Skittle players explain unique flop technique

Every so often, a new approach to sports changes the path of those games forever.

The Cruyff Turn altered football, the high jump was changed by the Fosbury Flop, and boxing has not looked the same since Muhammad Ali first debuted his iconic shuffle.

Similarly, the Dorset Flop, which is believed to have originated in the 1970s or 80s, is now common place on the county's skittles lanes.

It involves players holding the ball, or cheese, in two hands and falling forward, as they release it towards the nine skittles at the end of the lane.

The story goes that Dorset players use bigger balls, so to deal with the weight of those balls, some players started playing double handed.

"Well my Dad played double-handed, and I didn't have much of a choice but to go double handed as well," player Richard Pincombe said.

"I've got 70-year-olds in my team and they obviously find it a bit harder to get themselves back up off the alley - but they're still enjoying it."

Skittles involves bowling at pins and has been played for centuries in British pubs and clubs.