Elbow Pain

[bluerrpilot]

I had to stop bowling in mid 2002 due to an injury and started backup last year. Although my span has not changed during that time, I’m starting to feel pain on my elbow. Both inside and outside, but more so on the outside. I guess it’s similar to tennis elbow. I have been wearing one of those straps around my forearm but it hasn’t helped much. I am wondering if I should shorten up my span a bit. I’m thinking if I relax the span some, that it would take tension off the elbow. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Sin City Hammer]

I had to stop bowling in mid 2002 due to an injury and started backup last year. Although my span has not changed during that time, I’m starting to feel pain on my elbow. Both inside and outside, but more so on the outside. I guess it’s similar to tennis elbow. I have been wearing one of those straps around my forearm but it hasn’t helped much. I am wondering if I should shorten up my span a bit. I’m thinking if I relax the span some, that it would take tension off the elbow. Has anyone else experienced this?

I find the mag force 9000 elbow strap works wonders for me when I do have elbow pain, and I always keep it in my bag now for when I need it. The only other thing would be to change your delivery depending on how you bowl, I've seen crankers for instance switch to a stroker because the pain from the elbow is so bad that it makes it worse to continue cranking.

[bluerrpilot]

Unfortunately even when I do wear that strap, it doesn’t help much. Really the only thing that helps is poping Advil before bowling and the next day. I guess Im just getting old :(

I am also not a cranker.

[blistershurt]

hmmm...yeah, sounds like you should lower your span some, or drop the ring finger maybe (sarge easter grip) it sounds like the pain is coming from a tendon in your ring finger, thats why i thought to drop the ring finger some.

[5chmitty]

I havent had any experiences like that, but to me shortening the span makes sense. I got my first ball back when i was 16, and every ball since ive just had the pro shop match the span instead of measuring my hand up over and over again. ive grown a bit since, and using the same span in the grip, it has become more relaxed, and I really like it. when i first started bowling I had a sore wrist the next day or 2 after bowling, and i think its from the stress of the span. i never saw a doctor or anything about it so i didnt do anything medical to get rid of the soreness, so in my opinion a relaxed span has helped me out. you might feel like you have to squeeze to hang on, but I know i dont and have no problems at all. I know I dont have as much experience as knowledge as some of you other guys since ive ony been bowling not even 2 years, but to me it just makes sense

[Rowdy]

Elbow pain can come from two different things. One would be tension in the hand,from a really long span. I mean hanging on with the last quarter inch of your fingers or squeezing the ball too tight. The other would come from trying to unnaturally throw the ball,like putting a twisting motion on the ball with your arm instead of your hand and fingers. Or having an elbow bend in your swing,your arm should be straight after the pushaway on thru the release. And before you start with the hate mail,yes I know that there have been pro's with a bent elbow like Don Carter. But they were used to it and most had arm problems later in their careers. If your arm or hand is tight or tense during the swing,that's most likely the problem. Eliminate that and the elbow pain should go away with some meds and rest.

[Young300]

Unfortunately even when I do wear that strap, it doesn’t help much. Really the only thing that helps is poping Advil before bowling and the next day. I guess Im just getting old :(

I am also not a cranker.

Mmmmmmmmmm... Advil... That's always good stuff. I seem to do that as well. I get pain every once in awhile, but never excruciating pain. I do have Ibuprofen or Extra Strength Tylenol on hand at all times because of it and my knee.

[Rowdy]

Percocet 10's work MUCH better!!!:D Better bowling thru pharmacuticals!!! I love it!

[GreenRidgePro]

blue,you stated that you gave up bowling in 2002,thats 5 years ago.There is a good chance that your hand has shrunk.When we bowl regularly everything that we use to bowl gets stretched,and naturally,when we quit doing it for several years,your hand,fingers,tendons,arm,wrist etc will actually shrink back to pre-stretched size.Believe it or not!

[Lightning1]

Percocet 10's work MUCH better!!!:D Better bowling thru pharmacuticals!!! I love it!

I wouldn't even be able to say my name after taking one of those...

would be sitting on one of the center chairs drooling all over myself...

[bluerrpilot]

blue,you stated that you gave up bowling in 2002,thats 5 years ago.There is a good chance that your hand has shrunk.When we bowl regularly everything that we use to bowl gets stretched,and naturally,when we quit doing it for several years,your hand,fingers,tendons,arm,wrist etc will actually shrink back to pre-stretched size.Believe it or not!

Good thought Green, but I did reslug my old stuff and made gradual size changes with the new stuff as my thumb worked up to bowling size. But the overall pitches and span did not change. I think Rowdy’s point about being stretched out and tense makes sense. Although I don’t squeeze the ball, my grip is pretty long for having a relatively short hand. I think I’m going to shorten it up a bit. It will also allow me to give up some reverse pitch and promote a cleaner release and make sure there is no squeezing going on.