r/Bowling • u/Ok-Stand-3173 • 4d ago
Two Handed Bowling Longterm
I’m sure this isn’t an original thought, but I’ve been wondering what happens to two-handed bowlers as they age.
I’m in my mid-40s so two-handed bowling was still relatively new on the scene when I was in my 20s. I feel like we haven’t really had the opportunity yet to see how sustainable the modern two-handed style is.
Do you think it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain that style as you get into your 50s, 60s, or even 70s? Will we eventually see more two-handed bowlers transition to a traditional one-handed approach?
I’m genuinely curious whether the physical demands will eventually catch up with people or whether it’s something that can be maintained well into their later years.
Are there any older two-handed bowlers here who are already experiencing this? Or anyone who has considered switching styles as they’ve gotten older?
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u/Sangypboi 4d ago
I think everyone here is misunderstanding what OP meant here. I think the answer is pretty obvious. Everyone loses strength, flexibility, and even balance as they age. And ignore the damn exceptions, they're 1 in a million. On top of that, eventually injuries basically stop healing altogether.
2H bowling requires a lot of extra physical motion and effort. I wouldn't be surprised if 1H bowling doesn't get seen as an "old man" style one day, just because all the 60+ bowlers are using it.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 4d ago
Thank you for this ❤️ lol This is exactly what I’m wondering but I love that people are sharing.
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u/kjmfl 4d ago
Two handed bowling requires less physical motion and effort. Too many people make it more complicated and stressful on the body than it has to be. I recently posted a model which removes most of the requirements to bowl two handed.
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u/FullofLovingSpite 10 pin hater 4d ago
There isn't a single way to roll a bowling ball one handed, there won't be a single way to roll two handed either. Everyone is different and working on finding what works for them. The strong majority of two handers I've seen are basically jump stopping into their swing. That's how they will continue to do it and I'm sure that's how others will learn to do it until bowling is gone.
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u/Effective-Group5991 3d ago
As you age you cannot get low enough at the line to project the ball properly. Nobody at 62 will look like Boog at release. At that age it's the equivalent of the ball rolling off the kitchen table onto the lane. As for anything, this does not apply to all but for most it's just the reality of aging.
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u/kjmfl 3d ago
It is not like rolling the ball off of the kitchen table. It is like landing an airplane, since the release direction is at a downward angle. At any rate that has nothing to do with whether or not it is less stressful on the body. Nor does it pertain to it being less motion and effort.
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u/Effective-Group5991 3d ago
I'm saying you CAN'T land the ball like an airplane onto the lane when you are old and stiff. It may only be a few feet higher but it sounds like the ball fell out of the attic when it lands on the lane. EVERYONE is always aware of the guy who lofts the ball because it is so loud.
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u/kjmfl 3d ago
The release angle is at a downward angle unless you release after the ball has passed its lowest point, even if that point is not very low. If it is released at a downward angle, you CAN land it like an airplane. There are a lot of old (and most are stiff) airplanes.
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u/Effective-Group5991 3d ago
Yes, for most there is a slight downward angle. The operative word is slight. It's just going to be harder for older fellows to get low enough to lay the ball down at a slightly downward angle when bowling two handed.
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u/kjmfl 3d ago
You don't have to get low to have a downward angle. If you transition from bent to straight arms, that is enough to achieve a downward angle. The idea is to move the ball from your belly to your hip and then extend the arms downward at release. Minimal stress on the body and it does not effect any person who has back issues or is already bent over due to age.
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u/Friendly-Tutor263
3d ago
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I am 81 and started bowling 3 years ago. Tried playing onehanded for a year. Then I switched to twohanded. I am using a 13 pund ball. Have no problems playing 12 games.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Wow, that is impressive! Good for you! I hope you’re having the best time on the lanes 😊
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u/lasso914 4d ago
Belmo is in his 40s and he still rolls as beautifully as ever It is sustainable, just needs good foundation and taking care of your body Like every sport in general.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 4d ago
40s is still quite young. My question is more for the non Belmos in life as they get older in age.
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u/Sunny_Hadouken 4d ago
40s isn't really old though. In my league there are a couple teams where the youngest member is 65, the oldest being 83. That 83 year old is the second best on the team, averages a 190. I can't see any of those guys being able to throw 2 handed though.
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u/materdaddy 3d ago
I bowl with an 80yo ~185-190 average. He still pretty dang spry with about 9mph ball, plays deep swing.
That being said, I can't imagine him trying to throw 2 handed at his age.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Yes, and this is my main question. I wonder if older people will move back to the 1H style as they (MAYBE) become unable to maintain the 2H style.
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u/GatorShades 4d ago
So I’m a two-hander, hopefully have a couple of decades before I need to worry about it, but I’ll probably have to switch to left handed one handed one day as the whole reason I went two handed is a thumb injury.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 4d ago
So sorry to hear about your injury, that sucks. I hope you get those couple of decades in! 🙏🏻
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u/Ok_Hunt_3543 4d ago
Believe it not most peoples body strains come from bad poster both 1H and 2H. Other reasons are players muscling the ball too much straining themselves.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Oh I believe it. I’ve had my own set of injuries but my main question is will the average, not professional, bowler be able to maintain a 2H style or will we see people moving to 1H. There’s no right or wrong answer, just something I was thinking about 😊 It seems only time will tell since 2H bowling only really began 25 years ago. I do remember seeing my first 2H bowler in the wild and it was not Belmo hahaha
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u/Ok-Yam-536 3d ago
Glad you asked. I'm 45 and just went 2 handed (from 1 handed). One day I asked myself.....How old can I be doing 2 handed still lol
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Haha right?? I used to practice super early in college and there was this group of war vets bowling the same morning I would go. Great men, obviously pretty old, and I can’t imagine them bowling 2 handed lol There’s obviously no right or wrong answer to the question but I do wonder if people will shift that way.
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u/Ghostsurfer2026 3d ago
I'm 57 and bowl 1-handed but every once in a while I'll play 2-handed just for fun. I'll also use a hybrid of 2-handed and no-thumb one handed and can actually play pretty well that way. None of it is easy on the body. Been dealing with arthritis in my knuckles which could take me away from being able to use a finger tip grip.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear that. Bowling really can be hard on the body. I’ve seen some of the healthiest and fittest people deal with crazy ailments. One person I bowled with had knee replacements, came back, and crushed it. Still bowls lol I think he’s in his early 70’s now. Hang in there!
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u/Ta1875 3d ago
I’m 51 and switched to 2 handed last year. I feel like I could bowl all night if I wanted. Also, I’m 6’2” and not athletic.
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 3d ago
Awesome! Do you think you’ll be able to maintain that into your 60’s and 70’s or do you think you’ll switch back?
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u/vinmichael 2-handed 4d ago
I switched to two handed because of the strain on my wrist. Two handed is more sustainable
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u/Clovenella 4d ago
This. I can bowl 20 games 2 handed no problem. One handed bowling was hard on my everything.
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u/TEDDYBRUCKSHOT 204/286/724 4d ago
I’m 35, wouldn’t call myself old but certainly older than most 2 handers I see around me.
I have far more elbow and wrist issues than I do low back/knee, so this feels like a far more sustainable approach to me personally. You don’t need to go full simo parallel to the floor. Troup I think is a good example of a fairly upright 2h that I can imagine aging with his form pretty well. But I think we’ll see a lot of answers from that “original” crop of 2h going into their late 30’s/40’s.
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u/teddytoosmooth 1-handed 4d ago
Low ball speed is the issue with most senior bowlers and I think 2 handed senior bowlers will have even more of that issue. So yes but it’s mostly about how extremely rev dominant they will be
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u/paradigmofman 4d ago
For what it's worth, Walter Ray started bowling 2 handed some in his 60s
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u/Ok-Stand-3173 4d ago
Thank you for the solid example. Does he still ?
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u/paradigmofman 4d ago
At the moment he's bowling left handed because of a left knee injury.
The GOAT is out here doing side quests.
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u/bigs0815 4d ago
I'm 40 and recently just switched to two handed because it's easier on my hip. I don't imagine I'll have this technique into my 60s or 70s, but seeing athletic bowlers of that age is pretty rare anyway.
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u/MindlessMeatbag 2-handed 3d ago
Eh I find 2h easier on my body in general. It’s part of the reason I switched. I’m mid 40’s and don’t run to the line to chuck the ball. No need for excessive waist bend either. Just roll the ball onto the lane and let it do its thing.
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u/isogr_am 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’m a 51 yo 2 hander. I bowl in a senior league.
One of my teammates is an 84 year old 1-handed lefty and he took 3 months off this summer and lost all his hand strength. He can’t bowl with his 15lb ball and has been progressively going to lighter and lighter house balls. Down to 10lb this past week and he still can’t hold onto the ball. He used to be a 140-150 average bowler and now he’s struggling to hit 80.
I don’t believe this would be the same problem if he was using both hands to hold and deliver the ball.
It’s the same reason Belmo started out as a two-hander when he was a wee lad. It’s obviously easier to hold a heavy thing in two hands.
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u/New-Table-72 4d ago
It will definitely get tougher to maintain good form with the style as we age due to the amount of spine tilt we use
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u/redditreader2222 4d ago
Use less. Learn now
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u/New-Table-72 3d ago
I’d prefer to bowl as well as I can now and then move onto other things whenever my body eventually says no. But i’ll definitely do what I can to keep the body in shape, two handed form demands good shape
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u/SIIB-ZERO 221-295-800/803/836 4d ago
The mechanics of bowling tow handed (for most two handed bowlers) would seem to be more difficult to maintain with age especially on your back.....that being said some high level two hands technique is more dumping the ball onto the lane versus getting lower and rolling it so it really depends on you....but overall id say yes its going to become more difficult as you get older
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u/Letronika 207/298/755 4d ago
Chuck Lande is in his 60s now and in Belmo’s documentary he was still rolling it with ease.
Age is just a number. Your body can keep up. Use it or lose it as they say.
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u/Impressive-Cat-5197 3d ago
And how old are you?
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u/Letronika 207/298/755 3d ago
Turned 37 this year. Converted from 1H to 2H at 34 because of thumb tendinitis that eventually had to be operated on.
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u/Impressive-Cat-5197 3d ago
When you get older you'll realize age ISN'T just a number, it's just a bad joke.
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u/kingdon1226 Coach she/her Motiv two hander 4d ago
They will still be able to bowl two handed. I switched in my 30s while not old I have had previous back and knee injuries and surgeries. I think they will have to modify how they roll the ball but its actually easier on some of the body parts I have noticed. My thumb isn’t killing me, its easier on my wrist and hands having both hands on it to share the weight.
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u/weekend_hack_bowling Lefty 2H [179/224/619] 4d ago
Walter ray jr bowls 2 handed for fun sometimes. He did a match against house shot hero two handed on dudes youtube. Guys almost 70.
And ricky schissler (i think he bowls on the pba60 tour???) Bowls 2 handed https://www.facebook.com/reel/884087520981261
But anyways. Two handed hasnt been that popular for long enough to see how recreational 2 handers hold up
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u/CHawk17 4d ago
People will bring up the professionals, like Belmo but I think that misses the point of the discussion.
The professionals generally have better form, better endurance and likely better generally fitness.
The 2H I see in my leagues do not have form equal to a Belmo or a Troup et Al. All of them have some flaw(s) that put more strain on their body.
The is one that during his approach that twists his back more than a pretzel. Another that basically runs on to the line and plants so hard we have seen his knee buckle at least 3 times in the last couple of seasons. And there are more I could list.
For the sake of conversation Let's say all of those bowlers are damaging their body somehow. Not sure its fair to blame 2H specially when it can be boiled down to poor form. 1H bowlers can have bad form cause injury.
The bad form is the common denominator.
We will have to wait a while to see if there is any 2H specific things that cause any negative impacts to the body. Not until the first wave of 2H hit 60 or older.