Belly landing bass

[keithdog]

For 35 years I have lip landed bass and still do to this day. For landing without a net I believe that is the surest way to land your bass. However, I have noticed that many of the tournament pros are now landing their catch by grasping the bass by cupping the belly of the bass while still in the water and lifting it into the boat. Outside of a fear of getting a handfull of hooks, I don't understand why this mthod is catching on as it is. I have seen more than once, a pro fising a tournament attempting to land a bass this way end up with the bass flopping out of their hand. Any ideas why this method is gaing popularity? Curriosity is gettin the best of me.