Two-handed bowling — delivering the ball using both hands throughout the approach and release — has gone from a curiosity to a mainstream competitive technique in the span of about 15 years, largely due to Jason Belmonte's dominance on the PBA Tour. The style generates significantly higher rev rates than most conventional one-handed deliveries, producing dramatic hook and powerful pin action. It's also genuinely learnable for motivated bowlers willing to rebuild their physical game from the ground up.
How the Two-Handed Release Works
In two-handed bowling, the non-dominant hand supports the ball from underneath throughout the approach — the same hand that would hold nothing in a conventional delivery. At the release, both hands contribute to the ball's motion:
The dominant hand (the gripping hand) controls the fingers in the ball and provides the primary rev force at the release — the cupping, the turn, the finger lift.
The non-dominant hand supports the ball's weight during the approach, allowing the dominant hand to stay relaxed. At the release, the support hand pushes the ball forward and often contributes additional rotational force.
The combined result: the ball leaves the hand with higher axis tilt, higher rev rate, and more angular backend motion than most single-handed deliveries can produce.
Pros of the Two-Handed Style
Higher rev rate: Two-handed bowlers typically generate 400–600+ RPM at release, compared to 200–350 RPM for most conventional bowlers. Higher revs create more friction with the lane and more powerful pin action.
Less physical strain per delivery: The non-dominant hand shares the ball's weight during the approach. Many bowlers with wrist or forearm issues find the two-handed style less stressful than maintaining a conventional cupped wrist under a full ball weight.
Naturally high axis tilt: Two-handed releases tend to produce high axis tilt angles (45–60°), which creates long skid and dramatic backend motion — a naturally aggressive ball path.
Cons and Challenges
Spare shooting complexity: The high rev, high-hook delivery that's powerful for strikes becomes a liability for straight spare shooting. Most two-handed bowlers carry a conventional polyester spare ball and switch to a thumb-in or reduced-rev release for spares.
Consistency requires extensive practice: The timing of both hands, the release point, and the footwork are all interdependent. Small changes in one element cascade through the entire delivery. Two-handed bowling has more variables to synchronize than a conventional release.
USBC regulations: Two-handed bowling is completely legal under USBC rules as long as no part of the body other than the ball contacts the lane. The technique is sanctioned for all competition.
How to Start Learning the Two-Handed Style
1. Start thumbless first. Before adding the second hand's full role, practice delivering the ball with no thumb in the hole — just two fingers. This builds the finger strength and muscle memory for the high-rev release you'll need.
2. Practice the support hand position. The non-dominant hand should sit on the side of the ball facing away from you, flat-palmed, fingers pointing upward. It supports — it doesn't grip.
3. Work the timing separately. The footwork timing for two-handed bowling is different from conventional — the pushaway happens later and both hands move together. Practice the approach without releasing the ball until the timing feels natural.
4. Work with a coach. Two-handed bowling has enough technique-specific nuance that self-teaching from video leads most bowlers into repetitive errors. A coach familiar with the style will shorten your learning curve significantly.
Is It Right for You?
Two-handed bowling is best pursued by: bowlers who are starting fresh (no deeply ingrained conventional habits to unlearn), players who want maximum rev rate and are willing to invest significant practice time, and bowlers with specific physical limitations that make conventional gripping painful. It's not a shortcut — it requires rebuilding your physical game. But for the right bowler, the ceiling is extremely high.