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Bowling Gloves and Wrist Supports
Grip gloves, wrist positioners and wrist braces explained, how to size and choose one, and what PBA allows on tour
A grip glove, a wrist positioner glove and a wrist brace or support do three different jobs, not one: a grip glove adds a textured palm for extra contact with the ball, a positioner glove locks and cups your wrist through the release for a repeatable shot and more rev, and a brace or support stabilizes the wrist, cutting down on fatigue and strain over a long block. Many of our listings are actually both at once, a glove-style hand piece built onto a wrist-stabilizing band, so check a listing’s own description for what it actually does. Browse the full gloves and wrist supports selection, or jump to choosing one, sizing and hand, or the PBA rule on rigid wrist supports below.
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Gloves and wrist supports: what each one controls
| Type | What it controls | Typical user |
|---|---|---|
| Grip glove | Adds a textured palm for extra contact with the ball, so your hand stays in the same spot shot after shot. | Bowlers who want a more consistent grip through a long block, especially as the hand sweats. |
| Wrist positioner glove | Holds the wrist firm and cupped through the release so the ball comes off your hand the same way every shot. Keeping the wrist from breaking back can also add rev and hook. | Bowlers working on a repeatable release point or adding rev; most positioners are adjustable, so the hold can start light and firm up. |
| Wrist brace or support | Stabilizes the wrist, cutting down on the fatigue and strain that build up over a long session. | Bowlers managing wrist fatigue or minor strain who want the wrist stabilized. |
A wrist liner (soft cotton, worn underneath) and a wrist wrap (lighter support, sometimes with a magnetic band) are smaller accessories worn alongside these three, not a fourth type of their own.
A number of our own listings combine two of these in one piece, a glove-style hand section built onto a wrist-stabilizing band, titled things like “Bowling Glove Wrist Support.” The name on the box matters less than the Type line in the listing’s own description: that is what tells you whether the wrist is left free, cupped, or stabilized.
Best-selling bowling gloves
Ranked by what BowlersMart customers bought in the last 30 days. Prices and stock are updated nightly.
Choosing one, by what you want to fix
- Want a better grip, not a different wrist feelA grip glove. It adds a textured palm for extra contact with the ball.
- Want a more repeatable release and more revA wrist positioner glove. It cups and firms up the wrist through the release so the ball comes off your hand the same way every shot.
- Managing fatigue or mild strain over a long blockA wrist brace or support. It stabilizes the wrist and helps cut down on the fatigue and strain that build up over a long session.
- Want extra comfort under a supportA wrist liner. Soft cotton worn underneath a brace or positioner to absorb sweat, add comfort, and extend the life of the support.
- Want light support without any rigidityA wrist wrap. A lighter alternative to a rigid support, sometimes built with a magnetic band, for warmth and light support rather than a firm hold.
Several of our own positioner listings suggest starting the adjustment light and firming it up as you get used to the locked wrist position.
Best-selling wrist supports
Ranked by what BowlersMart customers bought in the last 30 days. Prices and stock are updated nightly.
Sizing and right or left hand
Gloves, positioners and most wrist supports in this category are sold by size and by hand, the same way a bowling shoe is. Check both before you order.
- Sizes run Small to XXL, plus combined sizesThe KR Strikeforce Pro Force Positioner Bowling Glove runs Small through XXL. The Storm Power Glove and Storm Power Glove Plus run Small through XL. The Storm C4 Bowling Glove and the Storm C1 Wrist Support are sold in combined sizes, LG/XL or SM/MD, rather than the full Small-through-XL run. Check the specific listing’s size chart rather than assuming one brand’s Medium matches another’s.
- Most are sold per hand, Left or RightGloves and positioners are built around which hand delivers the ball, so the listing’s Glove Hand option is not a preference, it is the fit. Order the hand you actually bowl with.
- Some wrist supports are sold UniversalThe Storm Neoprene Universal Regular Wrist Support stabilizes the wrist rather than wrapping the fingers, so it is built to fit either hand. The listing will say Universal rather than Left or Right if that is the case.
- Most also close with adjustable VelcroThe Storm C4 Bowling Glove, the KR Strikeforce Pro Rev 2 Bowling Glove Wrist Support and the Robbys Rev 3 Bowling Glove Wrist Support all list a size (or a combined size like LG/XL) AND an adjustable Velcro closure. The strap fine-tunes the fit within the size you ordered; it does not replace choosing the right size and hand.
Kinesiology tape for the wrist
Kinesiology tape is a skin-adhesive tape some bowlers use on the wrist for support and comfort. Most packages come with their own instructions for cutting and applying it to the area of discomfort, so follow what is printed on yours.
- Apply it well before you bowlAbout 45 minutes ahead of play gives the adhesive time to set and adhere to your skin, so the tape is less likely to peel or roll up once you start your approach.
- It is not a fix for ongoing painIf wrist discomfort keeps coming back, that is worth checking with a doctor and getting your fit looked at, rather than taping over it every session.
- Every bowler’s comfort and range of motion differsSo get used to applying it before league or tournament night, not for the first time right before you bowl.
In PBA competition, only kinesiology tape from a PBA product-registered company is allowed. This PBA rule does not change USBC league play.
PBA rule: rigid wrist supports on tour
Neither USBC’s current playing rules nor its equipment specifications mention gloves or wrist supports. That is a gap in what USBC’s equipment rules cover, not a statement that every wrist support is cleared for every competition; check with your own league or tournament if you are unsure of a local rule.
- PBA National TourPBA Rule 9.2.5, “Use of Wrist Supports”: “Use of Wrist Supports, with any type of restrictive material such as a steel or plastic supportive brace that holds the wrist in a relatively neutral position, basically immobilizing the joint completely, are not allowed for use in PBA National Tour competition. Tape, gloves, and other supportive wristbands without these restrictive qualities of supportive steel, plastic or similar will be allowed.”
- Regional, PBA50, PBA Jr. and PBA LBC events are not affectedThe rule applies to the PBA National Tour only. Wrist supports of any kind stay allowed in Regional, PBA50 and PBA Jr. competition and in PBA LBC leagues and tournaments.
- Mixed-tour team events keep each player’s own ruleIn PBA Tour doubles or team events held with PBA50 or PWBA players, those PBA50 and PWBA players are still allowed to use wrist supports.
- Kinesiology tape must be product registeredIn any PBA competition, only kinesiology tape from a PBA product-registered company is allowed. This does not change USBC league play.
A positioner glove is not automatically exempt. Rule 9.2.5’s allowance covers tape, gloves and wristbands “without these restrictive qualities of supportive steel, plastic or similar.” A positioner glove built with a rigid or supportive back could still fall under the restriction depending on its construction. PBA National Tour players should check the specific product with PBA rather than assume any product labeled a glove is automatically cleared.
Questions bowlers ask
What does a bowling wrist brace do?
It stabilizes the wrist, cutting down on the fatigue and strain that build up over a long block. Many of our best-selling supports, like the KR Strikeforce Pro Rev 2 and the Robbys Rev 3, come in sizes (Small through XL) and also close with adjustable Velcro.
What is a bowling glove for?
A grip glove adds a textured palm for extra contact with the ball, so your hand stays in the same spot shot after shot. A positioner glove or a wrist support is a separate kind of product, built to hold or stabilize the wrist instead.
Do I need a bowling wrist support for my right hand specifically?
If the support is a glove-style piece or a positioner, yes: those are sold by hand, Left or Right, built around which hand delivers the ball. Some wrist-wrap style supports, like the Storm Neoprene Universal Regular Wrist Support, are sold Universal and fit either hand; the listing will say which.
Can I get a bowling glove with a wrist support built in?
Yes. Many of our own listings combine a glove-style hand piece with a wrist-stabilizing band in one product, often titled something like “Bowling Glove Wrist Support.” Check the listing’s own Type description for what it actually does.
What’s the difference between a wrist positioner and a wrist brace or support?
A positioner locks the wrist firm and cupped through the release, aiming for a repeatable release point and more rev. A brace or support stabilizes the wrist, cutting down on fatigue over a long session.
What sizes do bowling gloves and wrist supports come in?
Most run Small through XL or XXL; some Storm models, like the C4 Bowling Glove and the C1 Wrist Support, are sold in combined sizes, SM/MD or LG/XL. Many also close with adjustable Velcro, which fine-tunes the fit within your size rather than replacing it. Check the specific listing’s size chart before ordering.
What is kinesiology tape used for on the wrist?
Some bowlers use it directly on the skin for support and comfort. Apply it about 45 minutes before you bowl so the adhesive has time to set and adhere, follow the instructions that come with your package, and see a doctor if wrist pain keeps coming back rather than taping over it every session.
Are rigid wrist braces allowed in bowling competition?
It depends which tour. USBC’s 2026-27 playing rules and equipment manual do not restrict gloves or wrist supports. PBA Rule 9.2.5 bans wrist supports with rigid or restrictive material, like a steel or plastic brace that holds the wrist near neutral, on the PBA National Tour only; tape, gloves and other wristbands without that rigid bracing stay allowed there too, but a positioner or support with a rigid or supportive back could still fall under the restriction, so check the specific product with PBA. In any PBA competition, only kinesiology tape from a PBA product-registered company is allowed. This does not change USBC league play. The wrist-support rule does not reach PBA Regional, PBA50, PBA Jr. or PBA LBC events.
Sources and method
PBA Official Membership Guide & Rule Book, 2026 edition, Rev. 6/9/2026. Rules 9.2.5, 9.2.6 and 9.4 cover wrist supports and product registration for kinesiology tape: https://www.pba.com/sites/pba/files/2026-06/PBA%20RULE%20BOOK%202026_Final_6-9-26.pdf.
USBC Playing Rulebook and Equipment Specifications Manual. Neither the current 2026-27 Playing Rulebook nor the Equipment Specifications and Certifications Manual mentions gloves or wrist supports.
Our product pages. The types, sizes, hand options and closures shown for the gloves, positioners, wrist supports, liners and wraps on this page come from our own current product pages.
Kinesiology tape guidance. The application timing and the caution against taping over ongoing wrist pain are BowlersMart’s own guidance.
Products shown. The product rows show what bowlers have bought most from us in the last 30 days, with current prices and stock, refreshed nightly.
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