So to make a long story short, I have fairly bad arthritis in my elbow. Im a right hander with a high backswing, higher speed and revs (17mph, ~400rpm estimated) and it's just killing my arm. the problem I have is fully extending my arm (opening my elbow all the way). I've reviewed video and find that even during my most tamed down, smoothest approach, my elbow is bent significantly due to the fact of discomfort and the physical inability to extend it more.

So with that being said, my back and legs and shoulders are perfectly healthy. I can bend and twist just fine. So is going 2 handed going to be less stressful on my elbow, or even more so? Yea I could throw the ball slower and straighter and I can score decent with that, but I find it boring as hell. I'm not a competitive, I just wanna have fun and score decent.

I attempted to let USBC Coaching convert me to two-handed bowling for a research project about 5 years back. To be honest, I found two-handed bowling to be more taxing on the body than one-handed bowling in many ways. I also found that full extension of the arms was one of the keys to successful two-handed bowling. If you watch stills of Belmo and Osku, you'll see that they are very flexible, and their arms often extend completely flat across their chests and extend backward during the backswing. If you can't straighten your bowling arm, you're going to have to limit that backswing, which is also going to slow your speed down a ton. One of the biggest obstacles to two-handed bowling is generating enough ball speed to match up to the rev rate.

Long story short, as much as I hate to discourage you, I'm not sure sure two-handed bowling is going to provide the answer you're looking for. 

Also, I think there are potential long term back issues with the two handed game that may be more of a problem than with traditional styles.  Bringing both arms around to the side puts torque on the lower back, not unlike the golf swing which can also cause lower back issues. Bottom line, I think there are fewer people with the physical attributes necessary for two handed.

Just my 2 cents.  Two handed bowling isnt really two handed.  The release is still one handed as the opposite hand comes off the ball towards the bottom of the downswing.  The hitting zone/release is still one handed.  Therefore; I dont think it will completely alleviate the elbow issues.  You could possibly get some sort of compression sleeve that only goes over the elbow to see if that will help decrease the discomfort.  But even then; I still think the discomfort will linger. 

I am a two hander that has been doing it since 1992/1993.  I personally do not have any back issues as it depends on the amount of turn your upper body has in relation to your lower body.  If you have a lot of turn, like Osku Palermaa; your back is going to bite you hard in the future.  I dont have as much turn as he does.  I stand a little taller at address and dont allow myself to bend at the waist very much during my approach.  I think that has helped my back to stay pretty healthy over the thousands of games I have bowled two handed.  You could try bowling two handed for a few shots practicing just to see how your back and elbow handle it.  If it is fairly pain free; then try a whole game and go from there.  The only person that knows the extent of your discomfort is you.  One thing I want to add is that I turn 42 in a few months.  My rev rate is still over 500 but the speed is still high enough (about 18 at release as opposed to 20 when I started) that I am effective and competitive.  Averaging 235 in league this year.

I have been lucky.

My two sons are physically talented individuals and picked up two handed bowling early.

One thing I have noticed.  To get the most effect(greater speed and revs)  Two handers in general must adopt a skip step.

I have over the last couple of years seen some good bowlers spin a year or so trying to learn two handed without the skip step.  The result sort of a rev heavy loopy slow roll.  Those have mostly reverted back to their one handed style.

I know we have at least one great two hander out here that does perform the skip step.  I am also aware of some very good two handers who use their thumbs.

I say Why?  Why not take the advantage of no thumb(high rev area) bowling and eliminate the disadvantages of no thumb, lack of accuracy and trouble generating speed!  The skip step supplies the speed, the no thumb supplies the extra 100 revs I estimate over the with a thumb style!

The profile of the athletic no- thumb skip- step two hander.  About 19 to 20 mph at the pins and 500 rpms.  (Matched up)The profile of the no skip two hander, about 14 to 17 mph and 370 revs. (Rev heavy).

I am in a slow process of learning two handed after accidentally teaching two sons to get pretty good at it.  (at age to 4 to 6 they wanted to throw heavier balls and did this on their own) mostly to start.

One is very developed in his 20s and other who almost never bowls and is not a teenager yet is improving every chance he gets.

Either a combo of their own talent(probably), decent direction....(I had them look to my eye like Belmo in these areas listed above), or both, seems to have done quite well for them.

Over the summer I anticipate switching slowly to two hand on my dominant right side and seeing if I can surpass my on and off lefty style.  We will see if my ideas can even help an older start up like myself.  So far in limited sessions, it doesn't look bad.

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS That's it....TWOHAND834....he's the guy...the best no skip step two hander I've seen.  I've seen his video.  The only no skip step one I think I've seen that looks good and matches up!  Speed and revs!  How do you do it?

PinBuster,

I don't know as both sons are young.  We have a tall guy about 67 who does it, but doesn't really capture a Lot of the elements of power so his is a just moderate involvement of the style.  Another guy I knew  was near 50 and he had his days but I forget his back...it seemed he had problems.

A youngster no more, I am sure I will go at it quite athletically and seek power as I do with the things I do typically on my right hand side. Already I am Noting the twisting and drive I am developing as being similar to a golf swing.  I will know by the end of the summer if I have developed revs over 400 and how I am holding up!

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS my older 500 + rev son has had some aches and pains here and there with the style.  I note he seems to have cut down a little bit his explosiveness at the release point...and is maybe sliding into a smoother more comfortable 450 to 500 rev range....seems to be plenty.
Early 20s. 

??  Spencer Watts could you expand on your term "stable" in relation to two handers.

Regards,

Luckylefty

I have been lucky.

My two sons are physically talented individuals and picked up two handed bowling early.

One thing I have noticed.  To get the most effect(greater speed and revs)  Two handers in general must adopt a skip step.

I have over the last couple of years seen some good bowlers spin a year or so trying to learn two handed without the skip step.  The result sort of a rev heavy loopy slow roll.  Those have mostly reverted back to their one handed style.

I know we have at least one great two hander out here that does perform the skip step.  I am also aware of some very good two handers who use their thumbs.

I say Why?  Why not take the advantage of no thumb(high rev area) bowling and eliminate the disadvantages of no thumb, lack of accuracy and trouble generating speed!  The skip step supplies the speed, the no thumb supplies the extra 100 revs I estimate over the with a thumb style!

The profile of the athletic no- thumb skip- step two hander.  About 19 to 20 mph at the pins and 500 rpms.  (Matched up)The profile of the no skip two hander, about 14 to 17 mph and 370 revs. (Rev heavy).

I am in a slow process of learning two handed after accidentally teaching two sons to get pretty good at it.  (at age to 4 to 6 they wanted to throw heavier balls and did this on their own) mostly to start.

One is very developed in his 20s and other who almost never bowls and is not a teenager yet is improving every chance he gets.

Either a combo of their own talent(probably), decent direction....(I had them look to my eye like Belmo in these areas listed above), or both, seems to have done quite well for them.

Over the summer I anticipate switching slowly to two hand on my dominant right side and seeing if I can surpass my on and off lefty style.  We will see if my ideas can even help an older start up like myself.  So far in limited sessions, it doesn't look bad.

Regards,

Luckylefty
PS That's it....TWOHAND834....he's the guy...the best no skip step two hander I've seen.  I've seen his video.  The only no skip step one I think I've seen that looks good and matches up!  Speed and revs!  How do you do it?

How do I do it?  Good question.  LOL!  It just comes natural to me.  When I started I was a 5 step delivery (same foot work as when I was a full time 1 hander) and steps were a little quicker to help generate the speed.  After bumping knees with a fellow outfielder chasing a softball; the quicker steps created some inflammation.  So I had to incorporate a sixth step to slow myself down and take pressure off that slide knee.  So far I am pain free in both my knees and back and as I mentioned; I turn 42 in April.  I am still using 16 pound equipment although my spare ball is 14 pounds.  I am in my 32nd season; 20 of which is 2 handed.  IMO........where I think the back issues come from, is the deeper knee bend and bending to much at the waist.  My address both 1 handed and 2 handed are virtually the same.  My footwork is pretty much the same as well.  I think standing taller and not bending at the waist like Osku does takes pressure off the lower back and watching how much my upper body rotates over the lower body does also.  I have played a lot of sports in my life so staying active in that regard probably doesnt hurt either.