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Is A Bowling Wrist Support Necessary?
Whether bowling wrist support is necessary or not depends somewhat upon one's skill level, and somewhat upon one's physical condition. A wrist support can be helpful to a beginner, and can be a necessity for someone who has suffered a wrist or arm injury. It can sometimes help to give an advanced bowler a tiny competitive edge. It can also be a crutch, eventually having an adverse impact on a person's game, and can even hold an advanced bowler back.
When viewing advertisements for these wrist supports, it isn't surprising that most of what is said addresses their benefits, which is to be expected. And there are indeed plenty of benefits. As you progress form a novice, up through the ranks to an advanced, or even a professional bowler, a bowling wrist support may be needed at one time or another, but it is seldom needed permanently.
There once was a time when professional baseball players never wore batting gloves, never even heard of them in fact. Now every player wears them, and half the players seem to spend an inordinate amount of time adjusting them. This isn't a knock on batting gloves. Making the wrong kind of contact can sting. One just wonders though, how much of the wearing of the glove is due to necessity, and how much is because everyone else is.
It's the same with the bowling wrist support. No one wants to be the only one on the team not wearing one, especially if those who do seem to be the better bowlers. So, personal preference aside, who really needs this support and who doesn't?
Beginning Bowlers
Let's start with the beginning or novice bowler. This bowler is one who is most apt to purchase a glove or a wrist support in the belief that it is a necessity. The support can indeed be very helpful, giving the wrist enough support to enable the beginner to better control delivery of the ball. The fact is, most beginners' games can improve markedly once they begin wearing a glove or a wrist support. Part of this is physics of course, but part may be psychological. The main danger here is a beginner may become used to a particular type of bowling wrist support, and that particular type may eventually limit the ways in which the bowler can deliver the ball. The least expensive supports often limit sided to side motion, which assists the beginner, but places limitations on a more advanced bowler.
Intermediate Bowlers
One could argue all night as to whether an intermediate, or slightly advanced bowler needs a bowling wrist support. Once having used one as a beginner, the bowler may need one out of habit as much as anything. That bowler's game may be adversely affected with a support, or it may not. It's often hard to say. If intermediate or advanced bowlers feel the need for a bowling wrist support, they should invest in a more flexible, hence more expensive model, which offers support, but at the same time allows the wrist greater freedom of motion.
Top Bowlers
The ads will often give one the impression that all professional bowlers use wrist support. Some do, but most do not, feeling that it is more to their advantage to not be in any way encumbered by such a device. Some do wear gloves, though the support given by those gloves is usually minimal. At that level of skill, it really becomes a matter of personal preference leavened with a great deal of knowledge as to the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a support.
Who Really Needs One?
What about someone who has weak wrists? Or what about women, who have smaller, and therefore potentially weaker wrists. A bowling wrist support can help, and may even be a necessity for a time, but working to strengthen the wrists is a far better idea. Those who really do need a bowling wrist support are those who have suffered an injury to the arm or wrist, and could not bowl at all without a wrist support, or would experience unnecessary pain. Added to the list of who really needs such a support would be some senior citizens, who no longer have the wrist strength necessary to enjoy the sport without an aid.
Summary
The message would seem to be, don't use a bowling wrist support unless you feel it will really be of help. If so, be careful about becoming a slave to this particular piece of equipment, using it past the point where it is really needed. When you enter the ranks of the top bowlers, you want to be able to know to whether you really need such an aid or not, and if so, fine.