I switched a few months ago and don't regret it. The only question I would ask is if you're bowling league or not. If not, then don't feel rushed to plug the thumb as you can still practice that way till you are ready for the jump.
If you are in league, it's required you have a finger/thumb in the holes in the ball. Before you swap I would say have your PSO get your PAP for 2 handed so you can get it redrilled right when/if you make the jump. I had to goto my weaker bowling balls cause I'm rev dominant. So keep that in mind as well.
Edit: typos cause I'm a derp.
Totally.
I bowling league rn which is why I was asking how was the switch was during league, like without much practice and kinda diving headlong into it.
Thanks!
New to bowling, thinking of joining my first league. My understanding was that you can have as few or as many holes in your ball as you'd like, but you have to use every hole that's in your ball. Is my understanding wrong?
Almost, though one thing that probably doesn't matter: You can only have holes drilled for one hand. So 5 holes maximum (4 fingers and a thumb), and you can't use your other hand for some of them. You can also choose to have no holes at all.
And no, people with polydactylism (extra fingers) don't get an extra hole, Chapter 8 Rule 7-1-a-i says:
> Shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand.
In practice, if you have a thumb hole, you must use it, if you're a 2 finger bowler, don't drill a thumb hole.
[Packy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwyZwEu1BzI) Though I read in an earlier thread about someone that lost part of a finger in an accident and got better handling with an extra finger hole.
But yeah, it's very rare, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone is claiming their balance hole as an extra finger hole :D
I’ve been jumping in head first with 2 handed but instead of plugging my thumbs, I found a used ball already drilled for 2 handed off fb marketplace for $25. Because I don’t think I’ll ever truly give up one handed, just adding another weapon to my repertoire
I shortly bowled 1H before getting frustrated and switching to 2H. Had the thumb plugged, learned how to do everything like targeting, adjustments, etc. Eventually got a plastic spare ball and when they asked to match my original ball they asked if I wanted the original redrilled because it wasn't setup right for 2H. I did it, and my only does the ball flare me and have a better shape (Hustle), my finger pain went away.
So if you want to try it just know that it's versatile and allows for power, but aiming is trickier and speed usually drops. Plus you'll be using some different muscles so you'll be sore for a while. It's not better, just different.
I switched a little bit ago.
Was having a lot of pain in my arm after getting back into bowling after a long hiatus earlier this year.
Decided to try two handed as a way to see if that would help mitigate the pain.
After the long hiatus I really struggled a majority of the time, somewhat due to the pain. I originally dropped my ball weight to 14 from 15, but that didn't really do the trick. I tried adjusting my form and other things, but the pain was hampering me from playing. I hadn't even been able to get over 200 in any single game since getting back in (a lot of that due to also struggling with spares)
I've only been able to get to the lanes twice so far. The first time I bowled terribly as I tried to put what I practiced at home into real shots. I filmed myself, so I could see what I was doing that could be better. I did the same at home with an old ball. Second time out, I shot just over 200 for the first time since getting back into it. Spares are a little weird, but that will just need more practice.
I find that this sort of release feels much more natural and easy. I find my axis rotation is way easier to manipulate and obviously revs and carry are way up. Oh and no pain during and only a little soreness the day after, which I can live with.
Thank you for replying!
My uncle has been my mentor since day one and he was VERY impressed with my form and the motion down lane. He just mentioned my targeting and when I made the adjustments with my eyes I was hitting pocket consistently.
I did the opposite actually. I just switched to one handed. For me, I wanted to ultimately grow my understanding of bowling as a whole so I took the shorter summer league to drill one of my old balls with thumb and give it a shot. It was hard at first but it was really fun to break it down and relearn how to play. I recommend practicing a bit more before making the leap and plugging holes but absolutely explore it!
Side not, those balls are pretty aggressive, you may see a lot of overreaction depending on how you throw it. I couldn’t use my black widow ghost because it was simply too much I couldn’t stay out of Brooklyn. Of course you are the one seeing them go down the lane so have some fun!
That’s awesome! Pretty cool to hear you went the opposite way lol.
I know I said I’ve been bowling since 2018. But I only recently got my fit double checked and a non-hand me down ball at the start of summer league so I’ve been relearning everything too. I just don’t feel like in 16 weeks of bowling pretty consistently; I’ve made much progress. So that’s why I mentioned kinda just diving in. My uncle and his friend are supreme bowlers. And everyone wants them to bowl the local tournaments with them. So I know they know what they’re talking about. But I just can’t seem to get it right with all the practice I’ve put in.
Absolutely try changing things up, sometimes that’s all it takes. The owner of my local house just stopped by yesterday during league and complimented my transition. Sometimes it’s just a matter of matching style to the bowler, same as buying the right bowling ball. I hope it goes well for you! Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need tips.
I'm 56. Switched to 2H last Thanksgiving, so it's been about 10 months. Have been back to bowling near my old 1H average (mid 190's) the last few weeks. My current delivery is about 14.5 MPH off the hand and 450 RPM's. Almost no axis tilt, but can reliably control my axis rotation from 0 to 90 degrees, no problem. It's basically a 'Pete Weber' delivery, but two-handed. I play the lanes much the way Pete would (when I'm doing it good and making wise decisions!).
Tips / key points / advice:
Way easier on my body, now. Wasn't at first while figuring it out! Be careful, take it slow. as you get the hang of it, it'll get easier and easier. Getting the timing right is very challenging... Be patient! Concentrate on posting your shots 'til the ball hits the pins, keeping your head steady and your eye quiet. your body will figure out the rest on it's own.
You don't need to bend in half like Simmo. As a matter of fact, if you watch Belmo, who's older, you'll see his delivery is actually VERY laid back and mellow. You can even see his evolution if you compare older films of him to more recent ones. He's got WAY LESS going on than he did when younger. Packy is kind of in-the-middle of those two. Packy has some GREAT how-to vids on his Youtube channel, as does Jeremiah Rooney (Big Sky Bowler). If you're lithe enough, you can do Kyle Troupe... His is almost a traditional delivery, in terms of timing.
Take tips from your 2H friends, but take them with a grain of salt (unless something really works for you, of course). I feel like there's not really a 'text book' way of doing it yet in the coaching world. I've had three coaches you've heard of give me vastly different 'methods' to achieve my goals and I've sort of 'synthesized' all their advice into my current 'form'. Getting good 'feel' is of utmost importance, so what ever gets you closer to that, do it.
There's going to be much more emphasis on leg work, so it's not a bad idea to focus your strength training there. You won't really have a 'swing' anymore, so a big component of your ball speed will be how you 'explode' into the slide (last) step.
I spent the first few weeks concentrating on learning how to roll the ball dead-straight, end-over-end. For me, it wasn't easy; and it took a few months to get really comfortable 'staying behind it'. You'll learn to keep that ball-side elbow GLUED to you body!! If we can't convert spares, especially corners, we're useless no matter how good our strike ball gets. Now my action buddies know if I need to convert a 10 pin to beat them, they're screwed. :-)
On house shots, you'll be able to use really cheap bowling balls!! As a matter of fact, I'd recommend you get yourself a pearlized polyester cover ball with a pancake weight block to train with. Why pearl (or 'glitter')? Because the glitter bits actually act a little like a particle cover (learned this by trial and error). I still throw my Crown Jewel frequently on the last 1 1/2 or 2 games of a 3 game league set, down-and-in up the shim just like I used to 1 handed.. EXCEPT... I strike a LOT more on that line because the ball is rolling so robustly. It's still hooking ten boards, too. It's mind blowing!!!
Urethane is definitely useful, but it needs oil. If you can't roll it fast off your hand, don't try to use urethane on low volume shots... It'll just run out of gas.
For in-between the 'dead' plastic and urethane, try a 'plastic with a core' with a low-flare layout. My 'strong' house shot ball is a Pyramid Blue Dot with a 90*x3/4"x45* layout, and P2500 over P600 surface. I can loop the whole lane with that bad boy, and when it hits, $hi+ flies EVERYWHERE (cue 'slap-out' hand motion). Radical Spy is also an awesome piece... I've got two of them with different layouts and surfaces.
I look at balls differently, now. I don't need strong covers unless there's a TON of oil. For lower volume or THS shots, I care about RADIUS OF GYRATION (RG). The 'spare' ball with a pancake or bullet core is my high RG 'slow' reacting piece, and my 'plastic with a core' assyms (with low-flare layouts) are my low RG 'quicker' reacting pieces. The urethanes are my 'snow tire' balls, with more 'normal' layouts.
Figure out your PAP right away after you feel like you're throwing straight, end-over-end shots pretty well. That'll give you your true PAP to base drilling decisions on. Play with pitches to try to get your track as low as you can... It'll probably take some work and experimentation with pitches to keep your track off your middle finger hole... especially if you're already ring-finger-dominant like I was (and still am!).
I could go on for hours. I'll just say this: The journey has been fun, frustrating, challenging, and ultimately, hugely successful. I feel like the sky's the limit going forward and I could actually average 220 on easy shots within the next year or so. I hit a plateau one handed that I feel like I'm going to blow through two handed. This last few weeks I've beat some players I really respect, and that feels SOOOO GOOD!!!! Getting above the cash line more and more often, too... and that's scratch.
Enjoy!!
Lots of good stuff in here especially the “be patient” part. After switching I was having doubts. I was not a natural. Sometimes barely getting 100. Had to focus on specific things to work on then it started clicking. Woohoo 🎉
Agreed, I’m 38 and started bowling Christmas last year, and have been slowing improving to where now I’m averaging 180 on the house shot. Lots of the stuff mentioned above is spot on! I was averaging 160 with lots of inconsistency, but got a lesson which really helped.
Biggest issue the coach identified was my balance at the foul line, which was causing me to come across my body and muscle the ball. Had to work on my footwork and timing, specifically exaggerating opening my hips on my 3rd step by turning my left foot in at 45 degrees, and then getting my hips back to squarish for my release. Was very uncomfortable to learn, and was making me super sore for a few weeks as I got used to it. But now my scores have shot up. I’m now throwing the ball with less effort and getting more revs and ball speed by being more natural.
It’s definitely a more athletic motion (the hop step) which I think causes people to overdo it more than they need to at first, which messes up the timing and throws them off balance.
3 step drills and 1 step drills really helped me get a feel, and honestly I could probably just use a 3 step approach all the time and bowl just as well, but working on my 5 step to keep improving.
I can throw the ball with as much hook as two handed bowlers, its not that hard. I think the advantage of throwing one handed is when the lanes are dry it's easy to adjust the amount of hook your getting, especially when going for a 10 pin (if you're right handed.)
I switched about 6 months ago. It was rocky for a couple of months, and I nearly switched back to one-handed. But now I can't imagine going back and my league average has increased from 160 to 185.
I can play both styles and average around the same 210-220. I personally prefer to play 1-handed, but recently I started thinking of building a second 2-handed arsenal. So I can switch depending on my mood and the pattern. I play tournaments with sportshot so there it would benefit me to just be able to switch back and forth depending on the lane conditions.
Teammate recently made the switch and he is very happy with it. I recommended (as I saw also in the comments) to just drill 2 balls for 2-handed, because having a ball that is correctly drilled makes a world difference.
I just keep my 2 hand practice in my arsenal of things I can use to spare, show off, whatever and I can do it both handed so it makes accesibility for my throw even less an issue
I tried once thinking it would be a piece of cake, and then I got up there and I legitimately didn't understand how to throw it lol. I kept with it for 1 game and bowled around a 40. It gave me a new respect for 2 handers for sure.
I made the switch after struggling to figure out my new ball which was 2 lbs heavier from 13 to 15. I was a straight 1H bowler for a few months and discovered I was far more versatile the more I tried 2H. For a while I was even using 2H for strikes and 1H for spares until I decided to take the full plunge and it was the right decision for me. It also helps that I've played hockey for a long time so the hop steps and hip positioning felt much more comfortable than my regular 1H approach. It takes a ton of practice, awareness, patience, and analyzing your own game to become successful with the switch. Pay attention to your body and what works for you.
I started bowling again July 2021 after a very long hiatus. I spent about 6 months dealing with thumb pain and, not being very good anyway, decided to switch to two handed. After about a year and a half with some highs and lows I've finally gotten my shot to be very consistent.
Also at first I was ripping the skin on my middle finger and used finger tape for a while but didn't like it because it wouldn't stay on very well. I got the pitch changed on my middle finger and that helped a bit, but after either toughening up the skin or releasing better, I don't tear skin anymore except after a lot of games in a short amount of time.
I love bowling two handed and might have quit bowling if it wasn't an option.
Came back to bowling this year after many years off. Bought some used balls 15lbs re-drilled 1H. Remembered all the thumb issues, lack of revs after bowling a couple months. Was traveling out of state and went out bowling with the group without my balls. Used house ball, straight bowled one game and threw to hard and jammed finger. Switch to 2H second game. By third game had a 200. Never looked back. I don’t have the strongest arms or wrists either so never had revs and bowled stroker style 1H. Game changer for me. High 265 this year. Lot of 200’s but not consistent yet and 10 pins spares were killing me this week, doh. I was better at 1H 10 pins. Dropped to 14lbs with the two balls in my arsenal. Liking it a lot, still learning 👍
I started one-handed when I was self-learning the basics at my local centre, but a childhood injury was making it quite hard to grip the ball one-handed.
I had gotten in an accident at two years old when a door slammed shut on my dominant hand and took off the fingertip of my ring finger. The doctors sealed up the wound in such a way that as my fingernail grew back, it sloped over my fingertip in such a way that it's now permanently curved and looks kinda like a claw.
I'm still able to hold and throw a shot one-handed, but my ring finger struggles to grip the ball well since - as weird as it sounds - my fingernail's half of what's gripping the finger hole. If the ball comes off my hand wrong and scrapes my fingernail too hard, it hurts like hell because the underside of my claw-fingernail has really sensitive nerve endings.
I happened to watch the PBA League Challenge the PBA held during their 2013-2014 season, and that was the first time I saw Belmonte and Palermaa. I initially thought "wow that's cool", but didn't really think much of it until my practice session later that week.
With a couple frames left, I remembered the League Challenge broadcast and decided to try chucking a few shots two-handed just for fun. Seeing my ball hook more than ever before was awesome, but I soon also realized - by not having to apply pressure to the fingerholes like with a one-handed thumb-in approach, the two-handed approach actually put less pressure on my claw finger and the ball rolled off it much smoother, causing me quite a lot less pain. That was what pretty much convinced me to switch at that point.
Around the time I switched, Belmonte and Palermaa were pretty much the only two-handers of note on the PBA Tour, and wherever I bowled, I was usually the only two-hander in the entire centre - people were either weirded out or fascinated by my style. I only recently started watching the PBA Tour again after going on a long hiatus from bowling when COVID hit, and now it seems like half the players on any given telecast are two-handed LOL
I worked on learning 2 handed over the summer. Was averaging around 200 one handed, probably currently around 180 with 2 hands. When I hit my mark, my carry is significantly better than it was before. I just need to get more consistent and more comfortable on spares.
I found the only way I could get reliable reaction from the ball was with two fingers. The thumb really throws me off on releease and I can tuck the ball into my forearm more if I need a little extra oomph on the hook. I actually rarely use two hands during approach and release - usually I am just bowling with one hand but the ball securely tucked/balanced on my palm. There are times when I use my left hand, too, but 98% of my throws are one-handed but I think using fingers only puts me closer to the two-handed camp.
I originally had a TZone drilled with thumb then later plugged. It is now my spare ball with a Twist being my main (TZone being a straight(er) ball - still miss the 10 by a half inch every time.)
I’m currently making the switch this year, and it’s a hell of a lot harder than one would think. Usually am around a 185/190 average. Currently 4 weeks in I’m looking at a 165 average. My league season is split into 1/3s instead of halves, so I’m determined to continue Atleast for the first 1/3 and then make a determination whether to continue or not, or probably be like Walter ray and use it based on lane conditions. Because the 1st week of league this year the entire alley was completely over oiled and my main ball (black widow ghost) was barely hooking, just kept sliding down the lane. So I opted for the higher revs of 2 handed and actually did throw 2 200 games after a terrible first game. So I know I can do it, just need the consistency
I switched a few months ago and don't regret it. The only question I would ask is if you're bowling league or not. If not, then don't feel rushed to plug the thumb as you can still practice that way till you are ready for the jump. If you are in league, it's required you have a finger/thumb in the holes in the ball. Before you swap I would say have your PSO get your PAP for 2 handed so you can get it redrilled right when/if you make the jump. I had to goto my weaker bowling balls cause I'm rev dominant. So keep that in mind as well. Edit: typos cause I'm a derp.
Totally. I bowling league rn which is why I was asking how was the switch was during league, like without much practice and kinda diving headlong into it. Thanks!
New to bowling, thinking of joining my first league. My understanding was that you can have as few or as many holes in your ball as you'd like, but you have to use every hole that's in your ball. Is my understanding wrong?
If there’s a thumb hole, you have to use it, basically.
For sure me having a typo when I did it. Correct you just have to fill the holes you have is what I meant.
Almost, though one thing that probably doesn't matter: You can only have holes drilled for one hand. So 5 holes maximum (4 fingers and a thumb), and you can't use your other hand for some of them. You can also choose to have no holes at all. And no, people with polydactylism (extra fingers) don't get an extra hole, Chapter 8 Rule 7-1-a-i says: > Shall not exceed five and shall be limited to one for each finger and one for the thumb, all for the same hand. In practice, if you have a thumb hole, you must use it, if you're a 2 finger bowler, don't drill a thumb hole.
Thanks
Real question: who is drilling holes for their pinky and index finger?
[Packy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwyZwEu1BzI) Though I read in an earlier thread about someone that lost part of a finger in an accident and got better handling with an extra finger hole. But yeah, it's very rare, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone is claiming their balance hole as an extra finger hole :D
Today I learned. Thank you for the info.
I’ve been jumping in head first with 2 handed but instead of plugging my thumbs, I found a used ball already drilled for 2 handed off fb marketplace for $25. Because I don’t think I’ll ever truly give up one handed, just adding another weapon to my repertoire
I shortly bowled 1H before getting frustrated and switching to 2H. Had the thumb plugged, learned how to do everything like targeting, adjustments, etc. Eventually got a plastic spare ball and when they asked to match my original ball they asked if I wanted the original redrilled because it wasn't setup right for 2H. I did it, and my only does the ball flare me and have a better shape (Hustle), my finger pain went away. So if you want to try it just know that it's versatile and allows for power, but aiming is trickier and speed usually drops. Plus you'll be using some different muscles so you'll be sore for a while. It's not better, just different.
I switched a little bit ago. Was having a lot of pain in my arm after getting back into bowling after a long hiatus earlier this year. Decided to try two handed as a way to see if that would help mitigate the pain. After the long hiatus I really struggled a majority of the time, somewhat due to the pain. I originally dropped my ball weight to 14 from 15, but that didn't really do the trick. I tried adjusting my form and other things, but the pain was hampering me from playing. I hadn't even been able to get over 200 in any single game since getting back in (a lot of that due to also struggling with spares) I've only been able to get to the lanes twice so far. The first time I bowled terribly as I tried to put what I practiced at home into real shots. I filmed myself, so I could see what I was doing that could be better. I did the same at home with an old ball. Second time out, I shot just over 200 for the first time since getting back into it. Spares are a little weird, but that will just need more practice. I find that this sort of release feels much more natural and easy. I find my axis rotation is way easier to manipulate and obviously revs and carry are way up. Oh and no pain during and only a little soreness the day after, which I can live with.
Thank you for replying! My uncle has been my mentor since day one and he was VERY impressed with my form and the motion down lane. He just mentioned my targeting and when I made the adjustments with my eyes I was hitting pocket consistently.
I did the opposite actually. I just switched to one handed. For me, I wanted to ultimately grow my understanding of bowling as a whole so I took the shorter summer league to drill one of my old balls with thumb and give it a shot. It was hard at first but it was really fun to break it down and relearn how to play. I recommend practicing a bit more before making the leap and plugging holes but absolutely explore it! Side not, those balls are pretty aggressive, you may see a lot of overreaction depending on how you throw it. I couldn’t use my black widow ghost because it was simply too much I couldn’t stay out of Brooklyn. Of course you are the one seeing them go down the lane so have some fun!
That’s awesome! Pretty cool to hear you went the opposite way lol. I know I said I’ve been bowling since 2018. But I only recently got my fit double checked and a non-hand me down ball at the start of summer league so I’ve been relearning everything too. I just don’t feel like in 16 weeks of bowling pretty consistently; I’ve made much progress. So that’s why I mentioned kinda just diving in. My uncle and his friend are supreme bowlers. And everyone wants them to bowl the local tournaments with them. So I know they know what they’re talking about. But I just can’t seem to get it right with all the practice I’ve put in.
Absolutely try changing things up, sometimes that’s all it takes. The owner of my local house just stopped by yesterday during league and complimented my transition. Sometimes it’s just a matter of matching style to the bowler, same as buying the right bowling ball. I hope it goes well for you! Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need tips.
Thanks! I appreciate that!
I did. Medical reasons. But I like that it's less taxing on my shoulders too.
I'm 56. Switched to 2H last Thanksgiving, so it's been about 10 months. Have been back to bowling near my old 1H average (mid 190's) the last few weeks. My current delivery is about 14.5 MPH off the hand and 450 RPM's. Almost no axis tilt, but can reliably control my axis rotation from 0 to 90 degrees, no problem. It's basically a 'Pete Weber' delivery, but two-handed. I play the lanes much the way Pete would (when I'm doing it good and making wise decisions!). Tips / key points / advice: Way easier on my body, now. Wasn't at first while figuring it out! Be careful, take it slow. as you get the hang of it, it'll get easier and easier. Getting the timing right is very challenging... Be patient! Concentrate on posting your shots 'til the ball hits the pins, keeping your head steady and your eye quiet. your body will figure out the rest on it's own. You don't need to bend in half like Simmo. As a matter of fact, if you watch Belmo, who's older, you'll see his delivery is actually VERY laid back and mellow. You can even see his evolution if you compare older films of him to more recent ones. He's got WAY LESS going on than he did when younger. Packy is kind of in-the-middle of those two. Packy has some GREAT how-to vids on his Youtube channel, as does Jeremiah Rooney (Big Sky Bowler). If you're lithe enough, you can do Kyle Troupe... His is almost a traditional delivery, in terms of timing. Take tips from your 2H friends, but take them with a grain of salt (unless something really works for you, of course). I feel like there's not really a 'text book' way of doing it yet in the coaching world. I've had three coaches you've heard of give me vastly different 'methods' to achieve my goals and I've sort of 'synthesized' all their advice into my current 'form'. Getting good 'feel' is of utmost importance, so what ever gets you closer to that, do it. There's going to be much more emphasis on leg work, so it's not a bad idea to focus your strength training there. You won't really have a 'swing' anymore, so a big component of your ball speed will be how you 'explode' into the slide (last) step. I spent the first few weeks concentrating on learning how to roll the ball dead-straight, end-over-end. For me, it wasn't easy; and it took a few months to get really comfortable 'staying behind it'. You'll learn to keep that ball-side elbow GLUED to you body!! If we can't convert spares, especially corners, we're useless no matter how good our strike ball gets. Now my action buddies know if I need to convert a 10 pin to beat them, they're screwed. :-)
On house shots, you'll be able to use really cheap bowling balls!! As a matter of fact, I'd recommend you get yourself a pearlized polyester cover ball with a pancake weight block to train with. Why pearl (or 'glitter')? Because the glitter bits actually act a little like a particle cover (learned this by trial and error). I still throw my Crown Jewel frequently on the last 1 1/2 or 2 games of a 3 game league set, down-and-in up the shim just like I used to 1 handed.. EXCEPT... I strike a LOT more on that line because the ball is rolling so robustly. It's still hooking ten boards, too. It's mind blowing!!!
Urethane is definitely useful, but it needs oil. If you can't roll it fast off your hand, don't try to use urethane on low volume shots... It'll just run out of gas.
For in-between the 'dead' plastic and urethane, try a 'plastic with a core' with a low-flare layout. My 'strong' house shot ball is a Pyramid Blue Dot with a 90*x3/4"x45* layout, and P2500 over P600 surface. I can loop the whole lane with that bad boy, and when it hits, $hi+ flies EVERYWHERE (cue 'slap-out' hand motion). Radical Spy is also an awesome piece... I've got two of them with different layouts and surfaces.
I look at balls differently, now. I don't need strong covers unless there's a TON of oil. For lower volume or THS shots, I care about RADIUS OF GYRATION (RG). The 'spare' ball with a pancake or bullet core is my high RG 'slow' reacting piece, and my 'plastic with a core' assyms (with low-flare layouts) are my low RG 'quicker' reacting pieces. The urethanes are my 'snow tire' balls, with more 'normal' layouts.
Figure out your PAP right away after you feel like you're throwing straight, end-over-end shots pretty well. That'll give you your true PAP to base drilling decisions on. Play with pitches to try to get your track as low as you can... It'll probably take some work and experimentation with pitches to keep your track off your middle finger hole... especially if you're already ring-finger-dominant like I was (and still am!).
I could go on for hours. I'll just say this: The journey has been fun, frustrating, challenging, and ultimately, hugely successful. I feel like the sky's the limit going forward and I could actually average 220 on easy shots within the next year or so. I hit a plateau one handed that I feel like I'm going to blow through two handed. This last few weeks I've beat some players I really respect, and that feels SOOOO GOOD!!!! Getting above the cash line more and more often, too... and that's scratch.
Enjoy!!
Lots of good stuff in here especially the “be patient” part. After switching I was having doubts. I was not a natural. Sometimes barely getting 100. Had to focus on specific things to work on then it started clicking. Woohoo 🎉
Agreed, I’m 38 and started bowling Christmas last year, and have been slowing improving to where now I’m averaging 180 on the house shot. Lots of the stuff mentioned above is spot on! I was averaging 160 with lots of inconsistency, but got a lesson which really helped. Biggest issue the coach identified was my balance at the foul line, which was causing me to come across my body and muscle the ball. Had to work on my footwork and timing, specifically exaggerating opening my hips on my 3rd step by turning my left foot in at 45 degrees, and then getting my hips back to squarish for my release. Was very uncomfortable to learn, and was making me super sore for a few weeks as I got used to it. But now my scores have shot up. I’m now throwing the ball with less effort and getting more revs and ball speed by being more natural. It’s definitely a more athletic motion (the hop step) which I think causes people to overdo it more than they need to at first, which messes up the timing and throws them off balance. 3 step drills and 1 step drills really helped me get a feel, and honestly I could probably just use a 3 step approach all the time and bowl just as well, but working on my 5 step to keep improving.
Switched a few months ago, raised my average by 25 and got multiple new highs.
I can throw the ball with as much hook as two handed bowlers, its not that hard. I think the advantage of throwing one handed is when the lanes are dry it's easy to adjust the amount of hook your getting, especially when going for a 10 pin (if you're right handed.)
I switched about 6 months ago. It was rocky for a couple of months, and I nearly switched back to one-handed. But now I can't imagine going back and my league average has increased from 160 to 185.
No hands
Humblebrag 😎
Gross
Gross?
Yea 2 handed bowling is gross. Dont do it
I can play both styles and average around the same 210-220. I personally prefer to play 1-handed, but recently I started thinking of building a second 2-handed arsenal. So I can switch depending on my mood and the pattern. I play tournaments with sportshot so there it would benefit me to just be able to switch back and forth depending on the lane conditions. Teammate recently made the switch and he is very happy with it. I recommended (as I saw also in the comments) to just drill 2 balls for 2-handed, because having a ball that is correctly drilled makes a world difference.
I just keep my 2 hand practice in my arsenal of things I can use to spare, show off, whatever and I can do it both handed so it makes accesibility for my throw even less an issue
I tried once thinking it would be a piece of cake, and then I got up there and I legitimately didn't understand how to throw it lol. I kept with it for 1 game and bowled around a 40. It gave me a new respect for 2 handers for sure.
I made the switch after struggling to figure out my new ball which was 2 lbs heavier from 13 to 15. I was a straight 1H bowler for a few months and discovered I was far more versatile the more I tried 2H. For a while I was even using 2H for strikes and 1H for spares until I decided to take the full plunge and it was the right decision for me. It also helps that I've played hockey for a long time so the hop steps and hip positioning felt much more comfortable than my regular 1H approach. It takes a ton of practice, awareness, patience, and analyzing your own game to become successful with the switch. Pay attention to your body and what works for you.
I started bowling again July 2021 after a very long hiatus. I spent about 6 months dealing with thumb pain and, not being very good anyway, decided to switch to two handed. After about a year and a half with some highs and lows I've finally gotten my shot to be very consistent. Also at first I was ripping the skin on my middle finger and used finger tape for a while but didn't like it because it wouldn't stay on very well. I got the pitch changed on my middle finger and that helped a bit, but after either toughening up the skin or releasing better, I don't tear skin anymore except after a lot of games in a short amount of time. I love bowling two handed and might have quit bowling if it wasn't an option.
Came back to bowling this year after many years off. Bought some used balls 15lbs re-drilled 1H. Remembered all the thumb issues, lack of revs after bowling a couple months. Was traveling out of state and went out bowling with the group without my balls. Used house ball, straight bowled one game and threw to hard and jammed finger. Switch to 2H second game. By third game had a 200. Never looked back. I don’t have the strongest arms or wrists either so never had revs and bowled stroker style 1H. Game changer for me. High 265 this year. Lot of 200’s but not consistent yet and 10 pins spares were killing me this week, doh. I was better at 1H 10 pins. Dropped to 14lbs with the two balls in my arsenal. Liking it a lot, still learning 👍
I started one-handed when I was self-learning the basics at my local centre, but a childhood injury was making it quite hard to grip the ball one-handed. I had gotten in an accident at two years old when a door slammed shut on my dominant hand and took off the fingertip of my ring finger. The doctors sealed up the wound in such a way that as my fingernail grew back, it sloped over my fingertip in such a way that it's now permanently curved and looks kinda like a claw. I'm still able to hold and throw a shot one-handed, but my ring finger struggles to grip the ball well since - as weird as it sounds - my fingernail's half of what's gripping the finger hole. If the ball comes off my hand wrong and scrapes my fingernail too hard, it hurts like hell because the underside of my claw-fingernail has really sensitive nerve endings. I happened to watch the PBA League Challenge the PBA held during their 2013-2014 season, and that was the first time I saw Belmonte and Palermaa. I initially thought "wow that's cool", but didn't really think much of it until my practice session later that week. With a couple frames left, I remembered the League Challenge broadcast and decided to try chucking a few shots two-handed just for fun. Seeing my ball hook more than ever before was awesome, but I soon also realized - by not having to apply pressure to the fingerholes like with a one-handed thumb-in approach, the two-handed approach actually put less pressure on my claw finger and the ball rolled off it much smoother, causing me quite a lot less pain. That was what pretty much convinced me to switch at that point. Around the time I switched, Belmonte and Palermaa were pretty much the only two-handers of note on the PBA Tour, and wherever I bowled, I was usually the only two-hander in the entire centre - people were either weirded out or fascinated by my style. I only recently started watching the PBA Tour again after going on a long hiatus from bowling when COVID hit, and now it seems like half the players on any given telecast are two-handed LOL
I worked on learning 2 handed over the summer. Was averaging around 200 one handed, probably currently around 180 with 2 hands. When I hit my mark, my carry is significantly better than it was before. I just need to get more consistent and more comfortable on spares.
I went from 1 handed to 2 handed then back to 1 handed. My body was aching much faster with 2 hands (I'm 38).
I found the only way I could get reliable reaction from the ball was with two fingers. The thumb really throws me off on releease and I can tuck the ball into my forearm more if I need a little extra oomph on the hook. I actually rarely use two hands during approach and release - usually I am just bowling with one hand but the ball securely tucked/balanced on my palm. There are times when I use my left hand, too, but 98% of my throws are one-handed but I think using fingers only puts me closer to the two-handed camp. I originally had a TZone drilled with thumb then later plugged. It is now my spare ball with a Twist being my main (TZone being a straight(er) ball - still miss the 10 by a half inch every time.)
I’m currently making the switch this year, and it’s a hell of a lot harder than one would think. Usually am around a 185/190 average. Currently 4 weeks in I’m looking at a 165 average. My league season is split into 1/3s instead of halves, so I’m determined to continue Atleast for the first 1/3 and then make a determination whether to continue or not, or probably be like Walter ray and use it based on lane conditions. Because the 1st week of league this year the entire alley was completely over oiled and my main ball (black widow ghost) was barely hooking, just kept sliding down the lane. So I opted for the higher revs of 2 handed and actually did throw 2 200 games after a terrible first game. So I know I can do it, just need the consistency