Walk into any bowling center on a given night and you’ll find league bowlers with different and unique approaches getting the ball down the lane.

Some people bowl right-handed, some left-handed. Some use short steps, some long steps. Some use a cupped wrist, others break their wrist. Most put their thumb in the ball, some don’t. Some slide with the right foot, some with the “wrong” foot. Some use two hands, some use one hand. Some use wrist braces, some don’t. And on and on…

Unique styles and approaches are what make bowling great. Every person can develop their game the way they want to with the goal of simply getting the ball past the foul line and through the pins.

There are no rules that say we have to throw it this way or that way. The goal for everyone is the same – knock all 10 pins down on every shot.

The United States Bowling Congress rule book simply states: “A delivery is made when the ball leaves the player’s possession and crosses the foul line into playing territory.”

So, why is it that every time a video is posted on social media showing someone doing something outside of what most consider “normal” does the bowling community feel the need to criticize and bash their style?

Specifically, this happens most often with two-handed bowlers like Jason Belmonte and others. However, it recently happened with PBA regional bowler Tim Cagle II, who a couple weekends ago made the stepladder finals at the PBA Double Decker Lanes West/Northwest Open presented by Roto Grip.

Critics on social media called Cagle’s unique approach “ridiculous” and said this “is why bowling will never be an Olympic sport.” Others called it a dumpster fire, “an absolute joke,” “weird” and a “circus.”

Some people came out in Cagle’s defense, including Michael Schwartz, who said “The beauty of bowling is you can do it any way that works for you.”

Yes, most bowlers have a somewhat standard style of standing on the approach and delivering the ball with one hand down the lane. That’s the style that is considered the most traditional, but it does not have to be the only way.

Just because it’s not the way “you” do it, doesn’t make it wrong.

Just because it’s not the way “you” were coached, doesn’t make it wrong.

And just because it’s different, it doesn’t make it wrong.

Let’s stop focusing on what society and tradition tell us what to think and instead embrace and celebrate those who pioneer new and unique ways to master the game we all love.