Just like the name, two-handed bowling refers to bowling with two hands.

While attending the U.S. Open in New Jersey a number of years ago, I met and talked to a young Australian bowler named Jason "Belmo" Belmonte who was bowling with two hands.

Belmonte started two-handed bowling at an early age, and he is known for being one of the first bowlers to gain media attention for using the two-handed approach style to deliver his shot.

Bowling techniques have evolved across many generations. One of the latest and most popular techniques in bowling is the two-handed approach. Two-handed bowling is rapidly increasing in popularity and acceptance among bowlers.

What two-handed bowlers have told us is that two-handed bowling helps you have better control over the ball's path, and the bowler obtains more spin than the traditional bowling techniques.

This technique involves the bowlers placing their dominant hand under the ball and the non-dominant hand on the top. They bring the ball behind their body and take the non-dominant hand from the ball just before the release.

One-handed bowlers pay special attention to where they place their hands on the ball, whereas two-handed bowlers figure out the spots and grips with which they are most comfortable.

Unlike no-thumb bowling, two-handed bowlers use their second hand as their thumb. Consequently, they will have better control over the ball trajectory as the second hand provides lateral support to the ball. Moreover, the lateral support from the second hand will prevent hanging or drooping the ball. This is a major advantage of two-handed bowling.

After this, they bring the ball behind their body, more to the lateral side, and take the non-dominant hand off the ball just before the release.

When the two-handed bowling technique started growing in popularity in this sport, it became a controversial approach. Many people claimed that this approach is cheating and illegal. However, bowling's national governing body, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) confirmed that using this technique is no violation of the law.

Two-handed bowlers reported that they find the two-handed technique easier to obtain more spin on the ball.

The biggest difference between two-handed bowling and one-handed are the posture and footwork. To accommodate a high revolution rate, two-handed bowlers have to move much quicker than other bowlers. Two-handed bowling demands an extremely flexible body, which is why not all bowlers can master this approach.

Young bowlers who want to gain more power in their stroke choose the two-handed bowling approach over other techniques.

Two-handed bowling sure has its advantages. Using this technique, bowlers can obtain more spin, play different angles, and have more control over the ball. They also love this technique due to the increased ball speed and the ball trajectory.

Since this approach is difficult to master, experts say that one-handed bowling will always be the most widely used bowling technique, but two-handed bowlers have a few advantages in certain aspects of the game.

Ed’s Outlook

In talking and walking our way through the two-handed style of bowling, not only has Belmonte cemented himself as king of two-handed bowling, but others who compete and won championships include Finland's Osku Palmermaa and American bowlers Anthony Simonsen and Kyle Troup.

In the local bowling scene, young J.J. Wilhelm from the Grahamsville area, bowling with the Keller Williams team in the Monday Mixed league at Port Jervis Bowl adopted the two-handed bowling style several years ago and continues to show good improvement as a two-handed bowler and presently maintains a 196 average.

Agapito Bowls 247 Triplicate

Monticello bowler Pedro Agapito III scored an outstanding 247 triplicate in the Wednesday night Port Jervis City league at Port Jervis Bowl. That means he bowled three 247 games in a row to post a 741 series. Pedro bowls in several leagues at Port Jervis and posts a 223 average in this Wednesday league. Excellent bowling Pedro.