Ugly Bowling Styles | Most Unorthodox Bowling Styles in PBA History

In this video I look at some of the most unorthodox bowling styles of all time. These bowlers may have had strange styles, but there were still very successful.
Which player do you think has the most unusual bowling style?
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pba bowling // unorthordox pba bowling // unorthordox bowling styles // pba bowling 2024

[@Chicken_o7]

"If it looks stupid but it works, it ain't stupid"

[@patyarns7760]

Amen you're right. If it looks stupid but works, then it isn't stupid.

[@alonzotanner1226]

Yup. That's why there are a lot of idiots who constantly defend two handed bowling today. Really stupid.

[@patyarns7760]

@Chicken_o7 what I don't like are some of these coaches who want everyone to bowl the way they want them to bowl. They want all of their students to look perfect at the foul line, on the approach and right before the point of release. There's no specific way to roll the ball, it's always been about accuracy as well as precision. It's sad and pathetic enough how our great sport has lost some integrity because of these stupid steroid balls, plus these tender lane surfaces. There's an idiot in LA by the name of Joe Jimenez, who thinks every bowler should look like he wants them to look or bowl " HIS WAY". He tried changing my game and I told him to drop dead, because I've won 4 times more scratch tournaments than him. Some people aren't happy unless their controlling someone.🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@patyarns7760]

@Chicken_o7 there was Todd Strebel who made a TV finals in the late 70s and had a backswing higher than PDW. There was also Todd M. Thompson who used to press his fingers on the ball til he released it at the line. I love watching Ron Williams because he was so darn accurate.

[@caseycuster87]

Wayne had double knee surgery after falling down a flight of stairs. He runs my local bowl and still enjoy watching him

[@patyarns7760]

Wayne is a great bowler. I bowled against on the PBA Western Regional tour from 2002 to 2012. He's a class act to.

[@jcookster74]

@@caseycuster87 Yeah great bowler and he changed his approach later in the 80's I remember to more conventional style but it the early 80's he used to start with the ball down by his legs which was different but still had an amazing backswing and follow through so it was just the start that was unusual.

[@thesprinklerguy2598]

Bowling is probably the only sport I consistently like playing and have been thinking of picking it up and joining a league lately. I need to buy all the equipment and practice as I'm only used to house balls.. I can bowl a consistent 120-140 with no hook and have bowled 150-175 several times only playing a few times a year max. I think with the right ball/s and practice I can bowl 200+ games. I love the smell and how it just brings me back to the childhood days.

[@robe6846]

Do it

[@stevenbrown7042]

I always liked the old style button up bowling shirts over the modern style. My USBC team is bringing that style back

[@525crazz]

You should do a video about showcasing the "Smoothest" bowling style and the bowler with the prettiest game. The Smoothest would definitely be someone like Earl Anthony or Mike Aulby. The prettiest styles would be someone like Parker Bohn, Pete Weber, or David Ozio

[@anderstauschristensen9184]

smoothest?? brother man Thats Deffo Mike Fagan

[@positivejames]

@@anderstauschristensen9184I agree with ya on that. Fagan is really smooth

[@Steve.Orland]

Francois Lavoie, Kris Prather, Wes Malott, Gary Faulkner, Machuga, maybe Mike Devaney and even Simonsen when he’s playing the outside

[@noah3508]

Mitch Hupe

[@anderstauschristensen9184]

@@noah3508 True

[@minh8080]

Might not be a pro yet but Tim Cagle is something else.

[@ian.s5951]

Thought he had like 3 titles

[@TonysMusic1974]

As far as I know, he is a member of the PBA, which just requires paying of dues. He's also won some regionals I think.

[@jcookster74]

Ron Williams, Mats Karlsson, Scott Devers and Wayne Webb in the early 80's when he held the ball super low are three that come to mind.

[@allanlepage2089]

I remember three of those names. Ron Williams Karlsson & Webb. Ron Williams was especially unusual with his bowling style.

[@meslem99]

I love Sports and bowling history. I bowl in a couple leagues at Tarsio's lanes. I think it was originally owned by Lou Campi and Pat Tarsio in the beginning. There's a great picture of Campi on his approach, "Wrong Shoe Lou"

[@chaos0852]

Tim Cagle III, a true two handed bowler. That’s right, he uses both hands to deliver the ball!

[@OneManMutiny]

HADOKEN!

[@Samuel-xs2yv]

Over a hundred 800 series is an insane stat

[@williamford9564]

Yes, but it is on house shots. There are 250 league average bowlers with dozens of 800s who would struggle to average 200 on a tour condition.

[@KJ4VGA]

​@@williamford9564 its still an insane stat man ... Not to mention he can clearly score on tour conditions too. Theres always atleast one of these dickheads in the comments 🙄.

[@toddmaniatoddmania9844]

Ted Hannahs, Ron Williams, Scott Devers, Steve Westberg, Sam Flanagan

[@zachsnyder5444]

DJ Archer, any of the asian 'spinner' bowlers, shawn maldonado, both Lavery-Spahr brothers, Mitchell Hupe are all pretty wacky too. For their own reasons

[@oldgoat50]

I have Earl Anthony's autograph made out to me when he was at casino in Wisconsin around 83-84.

[@enigma8464]

I always thought i was unique. I never knew of Tom Dougherty or Tom Smallwood etc before i started bowling 10 years ago. Due to intense injuries and problems, I bowl one handed no thumb. I have next to no knee bend, and can't bend my back. I make everything hook, and struggle with urethane. My go to ball in winter is my plastic ball lol. Main line with the plastic ball is 15 at the arrows to around 8-9 breakpoint. Sometimes get as wide as 5-2 board and still comes in nicely.

[@omegavladosovich6757]

Chad Mclean, Technical Director for Storm - has such a low swing but really gets a lot of hand in it and revs Matt Jones - Generates torque from a side-to-side swing sang_hoon_92 - Korean no-thumb release with ridiculously slow ball speed Tom Baker - High axis tilt (spinner with hook) Sally_Bowl - Japanese female bowler with high bent-elbow backswing (like a modern-day Ron Williams)

[@tonyjenkins2722]

Yes, would love to see more

[@enigmazero8624]

Here’s a name to look up for part 2: Ken McNeeley

[@Tarquin21723]

I Bowl in the Style as Lou Campi. It always felt super awkward to land on my left foot. My Mom was a League Bowler and tried to get me to Bowl "the right way," but I always felt off balance. So, I land on my right with lots of follow through and velocity. I throw a 12lbs ball straight at 20mph consistently.

[@komoru]

Mike Lichstein needs an entry into this video.

[@patyarns7760]

@komoru Mike is dynamite and I've had the pleasure of meeting him lol.

[@UhKimboze]

Tomas Kayhko and Brandon Novak are my favorite unusual styles to watch.

[@jcookster74]

@uhkimboze I don't think we will be seeing any more videos of Novak after his arrest and criminal charges.

[@tomwujek4867]

@@jcookster74 Yep. Ever since Novak was arrested at the US Open by the feds, he probably isn't getting out anytime soon.

[@chipman844]

@@tomwujek4867 he got a total of eight years and four months in jail.

[@tomwujek4867]

@@chipman844 Thanks for the update. I haven't been following that case other than the fact he was arrested.

[@UhKimboze]

@@jcookster74I’m just now seeing this comment sorry. Yeah it’s a shame that he was guilty of such a terrible thing. I loved to watch his technique it was so bizarre, I found it fascinating that bro could repeat the same shots with any type of consistency bowling that way. Oh well. Justice was served.

[@OversizedPeanut]

Bro I bowl as a right handed counterhook for like 3 years now and I can say it has served me well

[@ronjohnson3042]

You need to cast your eyes over Scott Devers, a lefty who was a four time PBA Champion in the late 80s early 90s. Cannot believe that he did not make your first list. I understand Wayne Garber had a serious injury which forced a change in style.

[@tomwujek4867]

Ever since Garber was on TV, his style is a little more traditional now with 5 steps. Still has the high backswing but uses shorter steps.

[@Mage_Nichlas_]

I actually let go of the ball on my right foot and stop on my left. I feel a lot more graceful than I look but carrying between a 190 to 200 average says enough for me. But some of the locals here get interesting. There's this one leftie who seems like he's held up by a miracle most of the time he throws the ball, a rightie who lines up and starts his approach with his feet at a 90 degree angle, and the owner who showed some of us how he throws the ball one handed with no thumb and has one of the highest averages in the league and it would absolutely destroy my arm after 4 frames.

[@andrewphillips8790]

For me it was always about rhythm, a friend of mine always had a song in his head!

[@sm4r7sh4d3r]

You just need to look at your local league, so many with unique approaches. Its very interesting :)

[@LukeIson]

Crazy how he still says buttroff and not buttruff

[@Shlankyman545]

Almost like he’s got an accent and therefore pronounces words a little differently.

[@heartfanjim01]

At least he didn't say Buttrub.🤣🤣🤣

[@kennethgodwin2461]

How?

[@darrenchambers3042]

Didn't Garber have a nasty fall at a bowling alley and messed up his knees? That is why he has such an odd approach I believe.

[@dylanfry7978]

Fell down a flight of stairs from what I knew.

[@darrenchambers3042]

@@dylanfry7978 Yeah I looked it up he fell down the stairs at a hotel when he was in Reno for an event. He worked his butt off to overcome that injury.

[@patyarns7760]

@darrenchambers3042 yes he did have a very bad fall.

[@alinevenorion4718]

Bobby Campagnale as the Human Hurricane makes me wonder what his joints are made of every time I see him throw a ball.

[@patyarns7760]

I know Bobby personally and at age 44 he's starting to have physical problems with his forearms and upper body, because he's never worked out plus he smokes like a chimney. I'm 58 and in 3 times better physical shape than him, I've also won 70 plus scratch tournaments since turning adult at age 17 in 1983. Don't ever sponsor Bobby, because I know for a fact he didn't pay a few of his sponsors all of their cut like he was supposed to.

[@alinevenorion4718]

@@patyarns7760 “I know he didn’t pay a few of his sponsors” yeah that’s been known since Del Rosa/Arrowhead about 20 years ago, I knew him at Empire around about 2006-2015.

[@noelmoralde6242]

Wayne should just do a simple 1-step approach instead of making it look complicated by those extra ‘ugly’ steps. Saves time, energy, etc.

[@CasualGamerPlays]

Butturff has the ugliest but, unique roll and release. I'm always afraid he's going to break his wrist, even though he's one of the most consistent pro bowlers. I too have an ugly style, i bowl with 2 fingers, no thumb and people find my style or form to be unorthodox and ugly lol. Thanks for the video

[@jcookster74]

@@CasualGamerPlays I believe if I'm not mistaken Butturff is double jointed which is how he is able to roll his wrist like that and with a conventional grip.

[@Richman-iw4tv]

Surprised you didn’t include Rudy Revs on this list. He didn’t do that much on the tour but was one of the best “ money” bowlers around. At one time anyway.

[@nutloaf]

Charles Barkley's golf swing before he made the change was unreal. How on earth he hit the ball is anyone's guess.

[@bigfighter01]

I read that Wayne Garber must have some type of injury in his legs. He can’t bend then very well. That’s why he bowls like he bowls

[@chaos0852]

I believe he has a back injury

[@dylanfry7978]

@@chaos0852Double Knee Surgery

[@LiamGlover-h9u]

Some more are Tim Kagel III and there are some 2 handers that will get the ball very far to rhe other side which looks odd like kevin williams and wesley low, all 3 are amazing bowler whom i look up to

[@tonyrauls1941]

I like watching Jacob, he doesn't bore me like 99% of lefties who throw urethane 350 rpm down 2nd arrow to the 5 board all tournament without ever having to make an adjustment. Let the hate flow 😂 please know that I don't care 😘

[@jcookster74]

@tonyrauls1941 Jakob is one of my favorites. When he is lined up he can strike with any professional. I was lucky to bowl at a Pro Am with him in Las Vegas in 2019 and he out of the blue gave me an autographed bowling ball which I thought was awesome. It's weird seeing the full finger holes especially from a professional. I was already a fan of him now I am a fan for life.

[@adamrobinette6832]

Butruff uses his hypermobility to his advantage to get so much of the ball in his release for the insane revs he gets.

[@cousinjohncarstuff4568]

Ron "The King" WIlliams. Don Carter with the bent elbow.

[@khristianasaro1699]

I got the same style as Jakob Buttruf but my approach is shorter

[@Nlangkirby135]

Wayne Garber made his bowling style like that since he has bad knees.

[@Bowlingthunderstormman]

Lue campi crossed the foul line 😂

[@patyarns7760]

@Bowlingthunderstormman no he didn't cross the foul line. Stop being a hater. I watched videos of Lou Campi " not Lue", bowling and he didn't cross the foul line.

[@patyarns7760]

Watch more carefully, his foot doesn't go across the line. I bowled against Wayne in the 10 years I was a PBA Member and I got to watch his game carefully. You're barking up the wrong tree.

[@Bowlingthunderstormman]

@@patyarns7760 wow that’s cool

[@pebbleschan6085]

They don’t look unusual to me _ Apart from Jakie & Lou they’re just slow and deliberate with some requiring additional strength. Lou’s method ensures you don’t drop your shoulder during the swing ensuring consistency. One of my league players bowled identically to Lou and she had a very high average. 🎉 That style worked well on the real wood lanes and pre-1984 bowling balls.

[@caleb8078]

Ive always said butruff looks like an angry gremlin running when he balls i love and hate it haha

[@wrongfootbowler]

🙋🏻 you forgot to put me in your video

[@TheZotmeister]

Saw the title, immediately thought "Like Butturff?" and sure enough, the first 80 seconds...

[@natejohnson5313]

What about the pro who wore a sock over his shoe he slides with..Jim Johnson maybe?

[@brandonparkinson7086]

Mike Lindstein has entered the chat one of the greatest bowlers of all time but a strange approach and release.

[@michaeljamrozy4299]

Time clock has been adjusted that you have x amt of time to start your delivery, so it's sort of irrelevant if your style is on the slower side

[@rck1322]

This mans name is BUT TURF and bowls like that... wild

[@Redeemedbylove1987]

My wife has a strange style. She has a hard time even picking up the ball. Then, she throws it right in the gutter shortly after falling down.

[@Eclipsee300]

Everyone i know says buttruff runs to the foul line like a penguin

[@AverageLeagueHack]

How can you see anything else?

[@sriley064]

Should've went with visually offensive

[@1vanGaming]

"ugly bowling styles" is crazy

[@philmartin4863]

Lou campi from dumont nj. I thought we were only famous for the iceman. The mafia hitman.

[@MarcusHalverstram]

There is an old saying, "it doesn't matter how you get the ball down the lane, as long as you can repeat consistently, and strike, that's all that really matters." That's a pretty long and convoluted saying but ok

[@BooyaCS]

Miki Nishamura (sp) Ronnie Russel, Don Carter,

[@omegavladosovich6757]

Yumiko Sato has a similar swing to Miki but she doesn't get as much axis tilt

[@Riz2336]

I’ve never heard a right handed bowler using his right foot as his sliding foot

[@jerryalexander8803]

PBA made sure to get that Purple Hammer out of Butturff’s hand 😂

[@TonysMusic1974]

Tim Cagle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@PapasHobbyGarage]

I'm from Jersey, and I also bowl wrong footed

[@patyarns7760]

@PapasHobbyGarage whatever works. If it works for you that's all that matters. Jersey has a ton of bowling tournaments and has had some great bowlers come from there like Jeff Morin, Teata Semiz, Ed Ditolla RIP and Tony Rosamilia.

[@PapasHobbyGarage]

@patyarns7760 I am still a beginner with an average of 160. I will never be great, but with luck and practice, I may be good someday.

[@patyarns7760]

@PapasHobbyGarage you've got the right attitude my friend. Perseverance is what it's all about. I've been at it since the age of 5 in 1971 and I've won 70 plus scratch tournaments since 1983, when I turned adult at age 17. I also was a PBA Regional member for 10 years til 2012, as well as having won 10 sport shot scratch tournaments. Best of luck and wishes to you in bowling.

[@juntaoreagent]

Wayne Garber is as if Lurch from the Adam's Family bowled

[@misterjjbro]

have a guy at my local centre who will literally twist his wrist around in a figure eight in his backswing before he throws it .

[@SirJoelsuf1]

Tim Cagle tho Dude's won I think five regional titles too.

[@jamesbrunner741]

As someone who throws a wicked hook and doesn't use the thumb hole...

[@EricSepulveda]

So long as they "MAKE HIM EARN IT"

[@PaanHilmi]

another 2. Bobby campangle. Erich Pisarski

[@lonestarpatriot876]

Just shows that there is more than one way to skin a cat. We are not all robots.

[@LordBlocking]

PLS DO TIM CAGLE

[@MavMPlays07]

Lou Campi end on his wrong foot because he played bocce before playing bowling, hence why

[@MrGilfred]

I would've made it five by adding in professional bowler Ron Williams. Check him out to see what I am talking about.

[@ownagebox]

I can't hit shit but the ball goes so fast that the pins explode if i do hit something 😮

[@beetleworks738]

I throw slingshot style

[@333fux8]

Serious waste of time to include entire games worth of shots to this

[@haskell420]

Where is Rudy "Revs" Kasimakas??

[@jamesnorton7601]

Joe Firpo. Blaze Bordello

[@Quackz86]

i bowl flick Wrist 220 average

[@abelvelazco5450]

They’re pro and I’m not so they’re doing something right I think 😅

[@DrakeLavenderZXShorts]

Omg

[@jpatascher]

Smallwood

[@remoevans7847]

Definitely ugly, but that’s what also makes it unique.

[@Mike-n6u9t]

Mike Liechtenstein

[@guitarzan5328]

Jeff Roche... _yikes._

[@leroyosborne4492]

Brandon Novak

[@RrMm-v1x]

😂❤

[@Xaniker]

You prefaced this so long I got bored and moved on.

[@jamesa6272]

I’d rather watch the weird release respecting them using 3 fingers in the ball instead of any bowler who uses 2 fingers and 2 hands.

[@alonzotanner1226]

What about Ron Williams? I seriously thought he'd be automatic for a video like this. Go look up his form. There's also Wayne Webb like in the 80s and 90s, he'd hang his ball down without touching hit with his left hand. Roger Bowker did the same thing. Dick Weber had no follow through in his form which was ugly and it amazes me as much as legend as he is for the sport, fans never acknowledge his form was ugly. Patrick Allen also had an ugly lefty form. Very messy, plus he always looks down at his bowling ball for like 10 seconds before every approach which always drove me up the wall. Come on, man you need to do more research before putting these videos out! Gotta make em more complete! (Oh btw, two handed bowling sucks. Everyone who does it should be in this video too!)

[@anandguruji83]

Ugly Bowling Styles | Most Unorthodox Bowling Styles in PBA History

[@anandguruji83]

Ugly Bowling Styles | Most Unorthodox Bowling Styles in PBA History

[@benjaminchang1382]

by all means it is ugly

[@ThePikaprince]

The irony of you making this video...

[@EGGJAZZ]

tim cagle ii

[@wilberttulner4664]

Brandon Novak