I won't argue the rise of 2 handed bowlers but I don't think 1 handers are gonna becoming irrelevant

Hot take: Free fall pinsetters will be irrelevant before one handed bowlers.

Good video. One thing that has become irrelevant, thank God, is smoking inside the bowling alley.

I would disagree on one handers becoming irrelevant. On the leagues that I bowl in, ALL of the top bowlers (Highest average) are one handed. There are lots of Belmo wannabes but facts are facts.

PBA becoming irrelevant with current prize money equal to that of 1980. How these guys make a living without private backers is beyond me.

Time will tell whether 2-handed bowling takes a greater toll on the body, especially re: back and knee issues.

One handed vs two handed bowling is a lot like tennis one handed vs two handed backhand. Neither will be obsolete because both have their advantages and disadvantages. It just comes down to preferences.

I guess only time will tell the full story, when I watch some two handers that get really low to the line with massive spine tilt, I wonder how long their backs will last.

One handers will never become irrelevant. Plenty of them out there they can put more Revs on the ball then some of the 2 handers out there. I’m old school and growing up 3 fingers were always used. Never knew 2 were allowed until I saw Mike Miller on TV.

Damn, I've become irrelevant.🤣

When I was a kid we would bowl 2 handed thumbless as a joke. In juniors they told us we couldn't do it because we're touching it with the opposite hand.... It was illegal. That was 25 years before the usbc voted to have Belmo in tournaments. Oh well, I guess im irrelevant. 🤷

Two handed bowlers are going to have a tough time when they get to be my age. You don't see many (if any) older two handed bowlers, for a good reason, we're not as flexible as we once were.

I do not agree about the one hand topic. Two handed bowlering is just another way to throw the ball, all be it better right now. I am curious on the long term affects on the body. I also feel there is room amongst the two handers for one-handed bowlers who are accurate and good at ball manipulation like O Neil for example

As a 50 yr old, I switched to two hands 2 months ago. It’s still a work in progress but one thing I can definitely say is I’m having a lot more fun now.

That last one is a hard pill to swallow but I will never become a 2 handed bowler!

I was a PBA Member way back when. Bowled in the Eastern Region 1985-87 and Southern Region in the mid 1990's. Made the finals a few times, but never a title. Last league season I bowled was 2000-2001. When league lane conditions got so easy that most nights became a 'carry contest' I walked away and never looked back. What the sport has become I don't even recognize. What I wouldn't give for a return to the conditions of the late 1960's/early 1970's when your choice was Rubber or Plastic and success on the lanes was more a function of 'finesse' than how many revolutions you can put on the ball and how many boards you can cover.

“Cigarette ashes” 😂. Bruh, putting on the bottom of your shoe so you can slide better is crazy. But back in the day, I mean yeah. I can see it. And I’m a smoker 🤦‍♂️. I know I need to quit.

#5 Static Weights: In a coreless ball with only a pancake weight and the new 3 oz rule, static weights matter a lot and can be made to do some amazing things. #4 Fixed Soles: I don't slide so interchangeables are of zero interest to me. #1 One Handed Bowling: When one handed bowling becomes irrelevant then Bowling will become irrelevant.

Split into two separate leagues then at the end of the season have the one hand champion go against the two hand champion in the Super Bowl of bowling.

Counting marks during league team competition...very old school.😄

People thought the same thing about skiers when snowboarders came on the scene. I think one handed is here to stay because a lot of people can't throw two handed and or not very consistent.

Let see how well them knees hold up for 2 hander bowler when they hit their 40-50s

I've had the same $50 bowling shoes for over 10 years of bowling and never had a issue. When people are sticking, everything's normal for me. When people are sliding too much, it's still normal for me. Don't know how dexter got these shoes to do that, but it's awesome

There are still one handed bowlers out there throwing with more revs and speed then some two handers in tour. If you ask me, the two handers took the easy road. EJ Tackett is just one example. It takes more skill and talent to throw a ball the way he does.

I just looked thru the PBA elite team lineups... regarding two-handed bowlers, there are 48 total bowlers (8 teams, 6 members each) - and there are 11 two handed bowlers. So not yet with one-handers being irrelevant.

EJ Tackett would disagree with #1.

I think it’s an easier process to get to a 175 avg as a 2 hander, but to maintain a 200+ avg requires a lot more skill than just simply throwing the ball with 2 hands and that’s for your average league house shot.

Great info. After bowling one handed for over 50 years, I am thinking about switching to two handed style.

RIP strokers...even one handers are cranking it in the PBA.

All kinds of sad feelings about this one. I bowl one handed and I lift. Got the grips and pitches changed so lifting is starting to become extinct in my game, but I still find a use for it on sport shots. Not sure I'll ever go to 2 handed, but never say never.

I'd swap one handed with sliding on this. More and more evidence coming out that sliding (if you do it WRONG) does just as much if not MORE damage to your knee than planting does. If you slide any longer than a couple inches your knee will NOT like you.

One handed bowlers will never really become irrelevant, mostly because 2 handed is a young persons game. It becomes less easy to do as you get less flexible. Now will one handed become a thing of the past for young players and people on tour? Maybe. It still works despite 2 handed seemingly having better 'luck factor'.

1 handers? Nah I dont think so. Ive talked about injury to knees, to my young 2handed teammate. I wonder how well his knee (left) will hold out 20,30 yrs from now? Every so often, he goes to slide and plants hard, then mentions his knee is sore all night. I believe 2handers put more weight/stress on their sliding foot (knee) due to NOT having use of the off-arm to help balance themselves and take off some weight/stress on their knee. I tried 2handed throws afew times last week during practice and I noticed my knee was very sore immediately! Anyone else have some first hand insight or experience with this?

I disagree about the extinctions of 1H bowlers. At the tip top level of PBA and elite events, sure, 2H will be more prevalent. But it lower rung tournaments where big power players don't dwell, 1H will still exist and do fine.

According to USBC measurements, side has a bigger effect on ball motion than intermediant differetial which was all the rage a couple of years ago. Surface and pin to pap are certaintly the big ones. Vinyl slugs dont drag as much urethanes. Been at this over 40 years and drilled way over 10000 balls for people. Things change, adapt.

What is irrelevant is someone's bowling average.

One handed bowling will never be irrelevant, a more accurate thing to say is young competitive bowlers learning anything but a high rev release is likely on its way out. 2 handed is the short cut to get there hence its popularity, but one handed can out rev 2 so it’s not the only path. The hyper focus on rev rate is unfortunate IMO because it’s taken a lot of art and diversity out of the game. It’s also frankly not necessary. There are obviously benefits to having a higher rev rate but look at Bill O Neil this year leading and winning tournaments outplaying the highest rev guys, or Norm Duke in his LATE 50’s like 18 months ago leading the entire Masters field getting the #1 seed and only missing the title by 3 pins. You can absolutely compete with moderate rev rate, you just have to be a really good bowler.

The youngster just rolling the ball with two hands will not progress to one hand due to the fact he\she is growing up with Bellmo. I believe your assumption is correct.

Are particle coverstocks irrelevant?

Anyone remember that Linds tournament bag that included like 4 separate sliding shoes and one push off shoe?

I love looking at the comments, especially when the best bowler on the tour so far this year, is Bill O'Neil. One hander, 300 - 325 rpm.

One-handed bowlers irrelevant? Ouch. Tough pill to swallow. That's one of the main reasons why I stopped bowling a couple of years ago and do not intend to get back to competition full-time. Reduced buying equipment as much as well. Bowl only occasionally, if I get called by my folks, we might throw a couple of games here and there, but never again full-time bowling. I don't see a good future with only 2-handers as putting your thumb and adjusting your rotation is a piece of art to me. The versatility of various bowlers throughout the years had inspired me. No 2-hander will ever inspire me. None of them has for the last decade, despite their success rate. And this is not just because of pure stubborness and unwillingness on my part to adjust to two-handed bowling. I don't like it, don't like the concept (although much more efficient biomechanics) of outcompeting via rev rates and margins of error disregarding accuracy. Disregarding the art of making your spare when you can string 8-9-10-baggers and missing one doesn't bite as much as it used to. Don't like that our sport has had its integrity completely destroyed throughout the years. And has been governed so poorly it cannot provide jobs outside of the US unless you're filthy rich and can afford to spend thousands of $ just like that. The stroker used to matter. Used to be a winner. Now he's not only a loser, he's like an extinct fossil. Saddens me to see it, don't accept it. Steve Jaros, Tim Criss, Brian Voss and others, players I've looked up to in the late 00s are gone forever. And unfortunately, EJ Tackett and Marshall Kent alone won't be able to save the sport from its ultimate demise. Pains and saddens me to say it.

A few months ago I tried two handed technique. I immediately noticed a MUCH higher rev rate and increased pocket delivery angles. I tried it mostly because one-handed I was putting way too much strain on the tendons in my fingers trying to get some rev out of a normal release. My fingers A2 tendons were screaming for days after bowling one handed. Unfortunately I made the mistake of turning to Reddit R/bowling for a little constructive input on my approach and release with two handed, and was immediately flamed by the self proclaimed experts about not just my form, but for my reasoning behind trying two handed. Claiming I'm doing it just because I think its fun to hook the lane instead of just a few boards. Even if that WAS the reason, am I somehow not allowed to try something new because its fun? I liked bowling two handed, but my form was abysmal, and I knew it. It had only been two days of trying it before I submitted a video. I hate the assholes on Reddit. I still ended up leaving the reddit group and with my tail between my legs, went back to hurting my fingers getting only occasional 200 plus scores.

I'm resisting it, but yes: thumbs are becoming irrelevant. And when the no-thumb crowd dominates, what of coverstocks: can they stay as strong as can be made now? Will we see balls offered in 1/2 pound increments as more struggle to fine tune some advantage in the 500+ rev rate club? And...is it all too technical now? Bowling was the everymans sport - holding on to that seems to be a challenge going forward. I observe this: throwing no thumb is somehow more intuitive with release timing - it might actually be the easier place to start for beginners? We might be headed to thumb/no-thumb events not as a separation, but maybe make pros work both styles? That would be interesting like a cup series: gotta run different tracks to be champion.

Cool video talk tech bowling radical Phil

Excellent points…

Introducing my grandkids to bowling. Being a one hander means that's what I am teaching them. Grandson wants to go 2 handed. I told him after he got the basics and could bowl one handed he could add 2 handed if he wants. I said the difference is being a sniper vs throwing a hand grenade. Why not have both in the bag?

I tried that 2-handed method and honestly speaking, it definitely puts more rotations on the ball, but I don't feel comfortable to throw like that; especially when you got to go for your spare ball. Since USBC rules require you to register yourself as either or, and I just cracked 200 for the first time and it took 14 months to do so, that methodology can wait.

2 hand may be dead in the future. Like bending the wrist like. Craker do, the side motion for 2 is bad for the back. It may come a point that rev rate most be controlled. I cant count how times plsyes got surgery and they all was rev monsters.

There is 2 handed bowlers that don't throw over 500rpm each shots.... And there is 1 handed bowlers that throws over 510rpm each and every shots.. 1 handed wont become irrelevant, just harder... as it is being a righty..

I've thought about the thumb vs no thumb topic quite a bit and the conclusion I've come to is no thumb is the superior choice for the vast, VAST majority of people. Let's put aside the rev rate advantage for a moment and just discuss the issues with the thumb. Specifically - the fit, the fit, and the fit. If you do not have access to an experienced pro shop operator who works with you to get your fit (size, pitches, span, etc) JUST RIGHT, you have no chance competing against the 'good' players. And to get things 'just right' with the fit, you are talking about experimenting, potentially for YEARS, tinkering with the damn fit. You don't want to spend your time fighting the fit and the thumb, you want to spend your time trying to improve your physical bowling game. Ever try shooting 220 with a thumb hole you can't consistently get out of? Or how about one where the ball falls off your hand because the thumb is too loose? Does your thumb swell and shrink based on dietary factors or weather? Is the span too long or too short? Have you developed calcification on the thumb? Perhaps some blisters or calluses? These issues can quite literally take years to get corrected, if ever. Why would you deal with that when you can simply bypass all those annoyances? Keep in mind these grievances have NOTHING to do with your ability to actually bowl, yet greatly impact your scoring ability. For the kids coming up, it is a no brainer to go thumbless. If Chris Barnes and Parker Bohn have their kids going thumbless, what does that tell you? If Walter Ray is tinkering with developing a 2 hand game at 60+ years of age, what does that say? Just like taking the lanes out of play with throwing plastic at spares, it stands to reason you would want to take the probability of a bad fit out of your game. You don't want another variable in the mix that is out of your control.

Hooking the ball with one hand is irrelevant hard to generate 600rpms with one hand…also typically can 2 handlers can generate a better rolling back up ball…..throwing it straight and fast at spares with one hand is better…hard to throw it 24mph with 2 hands when you need to bounce pins around on a split

1 handed not going anywhere. I have no problem w 2 handers, if I was younger (and skinnier) I'd go 2 handed but as couple others have said, lets see how some these 2 handers handle getting older. Gettin old is a b!tch, flexibilty/dexterity go out the window pretty quick. Sure there are those who do a better job staying in shape but I feel like some these 2 handers that stay w bowling long term may switch later in life.

Lots of comments about the longevity of two handers, right now we only have a small data set of two; Osku and Belmo. They seem to be doing fine right now, in fact better than some of their one handed peers.

I'm just glad I did my bowling from the 1960s to the 1990s. I don't enjoy watching bowling today.

Most ammature 2 handers cant pick up corner spares more than 50%, even some mid spares are hard when you're throwing it that hard and fast. Maybe the pros can do it , but ammateurs are having a hard time

Two handed bowling is quickly making the PBA irrelevant…

1 handed bowlers will be just as "irrelevant" as left handed bowlers. They will always exist.

Two handed wouldn't be legal if bowling wasn't suffering such a shortage of young bowlers, video games have killed live competition. PBA is hoping by allowing the use of 2 hands will save the sport, it turns a novice bowler into a potential pro. I consider it a handicap.

I think the way to go is becoming a two handed one hander. Use one handed on shorter patterns and two handed on longer patterns.

Love my vinyl sleeves!!! Hate slugs

by 50 yrs old these 2 handers will be out of bowling

Vinyl thumbs were so much better than the turbo 2 in 1 slugs,which are horrific and abrasive

not everyone can bowl 2 handed, so I guess there will be lots of bowling centers closing, that means no one buying bowling ball either. Maybe no holes in the ball would help balance things out

What are vinyl slugs getting replaced with?

Guy that coached me was putting cigarette ashes cause approach was sticky 17yrs ago.

I will be a one handed bowler until the day I throw my last ball. The PBA should be ashamed of allowing 2-handers and string pins. All I'm asking for is a seperate PBA tournament for one handers and two-handers, bowling two handed gives you an advantage. I just can't believe stepping away from bowling 2005 you didn't hardly ever see someone two handed. Now 19 years later getting back into competive bowling it is a disease that has plagued the sport. I can't believe the pro-shop asked me if I wanted just the fingers drilled. I started laughing and they were like no we are serious we rarely have any 3 finger bowlers any more. I was like wow. I really do jope the PBA makes two seperate tournaments based on the way you bowl.

Go to any senior leagues in any bowling center tell how many 2 handers you see not a one in 2024

Can I have your sweater? Thanks Phil

I disagree with the changable shoe soles. Most bowlers only bowl in one, maybe two houses. Once they get used to their fixed sole shoes those are just fine for a majority of bowlers.

I dont think 1 handed will go away anytime soon

EJ is just one of many

These are the reasons people won't bowl any more no skill needed they need to go back to what was and Barr 2 handed bowling or separate the 2 handers and the real bowlers I was in the PBA years ago and wont go back to bowling unless they bring back static weights with limits

Accuracy. Its not needed anymore.

2 handers backs after the age of 35 tho lol

I'm irrelevant AND a dinosaur 😢😢😢

all i know is when i watch roth Holman and the rest of that era, they had one ball for everything. Now its the ball not the bowler.

Phil invented 2 handed bowling

Since one handed bowlers are irrelevant, we can just close down all our leagues and stay home to play video games. We won't even have to buy any of those Brunswick products any more.

Everyone bowling the Granny Release (two handed bowling)? Not I.

Totally disagree with one handed bowlers being irrelevant! Two handed bowling is irrelevant to me. I been bowling for 27 years and I will remain a one handed bowler!

I disagree with 2 of these. 1 Static weights aren't irrelevant. Manufacturers would like you to think so though as all balls can't be made the same with the same static weights. He speaks of Side and finger and thumb weights but doesn't address what causes them to be a factor. Top weight. Having bowled for over 40 years I know that for me High top weights and various pin placements make a difference on how a ball rolls down the lane for me. 2. One handed bowlers. All you have to do is watch the PBA this week to see that this isn't necessarily true. Top seed was a 1 hander. 2nd seed was a 1 hander. 5th seed was a 1 hander. They aren't irrelevant. There is an increasing amount of 2 handers in the game. There have become more 2 handers that have made the strides to become dominant in the game. It seems that at the highest level of competition the 2 hander has an advantage. People always attribute that to revolutions. While revolutions on a bowling ball do give one an advantage the combination of skill to utilize them and knowledge to figure out the best way to go through the pins have caused those who are elite 2 handers to succeed. I agree that 2 handers are the way forward in elite competition but I disagree that this makes a 1 hander irrelevant.

#1 thing that has become irrelevant in bowling? Bowling.

Comments will 🔥HEAT🔥 up over this.😂

There are many.

Without 1 handed bowlers, the sport would die quicker than EVs.

Please make an entry ball between twist and rhino. Like DV8 AlleyCat?

Instead of one handed bowlers becoming irrelevant, I’d say the stroker type of bowler is becoming irrelevant

Wrist positioners, at least for men.

Brunsnick

I think handicap is becoming irrelevant. Sandbagging is becoming so prevalent that it's hard to compete against the handicap and be a honest bowler. That's why I prefer scratch leagues and scratch tournaments.

put them in a different class

the PBA has become irrelevant

One handed isn't going away -- just the use of the THUMB - ;)

We must have different definitions of irrelevant. Your opinions are “irrelevant” lmao

This "rundown" is irrelevant.