# 2 handed bowling legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 29, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619 "2009-10-29T16:09:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/1 "2009-10-29T16:09:50Z")
Jason Belmonte is a competitive bowler on the PBA. He throws using 2 hands. His claim is he gets more revs and better carry. It may be true. Should it be legal? [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailycontributor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/two-handed-bowling-technique.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailycontributor.com/bolivias-two-handed-bowlers/3759/&h=262&w=293&sz=22&tbnid=99Fxs6s1EpU-wM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djason%2Bbelmonte&usg=\_\_d-eauUJ608jyAIhpynWeIde9WJo=&ei=m7zpSqrwHYeiMbPZwaIN&sa=X&oi=image\_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAw](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailycontributor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/two-handed-bowling-technique.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailycontributor.com/bolivias-two-handed-bowlers/3759/&h=262&w=293&sz=22&tbnid=99Fxs6s1EpU-wM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djason%2Bbelmonte&usg=__d-eauUJ608jyAIhpynWeIde9WJo=&ei=m7zpSqrwHYeiMbPZwaIN&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAw) It is being taught across the globe and may revolutionize the sport. Any problems with it? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/2 "2009-10-29T16:22:27Z")
All I know is that Animal bowls overhand. I love The Muppet Show. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/3 "2009-10-29T17:20:51Z")
reading this: > **[Mary Buckheit: The story of the two-handed pro bowler - ESPN Page 2](https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=buckheit%2F090306)** > > Jason Belmonte started bowling with two hands as a child, and never stopped. Now he's a professional. > [@](#): > > His style and success led the Professional Bowlers Association to offer him commissioner’s exemptions to two events already this season. This immediately raised some eyebrows, as the PBA had never given a player two exemptions in the same season before, let alone to consecutive events. implies the PBA doesn’t normally allow two handed bowling. I say as long it is using just your body, (and you don’t go over the line) any tecqnique shoukld be legal (i.e I think kicking the ball shoukld be legal as well) You might want to ba overhand since it could damage the floor Brian ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/4 "2009-10-29T17:36:05Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Jason Belmonte is a competitive bowler on the PBA. He throws using 2 hands. His claim is he gets more revs and better carry. It may be true. Should it be legal? > [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailycontributor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/two-handed-bowling-technique.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailycontributor.com/bolivias-two-handed-bowlers/3759/&h=262&w=293&sz=22&tbnid=99Fxs6s1EpU-wM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djason%2Bbelmonte&usg=\_\_d-eauUJ608jyAIhpynWeIde9WJo=&ei=m7zpSqrwHYeiMbPZwaIN&sa=X&oi=image\_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAw](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dailycontributor.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/two-handed-bowling-technique.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dailycontributor.com/bolivias-two-handed-bowlers/3759/&h=262&w=293&sz=22&tbnid=99Fxs6s1EpU-wM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djason%2Bbelmonte&usg=__d-eauUJ608jyAIhpynWeIde9WJo=&ei=m7zpSqrwHYeiMbPZwaIN&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBcQ9QEwAw) > It is being taught across the globe and may revolutionize the sport. Any problems with it? Just goes to show that there are numerous ways to skin a cat. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/5 "2009-10-29T17:57:40Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > reading this: > [Mary Buckheit: The story of the two-handed pro bowler - ESPN Page 2](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=buckheit/090306) > > implies the PBA doesn’t normally allow two handed bowling. > I say as long it is using just your body, (and you don’t go over the line) any tecqnique shoukld be legal (i.e I think kicking the ball shoukld be legal as well) > > You might want to ba overhand since it could damage the floor > > Brian I’m not sure if that means exemptions to the normal playing rules, or exemptions to the normal participation rules. For example if he’s not a ranked player and they gave him an exemption to compete. That’s how I read it. It makes me think the PBA does not have a rule against two-handed throws. Hmm, maybe I’ll try this in Wii bowling. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/6 "2009-10-29T18:05:03Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > reading this: > [Mary Buckheit: The story of the two-handed pro bowler - ESPN Page 2](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=buckheit/090306) > > implies the PBA doesn’t normally allow two handed bowling. I don’t think so. I suspect the exemptions are because he is not a member of the PBA. Why would he be allowed to compete using an illegal technique? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/7 "2009-10-29T18:18:55Z")
This blows my mind. I accidentally discovered essentially the same technique last year. I’m weak, so I couldn’t get enough velocity and control with a 12 pound ball, but the 10 pounders didn’t have holes big enough for my big knuckles. Out of frustration I tried two fingers in a 10 pound ball, no thumb, and used my other hand for stability. Holy crap I got it to curve. Haven’t gotten the chance to try it since. [Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4SBuiih60) with a good view of the technique. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/8 "2009-10-29T20:24:01Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > reading this: > [Mary Buckheit: The story of the two-handed pro bowler - ESPN Page 2](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=buckheit/090306) > > implies the PBA doesn’t normally allow two handed bowling. No, you definitely read that wrong. The exemptions mean that they allowed/are allowing an unranked player to compete, in exactly the same way the PGA and LPGA give exemptions into tournaments for exciting young talents like Michelle Wie (back when she was still an exciting young talent, and not a depressing near-failure). The PBA loves this kid because he’s actually bringing some global media attention to a sport that desperately needs it. There’s certainly nothing illegal about it, it’s just very uncommon. But the early results seem to indicate that this could potentially do for bowling what the Fosbury Flop did for high jumping. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/9 "2009-10-29T20:31:34Z")
I remember back when my (late) husband bowled regional PBA tournaments there was a young guy that bowled two-handed. It wasn’t illegal then, but all the other bowlers hated that technique. I guess they felt like it was cheating. He screwed up his elbow, IIRC. I’m not sure if it was because of the two-handed method. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/10 "2009-10-29T21:15:06Z")
The rpms he gets are fierce but I wonder how it is for lane adjustment? Is it as effective on oily lanes? What about arid? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/11 "2009-10-29T21:54:57Z")
Hmm- your interpretation makes more sense (they allowed a non pro into the PBA), but I would prefer a clear “there is no rule against two handed bowling” in the article Brian ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2009, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-handed-bowling-legal/515619/12 "2009-10-29T22:10:11Z")
They allowed him to bowl in PBA tournies. That would indicate there is no rule. It does not mean there will not be. If it actually is a better way, it will redo the whole game. The PBA can either go along with it or ban it. It remains to be seen what they will do.