Athletes take on all sorts of styles and skills to help gain momentum in their sport. And as great as it may be always go by the book, sometimes it takes an unorthodox approach to bring an even stronger game. At least that’s how Tim Wolchko became a champion bowler.

Wolchko, a high school junior from New Jersey, recently won the state’s bowling championship by utilizing a very different technique. Instead of holding and rolling the bowling ball with one hand, he uses both. Below is a short video that demonstrates his uniquely unorthodox style (direct link):

Most often, we find that completing a process in the typical and standard fashion is the best, most successful way possible. Yet, as Wolchko proves above, sometimes adhering to convention simply feels wrong or worse yet, limits ability.

Out of the box methods, as bizarre as they may initially seem, can help fuel innovation and develop new guidelines that in time become the norm. Take for example the forward pass in football. Though the technique existed in the early days of the game, it was used more so as a trick play. Nowadays, passing to a sprinting wide receiver is by no means odd. In fact, it’s a regular occurrence that often ends in yardage gained or perhaps even a touchdown. And despite all the tradition that comes with America’s favorite sport, it’s certainly hard to imagine what the game would be like if coaches and teams didn’t test the waters throughout the years to develop new ways of reaching victory.

Success has many definitions, but one thing is for sure: there’s more than just one right way to achieve it. The key is finding a process that works for you and utilizing it to the best of your ability. So don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas. They just may become the breakthrough you’ve been looking for.

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