Next Revolution kicks off in Detroit
October 31, 2009
LIVONIA, Mich. - The Next Revolution, a four-city tour created to showcase the two-handed bowling style of Australian sensation Jason Belmonte, kicked off at Merri-Bowl Lanes on Saturday as he and Team USA member Kim Kearney entertained a crowd of more than 200 bowlers and fans.
The event was designed to give coaches and bowling enthusiasts a closer look at the unique two-handed style that is sweeping the globe and also give participants a chance to revolutionize their oâzwn games with on-lane coaching from Belmonte and Kearney as well as United States Bowling Congress coaches Bryan O'Keefe and Stefanie Nation.
The group spent more than an hour on the lanes with youth and adult bowlers of all ages and skill levels from 13 Detroit-area bowling centers, answered questions submitted by the participants and signed autographs. The youth bowlers then returned to the lanes for a scholarship tournament. The Next Revolution event even featured a few local two-handed bowlers who enjoyed the opportunity to get tips from a two-handed pioneer. In the two-handed approach, the bowler swings the ball with both hands until the release point. This style generates considerably more revolutions as the ball rolls down the lane, resulting in incrâzeased pin action.
"It was incredible just to be able to get some feedback from Jason and hear what he thinks," said Steve Pydyn, a local two-hander who recently watched Belmonte compete at the seven-event Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling in nearby Allen Park, Mich. "He's a real friendly guy, and this was a great experience."
The day concluded with a special Baker match that teamed the top two boys and top two girls from each of the scholarship tournament's two divisions (11 and Under and 12 and Older) with Kearney and Belmonte. Kearney joined the boys, while Belmonte bowled with the girls.
"This was a really fun event," said 11-year-old Ryan Winters of Livonia. "We worked a little bit on how I push the ball away, which definitely helped. I also was excited about the tournament after."
Belmonte's return to the Motor City marked the first of four Next Revolution events scheduled for the Australian. On Sunday, the 26-year-old will team up with Team USA member Diandra Asbaty at Brunswick Zone Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, Ill.
Next Saturday, Belmonte and Colombian star Clara Guerrero will roll into Copperfield Bowling Center in Houston, and then Belmonte will team up with PBA star Chris Barnes at AMF Euless Lanes near Dallas on Sunday.
"The enthusiasm that both the kids and adults here have is more than I ever expected," Belmonte said. "They just seem to love the game, and they're so eager to learn, but they're also here to have fun. Just based on the numbers, I'd say this event is a proven success."
Belmonte, the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year, became the first two-handed bowler to win a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour event by capturing The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic.
During his journey into the spotlight, Belmonte has competed on six continents, winning on four. He has bowled in more than 30 countries and been named World Bowler of the Year on two occasions.
The schedule for the rest of The Next Revolution events (prices and entry fees have been set by the host bowling centers) is as follows:
SUNDAY, NOV. 1
Brunswick Zone Hawthorn
316 Center Drive
Vernon Hills, IL
(847) 367-1600
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty
SATURDAY, NOV. 7
Copperfield Bowling Center
15615 Glen Chase Dr
Houston, TX 77095
(281) 550-8710
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Clara Guerrero
SUNDAY, NOV. 8
AMF Euless Lanes
1901 Airport Freeway
Euless, TX 76040
(817) 540-0303
9 a.m. - USBC Coaching class
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Chris Barnes
The event was designed to give coaches and bowling enthusiasts a closer look at the unique two-handed style that is sweeping the globe and also give participants a chance to revolutionize their oâzwn games with on-lane coaching from Belmonte and Kearney as well as United States Bowling Congress coaches Bryan O'Keefe and Stefanie Nation.
The group spent more than an hour on the lanes with youth and adult bowlers of all ages and skill levels from 13 Detroit-area bowling centers, answered questions submitted by the participants and signed autographs. The youth bowlers then returned to the lanes for a scholarship tournament. The Next Revolution event even featured a few local two-handed bowlers who enjoyed the opportunity to get tips from a two-handed pioneer. In the two-handed approach, the bowler swings the ball with both hands until the release point. This style generates considerably more revolutions as the ball rolls down the lane, resulting in incrâzeased pin action.
"It was incredible just to be able to get some feedback from Jason and hear what he thinks," said Steve Pydyn, a local two-hander who recently watched Belmonte compete at the seven-event Professional Bowlers Association World Series of Bowling in nearby Allen Park, Mich. "He's a real friendly guy, and this was a great experience."
The day concluded with a special Baker match that teamed the top two boys and top two girls from each of the scholarship tournament's two divisions (11 and Under and 12 and Older) with Kearney and Belmonte. Kearney joined the boys, while Belmonte bowled with the girls.
"This was a really fun event," said 11-year-old Ryan Winters of Livonia. "We worked a little bit on how I push the ball away, which definitely helped. I also was excited about the tournament after."
Belmonte's return to the Motor City marked the first of four Next Revolution events scheduled for the Australian. On Sunday, the 26-year-old will team up with Team USA member Diandra Asbaty at Brunswick Zone Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, Ill.
Next Saturday, Belmonte and Colombian star Clara Guerrero will roll into Copperfield Bowling Center in Houston, and then Belmonte will team up with PBA star Chris Barnes at AMF Euless Lanes near Dallas on Sunday.
"The enthusiasm that both the kids and adults here have is more than I ever expected," Belmonte said. "They just seem to love the game, and they're so eager to learn, but they're also here to have fun. Just based on the numbers, I'd say this event is a proven success."
Belmonte, the 2008-09 PBA Rookie of the Year, became the first two-handed bowler to win a Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour event by capturing The Bowling Foundation Long Island Classic.
During his journey into the spotlight, Belmonte has competed on six continents, winning on four. He has bowled in more than 30 countries and been named World Bowler of the Year on two occasions.
The schedule for the rest of The Next Revolution events (prices and entry fees have been set by the host bowling centers) is as follows:
SUNDAY, NOV. 1
Brunswick Zone Hawthorn
316 Center Drive
Vernon Hills, IL
(847) 367-1600
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Diandra Asbaty
SATURDAY, NOV. 7
Copperfield Bowling Center
15615 Glen Chase Dr
Houston, TX 77095
(281) 550-8710
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Clara Guerrero
SUNDAY, NOV. 8
AMF Euless Lanes
1901 Airport Freeway
Euless, TX 76040
(817) 540-0303
9 a.m. - USBC Coaching class
Noon - The Next Revolution
Featuring: Jason Belmonte and Chris Barnes