You’ve seen him. Jason Belmonte. He looks like he’s trying to hurl a boulder into the ocean, yet the ball dances with a violent, hypnotic grace that traditional bowlers simply cannot replicate. For decades, bowling was a game of stiff backs, three fingers, and "gentlemanly" form. Then the two-handed revolution hit. Now, if you step into any local house on a Friday night, the kids aren't using thumb holes. They’re cranking the ball.
Learning how to bowl with 2 hands isn't just about copying what you saw on FS1 last Sunday. It’s a total mechanical overhaul. Most people think you’re just using the second hand for power. That’s a lie. You’re actually using it for stability, which allows you to delete the thumb from the equation. Without a thumb stuck in the ball, your hand stays under the equator of the sphere much longer. The result? Rev rates that make your local pro shop operator weep.
It's weird. It’s hard on the knees. But if you want to carry strikes on hits that would normally leave a weak 5-pin, you have to understand the physics of the double-handed shovel.
The Grip: Stop Looking for the Thumb Hole
Let's get one thing straight immediately: you do not use your thumb. Ever. If you're trying to learn how to bowl with 2 hands while keeping your thumb tucked in, you're essentially just doing a very awkward version of traditional bowling. You’ll probably hurt your wrist.
Your middle and ring fingers go into the holes—usually up to the second knuckle, though some prefer a fingertip grip for more "snap." Your palm is the primary surface area. It carries the weight. Your non-dominant hand (the "off-hand") isn't there to provide torque. It’s there to keep the ball from falling off your hand during the backswing. Think of it like a cradle.
Most beginners make the mistake of gripping too tight. Don't. You want your fingers to be like hooks. The friction between your palm and the ball surface does 90% of the work. If you’re squeezing, you’ll miss your target by three boards every time because your release will be "sticky."
Why Your Footwork Is Killing Your Power
Traditional bowling footwork is linear. Four or five steps, straight toward the foul line. Throw that out. Two-handers need a "skip-step" or a "power step."
Watch Osku Palermaa. He’s a pioneer of this. His footwork looks more like a hop-skip than a walk. This isn't just for flair. Because you aren't using your thumb, you can't hold the ball behind you for very long at the peak of the backswing. Gravity wants to pull it down. To compensate, you have to move your feet faster to keep up with the ball's momentum.
The "hop" usually happens on the second-to-last step. It’s a lateral move that clears your hips out of the way. If your hips are square to the lane, you’re going to hit your own leg. Nobody wants a 15-pound polyurethane ball smashing into their kneecap at 18 miles per hour.
You need to create a "slot." By stepping slightly to the left (if you're right-handed) during that power step, you create a massive amount of room for the ball to swing close to your body. Proximity equals leverage. Leverage equals pins flying into the pit like they’ve been hit by a truck.
The Spine Angle and the "Pro Bowler" Crunch
Standard bowling advice usually tells you to stay upright. That’s terrible advice for a two-hander. Look at Kyle Troup. The man has a spine angle that looks like a literal "C" at the point of release.
To get the ball onto the lane smoothly without a thumb, you have to get low. Like, "my-thigh-is-parallel-to-the-floor" low. This puts a massive amount of strain on your lead quad and your core. If you haven't done a sit-up in three years, your first month of learning how to bowl with 2 hands is going to be painful.
The "crunch" happens at the bottom of the swing. You’re essentially folding your torso over the ball. This allows your arms to act as a pendulum while your legs provide the forward drive. It’s a total-body movement. If you try to do it all with your biceps, you’ll end up with a low rev rate and a sore arm. The power comes from the uncoiling of your shoulders and the drive from your legs.
The Release: It’s All About the "Uungluing"
This is where the magic—and the frustration—happens. When you're learning how to bowl with 2 hands, the release feels chaotic at first. In a one-handed shot, the thumb exits, then the fingers. In a two-handed shot, your off-hand comes off the ball first, usually just before the ball reaches your ankle.
Then, your dominant hand does a "suitcases" motion or a "flick."
Because there’s no thumb, your fingers are at the very bottom of the ball. As you pull up, you’re essentially "ripping" the coverstock. This creates the massive RPM (rotations per minute) that defines the modern game. While a "stroker" might hit 250 RPM, a solid two-hander can easily cruise at 450-500 RPM.
But there’s a catch.
More revs mean the ball wants to hook earlier. If you’re playing on a "house shot" (the typical oily middle, dry outside pattern at your local alley), your ball might cross the entire lane and hit the 7-pin. You have to learn to move deep. Two-handers often stand all the way to the left and throw the ball over the middle arrow toward the gutter, letting the rotation bring it back. It's a high-wire act.
Common Myths That Will Mess You Up
People will tell you that two-handed bowling is "cheating." It isn't. The USBC (United States Bowling Congress) has very specific rules about this. As of 2020, if you don't use your thumb, you cannot have a thumb hole in your ball. Every hole must be occupied by a finger. If you have an extra hole, your ball is illegal for sanctioned play.
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Another myth? That it’s easier. It’s actually significantly harder to be consistent.
When you have one hand on the ball, there are fewer variables. With two hands, your off-hand can accidentally "push" the ball, or stay on too long, causing a pulled shot. You have to develop a "passive" second hand. It’s there for the ride, not to drive.
Gear Matters More Than You Think
You cannot use a house ball. Seriously. Stop.
House balls are made of polyester (plastic). They are designed to go straight. If you try to bowl two-handed with a plastic ball, you’ll get the revs, but the ball won't "bite" the lane. You’ll just see it spinning like a top while it slides into the 5-pin.
To actually see the benefits of how to bowl with 2 hands, you need a reactive resin ball. You also need to talk to your driller about "layout." Because you don't use a thumb, the "Center of Gravity" and the "Pin" placement on the ball need to be adjusted. A ball drilled for a one-hander will react completely differently (and often poorly) for a two-hander.
The Physical Toll and Longevity
Let’s be real: this style is violent. It’s hard on the back, the hips, and the trailing knee. Belmonte makes it look effortless because he’s been doing it since he was a toddler using a heavy ball he couldn't lift with one hand.
If you're starting this in your 30s or 40s, stretch. Specifically your hamstrings and your lower back. You’re putting your body into a position of extreme torque. The "side-tilt" required to get the ball around your body puts a lot of shear force on the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
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Is it worth it? Ask the guys winning millions on the PBA tour. The "strike percentage" for two-handers on "off-pocket" hits is statistically higher because of the entry angle. When the ball hits the pocket at 6 degrees instead of 3 degrees, the pins don't just fall—they explode.
How to Practice Without Getting Discouraged
Don't go to the alley and try to bowl three games for a score. You will fail. Your score will be a 85. You’ll hate it.
Start with "foul line drills." Stand at the foul line, get into your finishing lunging position, and just swing the ball. Don't take steps. Just feel the ball roll off your fingers. Do this 50 times. Feel the weight. Feel the friction.
Once you can roll it straight without a thumb from a standstill, add one step. Then add the "power step."
Bowling is a game of muscle memory. If you try to learn the whole approach at once, your brain will short-circuit. Break it down. Footwork first, then the swing, then the release.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
- Plug your thumb holes: If you’re serious, get your equipment legalized. A pro shop can plug the thumb hole and re-balance the ball for a few bucks.
- Film yourself from the side: You think you’re getting low, but you’re probably standing up straight. Use your phone. Compare your spine angle to a pro like Anthony Simonsen.
- Focus on the "flat spot": Try to keep the ball near the floor for as long as possible at the bottom of the swing. Don't "loft" it (throw it into the air) unless the lanes are bone-dry.
- Check your shoulder rotation: Your non-dominant shoulder should be pointed at your target during the backswing, then rotate open as you release. This "unzipping" motion is where the speed comes from.
- Lighten the load: Many two-handers actually drop down to 14 or 15 pounds because the increased rev rate compensates for the loss of mass. Don't be afraid to go lighter to save your joints.
The transition to two-handed bowling is a journey into physics. It’s about managing energy and angular momentum rather than just "aiming." It takes roughly six months of consistent play to stop feeling like a "clown" and start feeling like a "competitor." Stay patient. The first time you see a 10-pin get vaporized by a ball coming in at a ridiculous sideways angle, you’ll never want to put your thumb back in a hole again.