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People often find bowling as one of the most accessible and enjoyable sports due to the fact that most people are able to play a game without the need for specialist equipment or training. Those who pursue the hobby further often find themselves looking for bowling specific equipment that can help them perform better and increase their scores.
Most bowling equipments are focused on items like the bowling ball. However, we found that it is extremely important to ensure that the player’s body is supported, protected, and guided, to prevent injuries and deliver peak performance during the game. The best knee brace for bowling is a lot different than one designed for use in basketball games. Here we will discuss the differences and features you should look for in such equipment.
Table of Contents
# Best Bowling Knee Braces Comparison Chart
# Top 10 Best Knee Braces for Bowling
1. Physix Gear Knee Braces for Women & Men
To avoid bowling knee injuries, it is important to support the knees with adequate stiff material that would help prevent common injuries caused by the repeated twisting and bending forces that the knees are exposed to during each throw. We found that the Physic Gear Knee Braces work especially well as a reliable support option for regular use.
With this particular option, you will be able to enjoy a great level of support for many a variety of activities and positions. They work on both knees, no matter if you rely more on one than the other. We also found that the silicone edging improves overall comfort levels for this brace making it great for long term use.
The fabric the company used for this product stretches and allows the correct range of motion for your body. Made with stitched neoprene and nylon, the brace is breathable, but retaining the warm compressed feeling most people enjoy from using a brace.
The brace comes in a variety of sizes, this is very important as knee supports that are too small, or too large can often cause discomfort, and sometimes injury. Their different sizes cover knees of 12” to 22” in circumference, and are sleek enough that they can be worn under other clothing.
2. KARM Adjustable Knee Brace Support
The best knee brace to wear for bowling is one where there is adequate adjustments can be made for the particular positions our legs get into through each throw. If you look closely, at many points during the throw, like during the release and follow through, the knees on both sides of your body will need to bend and support your weight. Adjustability is key to making sure that the level of support remains the same across all the steps. This particular product from KARM provides stability and protection bowlers need with the adaptability that comes with adjustments.
This particular product has an open patella design, which you can clearly distinguish from the hole in the middle of the support. This specific feature can reduce the pressure on your patella. We found that the side stabilizers assisted in preventing unwanted side to side movement on the knees. Most of the contact surfaces of this knee brace are made with neoprene, meaning that it will be easy on the skin or clothing and that it will also be relatively easy to clean compared to other material. Finally, compared with other similar products, the contrasting red color is really great to look at and makes it stand out as a high-quality brace.
3. Uflex Best Knee Brace & Support
People looking for an inexpensive knee brace option may sometimes think that a low price will mean low quality. This is not the case with Uflex Athletics knee brace. You will find that this brace has the appropriate amount of support and flexibility without any drawbacks you would expect from a cheap bowling knee brace.
We looked at the features and found that the company used a simple but effective design that is simple, but able to deliver support during sporting activities like bowling. The use of these types of knee brace can help a player or athlete reach their best potential by providing consistent support that can be relied on throughout the game. It can also be used as an aid to recovery if you have suffered from a knee injury due to bowling.
Supporting the muscles, ligaments, and joints in the knee area will help reduce damage through tearing, twisting, and impact. Knee braces such as this one from Uflex also have a warming effect, that is noted by a lot of users to help in the alleviation of pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles. Finally, the simple design that can stretch multiple ways provides just the right amount of compression without restricting movement too much.
4. Mava Sports Knee Support Sleeves (Pair)
This knee support sleeve from Mava Sports performs differently from the braces we mentioned above. This specific model focuses on pain relief through compression. Bowling compression sleeves are made to fit around the joint and its supporting muscles so that the user can have targeted relief and support in a variety of situations.
This particular knee support is anatomically shaped for the knee. This means that it follows the curves and shapes of the knee area and as such makes sure that it is not too tight, or too loose-fitting.
Like any other high-quality knee support, we found that this one was not stiff, did not cause itching, and also did not slip away from its optimal position throughout the game. It provides ample support yet allows for full mobility of the joint and the wearer, which is great.
As for the material and construction, you can definitely see the advantage of the usage of light and soft material on this knee support. It is comfortable, and you can even use it for the entire day. When used during a bowling game, it is light enough that it does not distract you from your shots. The materials used also make it very easy to clean.
5. UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve Support
The UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve is a great example of finding great value options for your sporting equipment. This particular model, the single wrap version, provides all of the benefits of more expensive products, while also being quite affordable for its construction quality. With a sleek and modern design, this knee compression sleeve works excellent for bowlers and other athletes as well.
Like many other UFlex products, one of the best things we found about this knee sleeve is the availability of different sizes. Sizes are available from 14.5” to 24.5” which is a significant range. Proper sizing means proper support for all types of users. A snug but not overly tight fit on a compression sleeve produces the desired thermal effects for the support, as well as comfortable final mobility.
Knee compression sleeves differ from knee braces as they offer less stiff support especially on the sides, this might be a problem for some users but is not a big problem for bowlers. This is because the knee positions one would typically end up being in while bowling is not extremely susceptible to such movement. Also, a consideration is that compression sleeves are often used for pain relief more than they are for support.
6. POWERLIX Compression Knee Sleeve
The PowerLix knee sleeve is a great example of a casual and everyday fitness product that works as a great compression knee brace for bowling. While it is not specifically designed with bowling in mind, its capabilities are at par, or sometimes even better, than what you would find being sold as specialty bowling products.
One often overlooked feature among knee supports used in bowling is the possibility of using the brace with your regular bowling clothes, or what they would look like when worn with shorter clothes. Our experience with this knee sleeve for PowerLix shows that it is entirely possible to use a knee support in a non-conspicuous way.
The higher quality of the material and construction technique used by the company is highly evident in the knee sleeve. It can be used for long periods, even before or after the game itself, to relieve knee pain through compression. The increased temperature around the knee when using this brace can also assist in pain relief and recovery.
Finally, we also found that the smart use of silicone gel strips in this knee sleeve prevents it from moving too much. The design that features blue accents on the black material is easy on the eyes and matches the look of most sporting equipment.
7. SB SOX Compression Knee Brace
Sizing and color option availability are some of the key benefits of choosing the SB SOX compression knee brace. Selected by many as one of the best-rated bowling knee brace options for compression sleeves, SB SOX’s product has a unique visual signature that ranges from simple to eye-catching. You will find that this particular model has been made from premium materials manufactured with precision and care.
The primary design features we liked were the light and breathable fabric that also aids in removing moisture from the skin, as well as the use of silicone at key points to prevent unwanted movement. This means that the sleeve does not ride up or down the leg during use, extremely important during bowling.
There is also a lot to choose from when it comes to design and color scheme. The solid black option is available for those who prefer a more traditional style of knee braces. We found that the gray and black version looks great with a variety of different sports clothing, and blends in well to light-colored pants. Meanwhile, the charcoal and red, as well as the black and grey options make for a modern sophisticated look that matches trendy outfits.
8. RiptGear Compression Knee Sleeve
The compression knee sleeve from RiptGear is a return to a classic look and feel in a market saturated with modern options. We highly recommend it for those looking for the familiar feel of volleyball, running, football, or basketball knee supports when you are bowling. In fact, the best bowling knee brace can often be the one you are most comfortable with, as you are more likely to take time to put on a comfortable knee sleeve, than a bad one.
This particular sleeve is a painless investment in reducing and managing knee pain, as it is inexpensive and effective. It has great lateral support and provides good protection during the release and follow through. It works well with both knees and we found it quite comfortable to use even though it looks thick.
The material quality is great and its grey colored design makes it a smart choice for pants, shorts, or skirts. Bowlers of all ages and sizes can enjoy good performance that is not as restrictive as hinged knee braces. We think it can help with pain and swelling and can even recommend keeping them on, outside of the lanes. There are five available sizes from 14” to 25” which means it can accommodate different types of bowlers.
9. TechWare Pro Knee Compression Sleeve
Advancements in design and material components are rare in knee supports as few companies decide to make an effort to improve their products. This is not the case with TechWare Pro’s knee compression sleeve. This knee brace features an innovative design aimed at improving the effects of a compression sleeve without reducing the mobility and comfort they are known for.
The first thing you would probably notice when you look at these knee compression sleeves would be the addition of a gel pad for the patella and stabilizer bars. The gel pad provides an additional layer of support for the patella, one of the most sensitive parts of the knee and the most commonly injured part as well. In addition to this, the side stabilizers prevent unwanted side to side movement which can be advantageous for preventing knee injuries, as well as for bowling itself which requires stability and consistency.
We found that this feature-filled sleeve has a comfortable fabric lining with silicone added for the prevention of slipping. It is offered in a variety of sizes that can ensure a good fit, crucial to the effectiveness of such knee braces. We also found that the sleeve did not limit the knee too much.
10. ProFitness Knee Sleeves
A lot of knee braces look like medical devices that don’t really match the look and feel of a bowler’s regular attire. This ProFitness product is the opposite of that as it looks professional and stylish.
Because of its design, it does not need to be worn under clothing to be concealed.
One of the most striking visual features of this particular sleeve from ProFitness is the design of the circular pattern on the front. We think it makes the sleeve look like a modern device and reduces the visual distraction other knee braces can give. The triple white lines on the sides create the visual effect that elongates the legs and makes it so the addition of the knee sleeve does not detract from the proportions of the wearer.
Other than its outstanding looks, this knee compression sleeve delivers outstanding performance at a great value. The knit fabric and ergonomic design make it comfortable to wear for long periods which aids healing and injury prevention. Like other compression sleeves, it does deliver pain management benefits to the user by keeping the area warm, reducing swelling, improving blood flow. Many bowlers who use this during the game also use it for other sports and activities.
# Things to Consider Before Buying Knee Braces for Bowling
Bowlers often have different reasons on why they start looking for a knee brace. Sometimes its injury or pain in the knee, other times it is to help in stabilizing performance. Knowing your own motivation for buying is the first good step to take. Here are some general tips on looking for a knee brace that matches your requirements.
# Check on how much support you really want or need.
Different types of knee braces offer different levels of stiffness, often called stability, and you’ll need to choose one for your requirements. Softer braces will allow for more freedom of movement, but that may not be always desirable. Bowlers with previous injuries or have weaker joints due to illness or age may need stiffer and more stable support.
Compression sleeves that do not come with additional stiffening features are often the softest ones allowing for the best freedom of movement while still providing some support. The amount of support they provide may not be enough if you want to limit lateral or side to side movement, so looking for knee compression sleeves with side braces might be your best bet for this.
Knee braces often provide more stable support to the knee. These kinds of products are highly adjustable most of the time so read the included documentation on how to strap them to your knee for maximum performance. These types of knee support often have different amounts of stiffeners and braces around the angle of the knee, check for the correct amount of stiffening as having too much on your throwing side may prevent you from bending the knee to the correct point when bowling.
Finally, you should check on the brace or support and check for the protection of the patella. As you would know, this part of the knee gets injured often and too much, or too little pressure on it can reduce the effectiveness of the support and even cause pain. Patella holes, pads, or the lack of them should be noted when choosing a brace or sleeve. We highly recommend checking with a professional to see what kind of patella support your knees would need.
# Final Thoughts
Knee braces and supports for bowling are critical to reducing the risk of pain and injury in the sport. The best knee brace for bowling will always be the one that matches the individual needs of the bowler and his physical condition. Your efforts to match these products to your needs is key for peak performance and compatibility.
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Last update on 2024-07-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
