Two-Handed Bowling Longevity
bowlingball.com 2/10/2017How long can a bowler continue to compete as a two-hander? By what age does your body say “I can’t bowl this way anymore” before one has to walk away from the two-handed style and start at square one to bowl using the conventional one-handed delivery. Several comments on this topic were brought to light in a recent BowlVersity editorial asking for opinions of two-handed bowling. Here, I will address a few of the thoughts and concerns from a two-handed bowler’s perspective.
The biggest comment that has really stood out to me, and a question that’s never asked, is “for how long can you bowl two-handed”? This is a question that I myself will be asking several years down the line - how long can I bowl this way before I see myself switching back to the conventional one-hand delivery? I want to believe that you can bowl two-handed forever, as long as you stay healthy. If you are plagued by injury after injury doing the two-handed delivery, then it’d be best to switch now. I take Osku Palermaa as an example, as he had problems in his bicep. He probably got hurt from being a speed dominant two-handed player (as I like to call him) or by shooting his spare ball as fast as an Indy car flying down the front stretch at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. To this day he is still trying to get back to championship form the way he was back in 2010 and 2011.
Physical conditioning is key to maintaining the two-handed bowling style, and no person is in better physical shape to throw two-handed than Jason Belmonte. Not only does he work day-in and day-out on his bowling, he also stays in tip top physical shape to bowl the way he does. Physical fitness is not only key for a two-handed bowler but for any bowler as well. Take Norm Duke, in his 50’s, throwing a 16# ball and still striking with the best of them. He’s still able to do this because of his physical condition and him maintaining himself ever since he joined the PBA in the early 1980’s.
Now reading some of your comments about the longevity of two-handed bowling got me thinking how long I can, as stated earlier. I make sure to take care of my body, running and working out are two of my big workout regiments to ensure that I stay in shape to bowl the way I do. I will bowl two-handed for as long as I can, until my body says no more, or unless my arms and legs break off.
For readers asking if Jason Belmonte can go past 40 or any two-handed bowler for that matter? I say that if they can get to 50 and still be bowling full time on the PBA Tour, then I would take that as an incredible victory in maintaining longevity. Comments I see where you are in your 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s bowling two-handed is incredible. For you to do that is an inspiration to me to try to get to that age myself and still bowl the way I do now. At age 19, I’m happy to say that I am a two-handed bowler, am currently in the shape needed to do so, and am here to express my opinions and bring knowledge on all aspects of the sport of bowling (especially two-handed).
Hello everyone and greetings from the Bowling Mecca of the World, also known as Las Vegas! My name is Nick Pollak. I am 18 years old and I’m a two-handed bowler as well as a USBC Bronze level coach. I am thankful to have been invited to join the bowlingball.com team to write about the sport I love. I look forward to sharing many articles with you and hope to interact with many of you to get feedback and topic ideas you would like to see.
Did I mention I am a two hander? I wasn't always but that all changed in January of 2015 when my one-handed mechanics became a tremendous liability. For each and every one of my fellow two-handers, it should be noted that we are all different in our styles of approach, rev rate, speed and release. I look forward to sharing my perspective of the sport I love, as a competitive bowler and as a two-hander.
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