John Wall has the strangest bowling form

The Wizards took our suggestion and went bowling (at the White House!) during an off night on Wednesday, which is fitting because they’re struggling as badly as the rival Cavaliers were before their season-saving trip to the lanes in mid-January. While watching the above video, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post made an interesting discovery: John Wall has an odd bowling form.

I had never seen this before, but when I posed that to fellow editors, they told me people do this.

ME: “Does anyone bowl backwards like that? Is that a thing people do?”

MARK SANDRITTER: “I’ve seen people do that backhand bowling fling thing to put reverse spin or whatever.”

ME: “Why would you want reverse spin when bowling?”

KEVIN MCCAULEY: “I’ve done it. I find it easier.”

ME: “Really? Why? Can you explain how it works?”

KM: “I suck at bowling and when I bowl regular, I get a high percentage of gutter balls. I find it easier to not gutterball backhand.”

ME: “Wouldn’t it hurt your wrist?”

KM: “It has not.”

MS: (drops this video)

MP: “Does it help you control the roll better? Just because you put special spin on it?”

KM: “I dunno. I just ... I screw up and end up bowling not straight when bowling regular. I end up bowling straight backhand.”

MP: “Interesting. Can I put this in the post?”

KM: “Yes, Mike. You can tell the world I suck at bowling.”

***

Sorry, Kevin, but it’s for an important cause. Turns out bowling while bending your wrist backwards is like hitting with a Western grip in tennis. It’s unconventional, but some people still do it.