How can I stop my hand from hurting when bowling?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 10, 2026
However, bowlers can suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, as well. If you feel numbness or tingling in your forearm and hand, it's likely that a nerve in your wrist is compressed. Icing and resting the afflicted hand and arm is vital for relief.
Why does bowling make my hand hurt?
Bowlers often have to throw a 16-pound ball using different spinning techniques that put unbalanced forces on the hand and wrist. Bowling too many times and too rapidly can magnify the occurrence of wrist tendonitis.
What helps with hand pain after bowling?
How do you treat trigger finger?
- Rest: Put bowling on hold for a while.
- Therapy: Exercises can help improve your finger strength. ...
- Surgery: If all else fails, a hand surgeon can perform a “trigger finger release.” The surgery will allow your finger to move more freely.
How do you bowl without hurting your fingers?
You may have to wedge a handkerchief down into the hole if your hand is puffed up more than usual and plunge your fingers or thumb into the hole repeatedly to compress your skin and get your gripping fingers reduced in size to fit properly and easily into your bowling ball.
How do you treat bowlers thumb?
Treatment of bowler's thumb is usually conservative. Nonoperative interventions such as avoidance of bowling, beveled holes in the bowling ball, more distant placement of the ball thumbhole (so that only the distal phalanx can enter the ball), and thumb guards have been used with success.
15 related questions foundHow long does it take for bowlers thumb to heal?
Similarly, for those who fail conservative treatment, as in our patient, surgery may be required to alleviate symptoms. Most patients who undergo surgical intervention for bowler's thumb are able to return to the sport within 2 years (50%–100% success rate).
Why does my thumb hurt when bowling?
Bowler's thumb refers to a rare, traumatic neuropathic condition involving the ulnar digital nerve of the thumb. The condition becomes symptomatic as the thumb undergoes chronic frictional irritation. It is induced when an avid bowler repeatedly compress the ulnar digital nerve by the thumbhole of a bowling ball.
How do you strengthen your fingers for bowling?
Start by holding the softball (or any other small object) in your hand and squeeze your fingertips to grip the ball while leaving your thumb free. Next, rotate your thumb. This grip strength training will improve your range of motion and build strength in your fingers, thumb, and wrist.
How do you treat finger bowling?
It can be relieved through resting the affected hand and taking analgesic medications such as aspirin. It is recommended that individuals with Bowler's thumb stop exerting excessive pressure on the ulnar digital nerve and discontinue any physical activity that can incite damage on the affected nerve.
How do you bowl without getting blisters?
If you don't have your own ball:
- Bowl without your thumb (with either one or two hands). ...
- Get some tape for your thumb, bowling tape preferably because those are designed to not create friction on your release.
- New-skin or skin patch on the affected areas. ...
- Get your own ball!
Does a wrist brace help bowling?
A wrist brace helps to make our wrist straight and prevents the back of your hand from tilting while throwing a bowling ball. This lesser wrist movement helps to control the connection of your thumb which ultimately helps in the spinning of the bowl. They basically help in a better release and positioning your hands.
Why does bowling hurt my wrist?
While it's not as common as shoulder tendonitis, bowlers can suffer from wrist tendonitis. This typically occurs from the swinging and twisting motion of the wrist, which can cause sprains and inflammation in the wrist tendons.
How do you bowl correctly?
First: Straighten your hand and wrist. Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you're bowling. Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle. Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.
How do I stop my finger from throbbing?
Immediate First Aid
- Ice it. An ice pack can quickly reduce pain and swelling. ...
- Elevate it. Raising the injured finger above the heart slows the blood flow and reduces the throbbing. ...
- Use it. If possible, keep using the finger to promote circulation. ...
- Take a pain reliever.
How do I stop my finger nail from throbbing?
Pain Management
- Apply ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours on the first day, then 3 to 4 times a day after that.
- To reduce the throbbing, keep your hand or foot above the level of your heart.
What stretches to do before bowling?
Jumping jacks, squats, lunges, arm and leg swings – These are some great warm-ups to start off with in order to get your heart pumping. Do jumping jacks, run in place, lunge back and forth from your seat to the wall. Swing your arms to warm up that movement before you do it in game with a bowling ball.
How do you strengthen weak fingers?
Grip Strengthener
- Hold a soft ball in your palm and squeeze it as hard as you can.
- Hold for a few seconds and release.
- Repeat 10 to 15 times on each hand. Do this exercise two to three times a week, but rest your hands for 48 hours in between sessions. Don't do this exercise if your thumb joint is damaged.
What muscles do you use while bowling?
Bowling involves all the major muscle groups including the lower back, quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus (buttocks), deltoid and the rotator cuff complex. Of particular interest are the muscles of the upper extremity that affect grip and finger strength (biceps, forearm, wrist, fingers and thumb).
Do Pro Bowlers use their thumb?
No. If a bowler doesn't use their thumb during a delivery, they can either have a thumb hole or a balance hole but not both. If the ball has a thumb hole but the bowler doesn't use it, then as long as it meets static balance requirements, the ball is allowed.
Can bowling cause carpal tunnel?
You may be surprised to see carpal tunnel syndrome on the list of possible bowling injuries. Most people associate this painful occurrence with computer users and mechanics. However, bowlers can suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, as well.
How far should fingers go in bowling ball?
First, check the size of the holes. When you place your fingers in the ball, they should slide comfortably to the first crease down from the fingertips for a standard “fingertip” grip. If you're jamming the fingers in because they're too tight, change the inserts or have the holes opened slightly.
How do I stop my thumb from swelling when bowling?
Wrap a tissue or handkerchief around your thumb, insert your wrapped thumb into the thumb hole, this is to force fluid out of your thumb. Work the thumb in and out and in and out. The effects can last just long enough to make a shot. The fluid WILLINGNESS return shortly.
How do you hold a bowling ball?
First, put your thumb all the way into the thumb hole as you did when you were selecting the ball. Now insert your middle and ring fingers into the other holes. The ball should feel secure in your hand. Of course, you'll want to cradle the ball in your free hand as you approach the lane for your throw.
Why does my thumb go numb when I bowl?
Bowler's Thumb is an overuse injury resulting from compression or repeated friction on the inside of the thumb which causes pressure on the Ulnar nerve. As the name indicates, bowling is the main cause of this injury and causes the area to feel numb and weak.