Bowling Gloves [All You Need to Know]

Bowling has a wide range of tools and equipment to scale up your game. Among the essential equipment you'll find in bowling alleys are bowling gloves. The gloves provide comfort to your hands and wrists after repetitively performing the same motion. Read on to learn more about the available types of bowling gloves and how they can take your game to new heights.

Bowling gloves are primarily meant to offer support to the player. How? Bowling involves repetitively throwing a heavy weight using one side of your body, your dominant hand side. When this repetitive action is done for an extended period, it can strain the muscles around your arm, hand, wrist, knee, and ligaments, leading to injuries. Bowling gloves come in handy to brace and support your limbs, joints, and ligaments, thus saving you from bowling-related injuries. So, how do these gloves help elevate your bowling skills and keep you safe?

---

Benefits of bowling gloves

 

Bowling gloves are innovative tools with various uses for bowlers of all levels. But why should you invest in them?

1. Support

Bowling involves using your wrist and the muscles of your dominant arm. This constant use of the wrist and muscles can put you at risk of injuring that dominant hand, especially at the wrist. Thus, you should get some quality bowling gloves for support.

The gloves come in different shapes and styles to satisfy different bowlers. There are some that you can wrap around the wrist, and some can cover your wrist and go to your elbow. The support that the gloves offer helps keep your ligaments and joints safe from strain injuries when bowling.

Besides protecting you from injuries, bowling gloves will aid in healing old injuries by protecting them from further injuries. You must consider your bowling style when choosing a bowling glove for much-needed support. Additionally, a glove that might work for your friend might not work for you, it might hinder your bowling style. Thus, when choosing a bowling glove for support, go for what fits you.

2. Padding

Whenever you bowl, friction occurs between your wrist, arm, fingers, palm, and the ball. By putting on a glove, you'll create a protective padding that stops calluses and injuries from constant friction exposure. With such a protective pad, you can bowl comfortably without worrying about abrasion.

3. Grip

Particular bowling gloves are designed to improve the bowler'sbowler's grip as they approach and release the ball. A better grip signifies better ball control and less strain on your fingers, hands, and wrists, thus improving your bowling experience.

You can also use the bowling glove ball as a barrier between your hand and the ball. Otherwise, sweat from your hand can affect your gripping ability and make you throw a weak ball. This glove will absorb the sweat as you maintain a strong grip on the ball.

4. It enhances your bowling form

Releasing the ball at the right time or throwing it at the right angle might be difficult for a beginner. But with a bowling glove that shields your skin from abrasion, enhances your gripping ability, and supports your arm, wrist, and muscles, you can quickly learn bowling within a short period.

Thus, bowling gloves are not a luxury but essential bowling gear! So, which is the best bowling glove? Read on.

---

Types of Bowling Gloves

The best bowling glove is the one that perfectly fits your intended purpose. Are you looking for gloves to enhance your gripping, support, or protect you from injuries? Here are different bowling gloves for different purposes;

1. Wristers

Writers are gloves that you can wrap around your wrist. They protect your wrist from breaking when you bend it back to throw off your release. This glove also helps you locate your wrist position during a throw.

Wristers are perfect for bowlers who need help maintaining correct wrist posture when making a throw but don't want to invest in a full-on bowling glove. Bowlers who experience pains around the wrist when bowling can also use writers.

2. Basic Bowling Gloves

These are ordinary bowling gloves that you'll find in most bowling rooms. They have a brace that extends beyond the wrist to offer little support. Additionally, they have finger sleeves for pinky fingers and aid in pointing.

With the basic bowling glove, your thumb, ring, and middle fingers are left open to control the hook of your ball. The basic or ordinary bowling gloves have several uses;

• Offers support
• Enhances your grip on the ball
• Providing padding
• Absorbing sweat.

3. Tacky Gloves

It is the best bowling glove for bowlers with sweaty hands. They resemble ordinary bowling gloves, but they are made from a special material for collecting sweat and increasing the grip on the ball.

4. Metal Plates/Bars

This variety resembles the basic bowling gloves, but this one comes with a metal plate or bar inserted in them to offer more support and stop your wrist from breaking. Metal plates/bar gloves are the best choices for people with weakened or injured wrists/joints.

5. Metal Brace

The metal brace doesn'tdoesn't look like a glove but a metal tube. Even though the metal brace variety is comfy from the inside, it's designed to keep your wrist locked in a determined position. Most bowlers use metal brace gloves to support their joints, while others use them to help lock their wrists as they learn other releases.

6. SteelFingers Bowling Glove

This unique bowling glove is ideal for people who have arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and other similar ailments. In general, it serves to support the middle and ring fingers. Steel fingers bowling glove is an excellent choice for bowlers looking for bowling gloves for arthritis.

---

How to Choose Bowling Gloves 

When it comes to choosing the right bowling gloves, you need to consider several factors. Here are some of the things to consider:

• Gloves grip: choose bowling gloves that have a high grip ability to help with gaining control during bowling gameplay.
• Prioritize comfort: when choosing the right gloves, you need to look for those that feel comfortable and capable of supporting your wrist and fingers.
• Size: The right bowling glove should fit your hand snugly. Be sure to pick one that matches the size of your palm.
• Material of the gloves: always choose gloves made of durable, flexible, and breathable material.
• Fashion: If you love fashion, consider choosing bowling gloves that match your style.
• Breathability: If you don’t want to end up with wet hands during gameplay, go for breathable gloves. They will also allow your hands to stay cool.

---

How to Choose the Right Bowling Glove Size

The choice of the right bowling glove size is based on the size of the bowler’s wrist, fingers, palm, or forearm. Here’s a quick method to help you get your ideal glove size:

• Take a tape measure and wrap it around your dominant hand. Ensure the tape is held in between your pointer finger and thumb. When you are finished, fold a fist ensuring the tape is strapped around the knuckles.
• Check where the measuring tape begins to overlap and record the measurement in inches.
• Depending on your recorded measurement, your glove size can be classified as follows:
• 12 inches (XX large)
• 11 inches (X large)
• 10 inches (large)
• 9 inches (medium)
• 8 inches (small)
• 7 inches ( X small)

---

How to Wear Bowling Gloves

Bowling gloves usually feature open finger holes, closed finger holes, or a mixture of both, one or more straps. The procedure for wearing bowling gloves is simpler than you may know. Here are the steps:

• Pick the glove and then unfasten the strap(s). Push your hand inside and then slide your fingers inside the finger holes.
• Fasten the strap(s) to a comfortable position for both your fingers and wrist.

Pro Tip!

If you wear your bowling gloves with a positioner, make some adjustments on the device to get that snug fit that’s very comfortable.

---

Conclusion

Bowling gloves come in handy when you want to improve your bowling experience. The gloves will help support your joints, improve grip, and act as padding to safeguard your hand from abrasions. Special bowling gloves for arthritis, such as SteelFingers bowling gloves, will help bowlers suffering from arthritis alleviate the pain as they enjoy the game. The best shopping strategy for a bowling glove is to settle for the one that meets your intended purpose.