Wrist Supports and Braces for Older Bowlers: Mongoose, Robby Strap, and Soft Wrist Wraps

A bowling wrist support is a small piece of equipment that wraps around the bowling hand and forearm to stabilize the wrist through the release. For an older bowler with a weak wrist, arthritis, or carpal tunnel, a wrist support is often the single most score-improving piece of equipment after the ball itself. A stable wrist produces a consistent release. A consistent release produces consistent ball motion. Consistent ball motion produces a steady average. Many senior bowlers report a 10 to 15 pin average increase in the first month of wearing a wrist support, and a sharp reduction in wrist soreness the day after league play.

The two main types of wrist supports are positioners and soft wraps. A positioner is a hard plastic device with metal stays that locks the wrist into a slightly cupped position. The Mongoose is the most popular positioner brand in senior bowling and comes in two main models: the Mongoose Lifter, which provides moderate support and is good for a bowler with mild wrist weakness, and the Mongoose Tour, which provides maximum support and is recommended for severe arthritis or post-surgery use. Mongoose products are made in the United States, retail for 60 to 90 dollars at most pro shops, and last for many years of weekly use.

The Robby Strap is a different design. The Robby Revs and Robby Cool Max are open-back wrist supports that allow more wrist movement than the Mongoose but still add stability. The Robby is preferred by bowlers who want some wrist action in the release but need protection from the full weight of the ball. Robby products retail for 30 to 50 dollars and are sold at most pro shops. The Robby is lighter than the Mongoose and often more comfortable for a long league session.

Soft wrist wraps are the third option. A standard drugstore wrist brace, the kind sold for typing pain or sprains, costs 10 to 20 dollars and works adequately for a bowler with very mild wrist weakness. The drugstore brace does not provide as much support as a bowling-specific brace. But it is much cheaper to try first. For a senior who is unsure whether a wrist support will help, the drugstore brace is a low-cost way to test the concept before spending more on a Mongoose or Robby. Source pages include bowl.com on equipment, mongoosebowling.com, robbysbowling.com, and the USBC Equipment Specifications page at bowl.com/rules.