Relative to other sports such as football or basketball, the sport of bowling is not as physically demanding as you would think. However, bowling still requires a high degree of strength, power, and technique. As a result of this, the tendency to get injured is still significant, which is why we have prepared this guide for you to identify the best knee brace for bowling.
Whether you have a history of injury or not, the protection of the knees and ligaments surrounding the knees are of primary importance. Practically all sports require the use of the lower body, and having legs and knees in good shape would be the most ideal way to ensure a consistent stance, gather, and swing/release.
If you would like to learn more about how to choose the right bowling knee brace, the top 7 best knee braces for bowling in the market today, and our personal favorite knee brace!
How to Choose the Right Bowling Knee Brace
If you have ever had bowling knee pain, then you would know how tremendous an effect it becomes not just during bowling, but in your life in general.
This is why, before we proceed to an in-depth analysis of important factors to consider when purchasing a knee brace for bowling, let us look at arguably the most important consideration to have - your purpose.
A lot of bowlers come from different athletic backgrounds and ages/generations. Some may have a history of injury, while others only suffer knee pain after bowling to a slight degree.
Others have utilized a knee compression sleeve to improve blood flow and circulation, while others use knee braces for all-around workouts. There are even a few who wear the best knee braces in the market to show their style or fashion sense.
Getting the best knee brace for bowling really depends on how you plan to use it. So before getting knee braces, ask yourself what you need (or want it for).
Whether you simply want to prevent knee pain, improve circulation with a knee compression sleeve, wear a knee brace as a result of a history of knee-related injuries, or simply want the knee brace support as an extra precaution when you bowl, the important thing to know is what you plan to use it for and why.
Once you have identified your purpose or intent for the knee support (knee compression sleeve or knee brace), then we can talk about the rest of the major factors to consider.
Things to Consider and Look For in Knee Braces for Bowling
In this section, we take a deep dive into the important factors to consider before buying a knee brace or knee compression sleeve. Some of the detailed explanations can even be applied to other support accessories such as an elbow compression sleeve or wrist support.
Once you have your purpose and intent, it is now time to consider the following.
Sizing
Sizing is very important when buying a knee brace or knee compression sleeve. Most knee sleeve accessories support the knee by improving blood flow and circulation.
However, if your compression knee (the knee with a knee sleeve), is wrapped with knee brace support that is too small or too tight, you would effectively be restricting the flow of blood, similar to how a tourniquet device is wrapped around a part of the body really tight to stop blood from flowing out of the body.
A compression knee brace support that is too large or roomy, on the other hand, is completely pointless. Even the best bowling and fitness enthusiast would agree. Having a loose piece of equipment or accessory around your lower body would not only affect your stability and mobility but would also pose a great injury risk, as the accessory or piece of gear may slip or transfer to another part of the lower body, causing discomfort or hampering proper movement patterns.
You have to find the right-sized knee compression support for improved blood circulation and a snug but comfortable fit. Brands offer different methods and size charts, but we would generally recommend that you have a tape measure in handy if you are unable to try out the actual knee support product.
If you plan to buy online, make sure to check out the product description or visit the manufacturer's website to find out more details about sizing and measurements.
Quality and Durability
Like with everything, quality and durability should be at the forefront of your thinking process when buying the best knee brace or knee support.
This is even more important for bowlers who are already experiencing knee pain or knee instability.
The best knee brace products in the market today can last up to several months (or even years) before showing signs of wear and tear, but do not expect cheap knee support products made of thin fabric or poor-quality materials to serve the intended purpose, much less last a lifetime.
If you want knee support or a knee brace that can really be with you long-term, then you would have to set aside a decent budget for it.
We recommend giving a higher priority to this if you have had experiences of knee pain or if you have a history of knee-related injuries. We know the severe discomfort and negative effect on performance knee pain could bring, so it is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to injuries of this nature.
Comfort
Secondary to injury prevention or injury protection is the benefit of comfort.
The sport of bowling relies on high-impact action between the heavy and sturdy bowling ball and the standing set of pins, but this does not mean that the gear and accessories you wear have to be as tough and gritty as the bowling ball and bowling pins.
Bowling knee braces or bowling knee support sleeves serve as an added padding or cushioning around your knees.
The feeling should be more or less similar to compression shorts (or pants) that runners use or to compression sleeves that are worn around the arms.
The level of comfort definitely varies from knee brace to knee brace, and the preferred feeling around your knees is also highly subjective. In this regard, we recommend trying out as many types of bowling braces as possible to get an idea of the kind of design, build, support, and material you are looking for.
Stiffness and Stability
As somewhat of a counterpart to the comfortability of a knee support sleeve, we have the factor of stiffness and stability.
People with loose knees or knee caps know that the best way to solve irregular or lose movement of the unstable knee cap is to fit it with a support brace or bowling compression sleeve.
This is very important in bowling as every ball that is thrown down the lane requires a very precise and consistent set of motions which highly involve the stability and flexibility of the knees.
If you are injury-prone in the knee area, then stiffness and stability are definitely more crucial factors over comfort.
We recommend, however, not to go with a small size support brace just to achieve that snug, stiff, and stable fit. Go with a support brace with a design that is identical to the form of your legs, or if there are none, have a bowling support knee brace custom-made (or custom-fitted) for your knees.
History of Injury
The presence or absence of physical injury is a major factor to consider when picking the best knee brace for bowling.
A majority of the best bowlers in the world have some form of knee pain or injury, but this should not be a major turn-off toward the sport of Bowling since all classifications of physical sports (much more contact sports) have an increased likelihood of physical injury.
In the sport of bowling, we find it best to take extra care of your lower body, swinging/throwing arm, and even your wrist. Make sure to have the proper support gear and accessories to avoid or reduce the chances of in-game injuries.
Patella Protection
The patella is the bone that is practically your knee. This bone is situated in front of the knee joint and not only serves as a support bone but also connects the muscles of the upper half of the leg to the lower half of the leg.
In sports such as baseball and football, patella protection is of huge importance, because the area where the patella is located is where most of the impact goes, whether it be tackling, sliding, or colliding with other teammates' (or opponents') knees.
A knee brace for bowling would definitely keep the knee area protected, so we recommend investing in one, even though the sport of bowling is a relatively low-impact (and non-contact) sport.
Extra Features/Add-ons
Just like most compression gear in the market today, bowling knee support products offer a lot of features and add-ons that are very practical and valuable.
Features such as breathability, moisture-wicking technology, no-slip technology, anti-odor technology, and many others serve to ensure that the knee support performs its primary function very well without any hindrance or concern to the performance of the bowler.
Among all the features to look for, we prefer a knee support product with breathability as most traditional compression gear and accessories leave the covered portions of the body really sweaty and stinky. Breathability helps eliminate (or significantly reduce) the occurrence of this problem.
User Reviews
Like every product nowadays, user reviews are a strong basis and foundation that determine the future sales of the product.
When purchasing knee support, always try to look up user reviews online. There are plenty of videos, articles, forums, and comments online that talk about knee products for bowling.
Just do your due diligence and you will be able to find the best knee support for bowling that fits your purpose or intent.
The 7 Best Knee Braces in the Market Today
With the rising concern around sports-related injuries, and popular athletes and stars succumbing to knee-related concerns, finding the best knee braces in the market is a more prevalent concern than ever before.
We have curated a list of the 7 best knee support products for bowling in the market for you to buy or use as a reference to know the gold standard of this particular category. Check out the list below.
1. Karm Adjustable Knee Brace
The Karm Adjustable Knee Support is one of the most diverse and accommodating knee brace products in the market.
Ideal for any kind of physical activity, whether at home or in the bowling alley, the highly adjustable product can be just what you need to improve your performance without increasing the likelihood of knee-related injuries.
The design is very unique as it sports a patella opening to allow for adequate breathing room and reduced direct pressure on the patella.
The side stabilizers also make sure that your knees do not make any erroneous lateral movements, preventing injury even better.
2. Mava Sports Knee Compression Sleeve
If you are into compression gear and a sleek design, the Mava Sports Knee Compression Sleeve is an excellent candidate.
To help reduce pain and improve blood circulation, this compression sleeve targets vulnerable areas around the knee and wraps around it in a snug and comfortable manner.
Comfort and support are of prime importance as can be seen from the build quality and design of the sleeve. It will not restrict movement as well so you can perform your best with this sleeve on.
3. PowerLix Knee Compression Sleeve
If you are looking for an amazing-looking two-tone compression sleeve that performs even better than it looks, then the PowerLix Knee Compression Sleeve is a great choice.
This knee support offers phenomenal support and protection as it evenly applies stable pressure across the knee joint and offers optimal muscle support regardless of the intensity of the workout.
If you are doing bowling casually or competitively, then this knee support product is good to pair with your performance.
The snug and breathable fabric make for a very comfortable experience and the manufacturer offers a 100% money-back guarantee if you do not like the product.
4. SB Sox Compression Knee Brace
If we are talking about comfort and pain relief, the SB Sox Compression Knee Brace can do it all for you.
This product sports a very lightweight, breathable fabric material that eliminates the accumulation of moisture around the legs and specifically, the knees.
The material used to craft this product is also of premium quality. The ergonomic design matches the unique craftsmanship and makes for a very good and practical product.
5. RiptGear Knee Compression Sleeve
If you need to alleviate the stress and pressure your knees might feel during every bowling session, then the RiptGear knee compression sleeves are amazing knee support accessories.
It is very light, flexible, and breathable, and comes in a very neutral and stylish color.
There are multiple sizes (and plus sizes) to choose from so finding the right fit with this product is definitely not going to be an issue.
This brace is particularly marketed as a good accessory to alleviate knee pain related to arthritis tendonitis meniscus and other more common knee-related injuries or concerns in bowling.
6. TechWare Pro Knee Compression Sleeve
If you want a futuristic-looking knee sleeve that has features and functionalities that are not as common, then the TechWare Pro Knee Compression Sleeve should be on your list.
This product offers stabilizer bars and patella gel pads for added support, pain relief, and protection, all of which would aid in injury recovery or injury prevention.
This product comes in five different sizes so you will not have a problem finding the perfect fit.
With its ultra-breathable knitted soft fabric material and non-slip silicone strips strategically placed around the sleeves, this product is good for even the most aggressive bowlers.
7. ProFitness Premium Fabric Knee Sleeves
If you really want to stand out with an awesome pair of knee sleeves, then the ProFitness Premium Fabric Knee Sleeves might be the pair for you to get.
Sporting a unique, eye-catching design that can be flaunted in any sport or physical activity, this knee support accessory delivers great performance at a very reasonable price point.
The ergonomic design and lightweight fabric make this pair very wearable, even during prolonged bowling sessions. It also offers a degree of pain management, but do not expect it to be as great as the other heavy-duty knee brace products in the market today.
Conclusion (Plus Our Favorite)
Finding a knee brace for bowling is difficult. We hope this guide has helped you garner a deeper understanding of the things to look out for before finalizing your purchase.
As for our personal favorite knee brace for bowling, we have to go with none other than the TechWare Pro Knee Compression Sleeve.
This product simply checks all the boxes, and more! With unique features and benefits that are not found in other sleeves in our list, this is definitely what you should buy if you are looking for a great balance of knee-related injury prevention and pain relief.
The best knee brace for bowling depends on what you want and need out of this particular support accessory. Just remember, if you need to refresh on the things to consider, go back to this guide to get all that you need. If you would like to learn more about bowling in general, then bookmark our website. We release content on a regular basis so stay tuned!