hesitant with gripping the ball because of the resulting pain it causes, a support sleeve should best be able to assist you in removing the pain factor.
Sizing and Fit Guide for Bowling Elbow Braces
When it comes to compression gear and apparel, you should always try out the product before buying it to get the best fit, if possible.
However, these days, most purchases are done online and the products are delivered right to your doorstep.
If you plan to purchase your elbow brace online, here is a general sizing and fit guide to ensure you get the right one.
Depending on the manufacturer, you would need to measure your elbow or at least 4 inches above your elbow joint (right below where your bicep and tricep are at their largest form).
Use a tape measure and measure around your arm, which is the circumference.
Fortunately, most modern-day elbow braces come in a range of sizes, with each size allowing for a certain size range, so if you are off by an inch or two, there should usually be nothing to worry about.
Generally speaking, here are the sizes and size ranges of each fit (based on the circumference of your arm four inches above the elbow joint):
Sizes | Measurements |
|---|---|
Small | 7 inches to 8 inches |
Medium | 8 inches to 10 inches |
Large | 10 inches to 12 inches |
Extra Large | 12 inches to 14 inches |
How to Choose the Right Bowling Elbow Brace - Things to Consider
There are several different types of bowling elbow braces in the market today, and not all have the exact same benefits and attributes.
In this section, let us briefly explore the factors to consider before buying your first-ever (and ideally the best) elbow brace.
Purpose
Elbow braces serve multiple purposes. There are some that are meant for compression and relief from muscle tension, but there are a few elbow brace products that are specifically designed to counteract tendonitis or arthritis.
When getting your own elbow brace, make sure to check what it can do for you and how you can benefit from using it in physical activities.
Comfort
As a result of the different purposes an elbow brace may serve, comfort levels also vary.
In our experience, the level of comfort you get from an elbow brace may determine how much rigidity and support you can get out of it.
If you are looking for a more stable and rigid elbow brace, then get one, but know that it may be at the cost of some degree of comfortability.
Material
An elbow brace is typically made of some mixture of nylon and spandex for flexibility and compression, but there are other viable materials out in the market that could make for a very good elbow brace.
There are a few braces that are made of bamboo, some partially made out of rubber, and even a few products made with copper.
If you have any sensitivities to the materials used, always check the product description so you do not end up buying the wrong brace.
Features
Some brands may go a bit overboard with marketing the features, but you best believe that some of the premium braces out there have an advantage over the rest.
Specific features to look out for are level of compression, the breathability of the material used, rigidity or comfort, and even exposure of the joint (as this may make for more support and stability).
Design
If you want your brace to match your theme or get-up, then there should not be anything to worry about.
Aside from the typical black brace and white brace, you can also get your brace in a variety of different colors. Whether it be green, blue, purple, orange, or some combination of colors to match your favorite basketball or football team, there is definitely a brace for you.
Five of the Best Bowling Elbow Braces
There are so many braces out in the market today but with brace manufacturers like Mava Sports leading the way with providing top-quality gear, you will always find good options to buy (or to use as a reference for other products in the market).
Listed below are our top 5 best elbow brace compression support products in the market.
1. Mava Sports Bamboo Elbow Compression Sleeves
Mava Sports is one of the leading brands in providing injury-reducing gear and apparel for crosstraining, weightlifting workouts, and various physical activities.
The Mava Sports Elbow Brace Compression Support is an elbow sleeve made of bamboo charcoal fiber, spandex, and latex that is meant for lightweight, comfortable, and breathable elbow support.
This product is very comfortable, has a high degree of compression, is made of high-quality bamboo material (mixed with latex and spandex materials), and is sold at a reasonable price point.
This brace also comes with a 6-month warranty, which is long enough for you to identify or diagnose any problems with the product.
If you want to really reduce pain and discomfort, then this is the best brace for you.
2. Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace Compression Support Sleeve
If you frequently have pain in your bowling arm, the Kunto Fitness Brace Support Sleeve is here to aid you.
The product is presented in one of the most stylish and futuristic designs we have ever seen for a brace and offers a four-way compression technology. This means that it is constructed in a way to allow for movement or flexibility while reducing pain and the risk of injury.
This brace is made of 70% nylon, 15% spandex, and 15% rubber, which are all conventional materials to use for this kind of product.
If you need a brace that has an incredible design, construction, and mobility, then this is one of the best products to consider.
3. SB Sox Compression Elbow Brace
For those on a budget (or for those who are looking to try out braces for the first time to see if it would complement their performance), the SB Sox Compression Brace is definitely a good pick.
Designed and engineered like its premium-priced competitors, this product will definitely give you a lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking piece of gear that would help reduce pain and discomfort.
This product is also advertised for a lot of activities such as yoga, pilates, soccer, hiking, and even skiing.
If you want an all-around piece of gear that gets the job done in the alley as well as in the gym, then this should be your pick.
4. Copper Compression Recovery Elbow Sleeve
If you are a fan of the latest copper-based products, you are not alone. Promoted by Drew Brees (Elite NFL quarterback), the Copper Compression Recovery Sleeve is here to provide you with much-needed protection and recovery.
There are not a lot of copper-based compression gear in the market, as it is a relatively recent material to use on recovery gear, but this product is definitely one of our greatest recommendations.
The product offers great support and blood circulation. The product also offers a different feeling when you wear it, which we truly like (though this may be subjective).
If you are into a seamless design and copper-based technology, then this should definitely be a good pick-up for you.
5. PowerLix Elbow Brace Compression Support
Rounding out our list is an aggressive-looking brace, known as the PowerLix Compression Support.
Seen as a top pick by many athletes, the beautiful design and practicality of this product are the best in today's market.
The product boasts an anti-slip system through a special knitted design, allowing for a snug and secure fit, which is a plus in any sport that requires frequent and aggressive hand movement.
The manufacture also offers a 100% 6-month money-back guarantee, so if you do not like this product, simply return it and get your money, no questions asked.
Conclusion (Plus Our Personal Favorite)
Choosing support gear and equipment is just as important as buying the ball itself, so you better set aside some money to make this investment.
As for the best brace, at least in our eyes, we are going with none other than the product from the world-renowned brace manufacturer Mava Sports, the Mava Sports Elbow Brace Compression Support.
Just remember, if you need to find the best elbow brace for bowling, then this guide should be more than enough for you to find it. Bookmark this page or remember the name of our website for more information and guidance regarding bowling gear and apparel.