QuestionHi Gary, I have been bowling seriously for about 2 months after i got my own ball. When i first started my wrist broke alot and i played 50-60 games per/week. It would hurt alot but it was fun. for the past month i slowed down to 25-30 games a week just to rest my hand and wrist. This last month is also how i learned to cup the ball on my backswing. Today however, out of no where when i started my back swing my forearm popped and just felt like funny bone stun feeling. i tried it a few more times and it popped each time. it doesnt hurt but annoys enough to mess up my throw. My last few games i played today i wasnt confident in my normal swing so i adjusted my throw by letting my wrist break during my backswing then just before i reach my backswing height i cup the ball and proceed to my downswing. any help is appreciated :)
Answer
www.TrueBowlerAdjustme
Hi Alexi, very sorry to hear you have an injury of this nature. In my time I often see this when a bowler that has a ball that is too heavy, and the span is too long. These are both deadly combinations. Countless times I have seen very viable bowling games go south. My medical doctors often say that the body will only take so much. I don't have a quick fix remedy. Athletes come to me after the injury, not before. Sometimes it's a broken bone or a pulled muscle from another activity. Bowling with a 13 to 16 pound ball will bring any injury to light for sure.
As always, we athletes have to stop injuring, the injury! Most of the time it takes anywhere from 3 to 4 months for a injury like this to heal enough where you can get back into competition status. Seeing your doctor is the first thing to do.
After several weeks or months of rest and no bowling, doctors may allow you to return to bowling. Most bowlers with forearm injuries will wear a compression band to help limit the amount of motion the arm is making during the swing. Obviously, muscling the ball is a definite no, no!
In summary Alexi, see your doctor.(you knew that was coming.) After you have completed your recovery process, seek coaching to identify ways to prevent re-injury to your forearm. During this evaluation your bowling ball span, and weight of the ball should be closely scrutinized by you, your coach or pro shop professional. In extreme cases the back swing can be severely shortened to the point the elbow goes into a 90 degree bend where the elbow goes vertical up behind the bowler to prevent pain, instead of the pendulum swing coaches are accustom to seeing. Please try not to do your recovery alone. My sincerest best wishes to you Alexi.
Coach Gary
Las Vegas, NV.
www.TrueBowlerAdjustments.com (It's A Great Book!)
