Must-Have Bowling Accessories

The sport of bowling has come a long way.  There used to be a time when all you needed was a pair of shoes and a bowling ball. 

Even these necessities have become more and more refined and there are now various different kinds of balls and shoes available for those who wish to squeeze any and every advantage from the game. 

Yet did you know that there are also other accessories that will make your game more elegant while at the same time will make you more effective at the game? 

Do not be fooled by the claims of some retailers who will promise you that the purchase of a certain gadget or brand will turn a hack bowler into one that rolls one strike after another – while accessories will not roll the strikes for you, they will go a long way to help you turn disadvantages into advantages.

Take for example the bowling gloves that are available for purchase.  You may opt for either a complete glove, or you may consider a thumb or index finger support.

Bowling gloves are becoming a definite must-have accessory in bowling, even for the regular Joe.  While professionals wouldn't dare bowl without a glove, others are finding that a bowling glove can protect their hand, as well as providing that extra grip and support. 

Bowling gloves come in a variety of colors and styles and can greatly improve your game.  Make sure you buy one that fits your hand snugly as your fingers still have to fit inside the finger holes of your ball. 

The goal of the individual finger support is to be guards for your finger against blisters while at the same time it provides a textured material that will help you improve your grip on the bowling ball.

Additionally, the gloves and individual finger supports will prevent the formation of unsightly calluses that also hurt when pressed. 

Going along with the protection of your hand and individual fingers is also the protection of your wrist.

There are several products on the market that serve to strengthen your wrists, and even if you do not feel you need any help with your wrist, you will be interested to know that some of these supports are semi-rigid so as you force your wrist into a proper position. 

If you have trouble with your ball release, or if you are trying to find out why your bowling ball is not always going just where you planned, you might want to try out these great products to see if such a wrist support will help you to knock ‘em dead!

If you are not yet ready to invest in a glove, but the holes in the ball are truly doing a number on your fingers and thumb, you may also wish to consider the finger hole inserts you are able to purchase at reputable bowling supply stores.

Inserts are placed in the finger holes of the bowling ball to improve the grip and your ability to hold the ball.  Inserts come in a variety of styles and colors and can improve your comfort level while bowling.

If you put inserts in all of your bowling balls, they will have the same feel, thus assisting you with some level of consistency when you switch between balls.  Make sure you specify the grip size to ensure that the inserts fit snugly into the holes.  This will take the edge of the grip and make release a lot easier on your fingers and thumb.

Inserts are not for everyone; some bowlers complain that they feel like their fingers sometimes hang.  If this happens, you can try a different style of insert, or simply not use them at all.

If you notice that your ball seems to be covered in dirt or somewhat sticky from oil residue, you may also wish to invest in some cleaning towels that will permit you to clean the ball in between rolls.  These towels do not harm the ball's surface, and instead permit you to remove oil residue and other materials that might otherwise hamper your rolls. 

Another obvious accessory in bowling is your bowling bag.  The bag will carry your precious ball and can say a lot about you and your bowling.  Your bag can carry your league's name or emblem, or simply display your name, but a great bag to protect your bowling ball is an accessory you can't do without.