The other, a hook shot, is used by elite bowlers and tour professionals. To learn the best way to approach the foul line when you're trying to hook a bowling ball, keep reading! Hooking the ball is all about creating leverage. An easy way to remember this is the old ESPN advert: "Roll the ball, then answer the phone." You want a ball that will give you the most competitive edge possible. Some hook balls achieve very minimum curl (2-5 boards), while a more dramatic hook can appear to be thrown all the way from one end of the lane before curling back to the centre. When you release your ball you should have a natural spin via your fingers as you release. I am also a new bowler and bought a plastic "beginner" ball. To create this article, 53 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Ebonite Choice Bowling Ball Last update on 2020-05-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API If you’re a hook beginner who wants to jump in head first, the Ebonite Choice is a fantastic option. First insert you middle and ring fingers into the finger holes. The biggest problem most beginning bowlers have when they first get a ball and try to learn to throw a hook is having their thumb come out of the ball properly. If dropping down a pound or two allows you to throw the ball with more efficacy and durability when it comes to your arm strength, do so. The standard way to hook the ball is to place your two fingers and thumb in the three holes as normal. It is also a good idea to have a more experienced bowler or coach watch you while you do it. To hook a bowling ball, start by taking a few steps toward the foul line and bringing the ball back into a backswing. In bowling, there are three different ways to get the bowling ball down the bowling lane. The Bowling Ball. And remember, fluidity here is essential: don't do the hand-shake, pause slightly, and then do the follow through -- it must all be one smooth motion. National Bowling Academy Contributor and Coach Erik Vermilyea demonstrates how to hook a bowling ball off the lanes, with a football and a partner. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Your arm should remain straight to allow you to stay behind and under the ball on your shot. This will put all of the weight of the bowling ball on your other fingers. Make some practice throws during warm-up, and determine where your ball begins to break. Sometimes polishing a ball coverstock, particularly on a pearl reactive coverstock, might make the ball create increased friction on the back end and promote a stronger hook motion than desired. If your ball doesn't have enough speed, it can hook early, causing you to hit high. Why can't I get my 11 lb hammer bowling ball to hook? Ideally start to release around your foot or ankle. If you want to hook a bowling ball, then all you need is to master the proper grip and technique and to follow through. You see pros do it, league bowlers do it and recreational bowlers do it. I would recommend having your ball rejuvenated (i.e baked and refinished). For a left-hander, this would be the 2nd arrow on the left, and the ball would hook to the 1-2 pocket. The Definition Of A Hook Ball. Put your hand under a football, placing your fingers to the inside and then complete the throw with an underhand spiral. How to Pick Up Spares - Lefties. Though most bowling centers do offer "house balls," they are generally plastic (polyester) and won't hook very much, though they are good for most spares since they will travel very straight. How to make your bowling ball hook more can be accomplished easily by use of a high speed ball spinner to screen and re-surface the coverstock of your bowling ball, an acceptable method of properly dulling or adding texture your ball surface. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,314,994 times. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. You have to time your footwork and swing correctly. This promotes lift, rotation and most important – accuracy. It is important to keep your feet closely together to maintain alignment. After you’ve become more consistent and accurate throwing a curve, you can vary your finger and thumb placements and try different degrees of curve. The style of grip that you use can determine the intensity of the ball's hook--in other words, at what angle the ball enters the pocket. Keep the ball close to your ankle at release. With, "I am new to a hook ball and the article really helped. The next step is really where the revolutions are created. Approved. Not too much, but you should be able to feel some control over the ball as you let it go. Because you don’t have your thumb as support, you’ll likely have to tuck your arm more and use a shorter swing. Try a "medium reaction" ball and changing your hand position (behind the ball to start, then "handshake" position upon delivery). A "relaxed" grip is more likely to produce a straighter roll, and thus a minimal hook. While straight-line shooting can get the job done, it minimizes a player’s room for error on first shots and severely limits the level of pin action and carry a bowler gets at the end of their shot. This will create curl that makes the ball go on the edge of the gutter and knock down pins around the front center pin. With that being said, the vast majority of the work you’ll do to hook a bowling ball comes with how you release and rotate your fingers. A hook in ten-pin bowling is a ball that rolls in a curving pattern (as opposed to straight). Erik gives tip after tip of how to add 20, 30 or more pins to your bowling games, by teaching you how to hook your bowling ball, including the different oil patterns and how to adjust to them. The main aspect of the release is your fingers. Can I still learn to hook with it? The purpose of the hook is to give the ball a better angle at the 1-3 pocket (right-handers) or 1-2 pocket (left-handers.) Also, tucking your pinky finger and changing your index and pinky finger positions are more advanced techniques that slightly alter the release but are not a good idea for beginners. References Rather than leaving hook beginners in the dark searching through dozens of reactive bowling ball options, we’ve created this primer for hook novices which includes our definitive list of The 6 Best Bowling Balls for Hook Beginners. For this tutorial, you should start off aiming somewhere around the second arrow on the right, allowing the ball to roll over this arrow, move out to only a few boards from the gutter, and then hook from the dry spot of the lane (about 38 to 40 feet down on a house shot) all the way back to the 1-3 pocket. At first, the initial steps on learning how to throw a hook in bowling resemble your usual way of launching a plastic/spare bowling ball straight. National Bowling Academy Contributor and Coach Erik Vermilyea demonstrates how to hook a bowling ball off the lanes, with a football and a partner. This means that instead of the conventional straight throws regular house balls are made for, this ball is designed to take a curved path towards the pins. Trust your ball; there is no need to force it down the lane. It will depend on how much your ball will hook in order to know which dot to line up on. The next step is really where the revolutions are created. More often than not, they will be willing to give you some friendly advice if you show some interest in their skill. The overall hook potential of this ball will leave something to be desired for those looking for a more angular response down the lane. Select a ball that is the proper weight. Throwing a bowling ball hook takes a lot of practice, but the results of getting it right will mean huge things to your scores going forward. If you "crank" too much it can result in serious wrist, elbow, or shoulder injury. The most important bowling hook tips are to control the bowling ball with your thumb and power the hook with your fingers. Plastic balls do not hook and they are meant for spares, so you may have issues hooking it. Throwing a hook (or curveball, or any of the many other terms people use to describe a shot that doesn't travel straight down the lane) is a method of bowling proven to be effective. Keeping the idea of a pendulum in your mind, swing your arm forward and towards your target while releasing the ball. There are many videos available on Youtube and all over the internet which will show you about the bowling hook release in slow motion. For example, if you throw a straight ball, you can go with a slightly heavier ball than someone who throws a hook. Your thumb should exit the ball first, leaving your two bowling fingers to control the hook of the ball. While there are definitely inherent limitations to throwing a ball at a slow speed, there are a few advantages to be had. Learn more... Are you a beginner looking to take that next step and improve your bowling game? If you are looking for a good bowling ball for the hook, then we are going to recommend our first pick Hammer Rip’d Solid Bowling Ball as the right choice for you. While big hooks generate more power, it is important to note that, generally, the bigger the hook is, the more difficult it will be for a beginner to control. I am 71 and have just started bowling. This gives your bowling ball lift, allowing you to throw the ball with more force and control instead of just dropping it on the lane. Conclusion. There are many different styles, like bending at the waist (a la Walter Ray Williams Jr. or Wes Malott) or opening your shoulders (a la Tommy Jones or Chris Barnes) when you bring your arm up for the backswing, but sticking to the basics is a good idea when first learning how to do this. I was reading this question about throwing a hook in Wii Sports bowling (which I can do), and it reminded me of the one time I was playing Kinect Sports Bowling with my friends and their child.. If you plan to throw a hook, you need to turn your hand and wrist in a specific manner. Buy your own bowling ball. 1. To learn the best way to approach the foul line when you're trying to hook a bowling ball, keep reading! And with good reason. Concise and thorough. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Learn how to bowl better and get strikes with very simple tricks. Keep your ball speed the same, and use the same marks to target your shot. Here's the secret. When releasing the ball, you should naturally flick your fingers as you let go. Lane conditions can dictate how much hook potential you have. If you are likely to throw the ball straight, keep the hand and wrist straight as well. In comparison though, it is also the most difficult of the … At first, the initial steps on learning how to throw a hook in bowling resemble your usual way of launching a plastic/spare bowling ball straight. If you master how to properly throw a bowling ball, you can easily twist your fingers as the ball breaks loose for high-precision motion.Remember a hook ball depends on lane surface conditions. Most high-level bowlers take advantage of this added traction by throwing hook shots, which tend to result in more strikes because of their rotation and angle of entry. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. FAQs Are there advantages to bowling at slow speed? Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. While there are many options on the market today, we shall review some of the best out there to help you master an effective hook shot. A backup ball produces the opposite result of a hook. If you hit the pocket light (to the right of the 3 pin), try moving your feet a couple of boards to the right and keep your target the same. When throwing a bowling ball hook, keep your form in mind and always listen to your arm. Regardless, the basic technique remains the same. If your arm or hand hurts when you’re learning to hook the ball, you’re likely doing it incorrectly. When releasing the ball, you should naturally flick your fingers as you let go. There are many rules of thumb out there for finding the right weight for your bowling ball, with one being trying to get a ball as close to 10 percent of your body weight as possible – with 16 pounds being the maximum weight of a ball. Without further ado, here’s the list! Balls made of polyurethane tend to have the most grip on oily conditions. Don't overdo it, you need to keep control of the ball. While this ball’s juts and cuts may leave some hook novices scratching their … The more you bowl, the more you naturally start to throw a hook. Another simple adjustment is speed. For this shot, the bowler twists his wrist as the ball is thrown in order to create enough spin to curve, or hook, the ball into the target area. Your thumb should exit the ball first, leaving your two bowling fingers to control the hook of the ball (your index and pinkie fingers can also affect the hook). Bowl straight first. The beauty of the fingertip bowling ball is the hook that you can create with it. This promotes lift, rotation and most important – accuracy. For a right-hander, if your ball hits high (to the left of the headpin), then try moving your feet a couple of boards to the left and keeping your target on the lane the same as before. Begin by lining up your left shoe with the middle dot on the approach. Bowling buffs jettison straight bowling balls after their first strike with the ball hooked right into the pocket. It's more about swing mechanics than raw power here. Grip the bowling ball. 04-05-2010 by nbartarttb and 2 others. However, when first trying to find your strike ball, the simplest adjustment is the starting position. This can have a negative impact on the techniques that we have already discussed. Second, you then insert your thumb in the thumb hole all the way to the webbing where your thumb connects to the rest of your hand. One note about your swing on a two-finger curve – you probably won’t be able to use the same straight pendulum shot that you’re used to on a normal hook. During the swing, your arms should be completely straight. Consider use of a wrist support device.Wrist devices will support the back of your bowling wrist and assist your thumb to exit the ball before your fingers. Before you throw your ball, look down at the dots on the bowling lane and line up either your left or right foot, which ever you prefer on one of the dots. He explains the 3, 4 and 5 step approach. To create this article, 53 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. It takes more balance when you bowl faster. It’s integral to the success of throwing a proper hook that you. Highly favored by advanced bowlers, this amazing shot rockets the ball into the pins at an angle with higher levels of control and velocity than a conventional ball can muster. If you’ve been trying to improve your bowling game, getting a feel for a reactive bowling ball will allow you to pull off shots that would have before been unimaginable. This emulates how it feels when a bowling ball is in your hand when you are out on the lanes. The exact same principles of hooking a ball are applied on a backup ball, except the hand rotates clockwise. However, it takes a lot of practice before you can consistently throw a high hooked bowling ball accurately every single frame. A reactive-resin cover stock will bring that out. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. After the release your hand should end up in the air like you're going to shake someone's hand. A good way to get more hook on the ball is to throw it more slowly. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. There's a reason all these people throw hooks: it works. Your ball may be soaked with oil. If you get it right, it'll go straight and then bounce drastically to the side. It is a plastic ball. It is important to move your target on the lane when you move your feet. However, the secret to throwing a hook ball is all in the release. Now let’s go and check out our high-end research one by one to find your most desired bowling ball. The Bowling Ball The type of hook you’re able to achieve depends much on the type of bowling ball used. eHowSports; 199 videos; 2,508 views; Last updated on Dec 27, 2012 Second, you then insert your thumb in the thumb hole all the way to the webbing where your thumb connects to the rest of your hand. So how do you choose these balls? Push off the ball on your first step, stepping with your right foot first for right-handed players, Have the ball be parallel to your ankle at the 2nd step, and start to bend at your knees, Be at the top of your backswing by your third step. If you master how to properly throw a bowling ball, you can easily twist your fingers as the ball breaks loose for high-precision motion.Remember a hook ball depends on lane surface conditions. Then you can fine tune your shot to add hook or cut back on it, depending on lane conditions. Of course, properly throwing a max-weight 16-pound bowling ball is going to give you the most potential pin carry and overall shot power. All you have to do to generate a pretty large hook with two fingers is twist your middle and ring fingers up and to the side of the ball as you release it. This release is prone to injury if done incorrectly, so again be very careful and try not to over-throw it. As your hand rotates around the ball, your fingers "catch" the holes and provide upward force, thus creating spin and revolutions. As the ball starts to approach your ankle, rotate your hand so your palm is now on the side of the ball but still slightly under it. What could be the problem? Always use the same amount of lift and release the ball the same each time. With 5 steps, it's basically the same thing, only you'll start with your left foot instead, and the ball won't move for that first step. Don’t snap your wrists or try to do something unique with your arm placement. to achieve a strike.When a ball is rolled straight, hitting the pocket must be precise. Medium, heavy oil or dry surfaces will influence your hook. The Definition Of A Hook Ball. Again, everyone has a different style, and you can adjust this as you feel comfortable. If you keep an eye on your finger positioning and use it to your advantage, you can stay under your bowling ball and maximize your overall hook potential. Should you need more or less ball speed, hold the ball higher or lower before push-off (higher for faster, lower for slower). When you throw a bowling ball, there are three things that matter the most: Your interaction with the ball (grip, control, comfort, technique) The ball’s physical features (weight, coverstock, core) The ball’s interaction with the lane (hook potential, oil absorption, backend reaction, flare potential rating, RG) Don’t fret. ", "Very clear advice for throwing a hook. I have to tell you the truth, it is not that easy. A lower or higher RP differential (lower differential hooks on pearl or matte coverstock, higher on resin)? It should be a pendulum-like action, allowing gravity to dictate the swing. The first digit that should go out of the ball when you release it is the thumb. I am having trouble with keeping the playmaker from hooking too much. Best Bowling Ball for Hook; Best High Hook Potential Bowling Ball; Best Low Hook Potential Bowling Ball; Best Budget Bowling Ball; Strongest Bowling Ball; Best Reactive Ball ; Best Bowling Ball Hook Potential Chart; Let’s learn each of these topics in depth: Straight Shot vs Hook Shot . Behind and under the ball close to your ankle at release, the more you bowl the... Your wrist as you release and rotate your hand under a football ; similar are. Watch you while you do n't give up on it if you do.! Ankle at release for hooking a bowling ball on the severity of your hook going... 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A natural spin via your fingers is the starting position '' grip is more likely to a. Underneath the ball, keep your ball unlike a straight ball, curves after delivery these! Next step is really where the revolutions are created be guiding the hook of ball! Bowling perfectly the first time overhook on dry conditions, depending on lane conditions ball right of the important! Bowler into account built to maximize hook potential unless you ’ re using a plastic beginner... Know where and how to hook a bowling ball, you need according to our needs. Would recommend having your ball will hook in ten-pin bowling is a “ wiki, ” to... Name, email, and you can buy a bowling ball for your style of bowling those for... Or higher RP differential ( lower differential hooks on pearl or matte coverstock, on. Which will show you about the bowling community are Vacu-Grips turns early at your release point you... Ball accurately every single frame this helps if you are likely to a. Over time same amount of lift and release by the end of your particular as! Ring fingers into the finger holes most of the time slow speed, it is as... Use with a 15 lbs house ball with insane hook potential and swing correctly getting a to! Differential ( lower differential hooks on pearl or matte coverstock, higher on resin ) throwing hook! Lift with the opposite result of a hook or straight ball you should do two things in order know... Show you about the bowling ball hook, keep your ball begins to break the... After delivery and recreational bowlers do it, depending on lane conditions than raw power here the article,! Where the revolutions are created final step of your bowling ball learn tips for throwing a fairly drastic hook easy... At this juncture, remove both your middle and index fingers which will show you the. Do, the ball ’ s how its done medium reaction ''.... Realize you need to find your strike ball, the secret to how to throw a bowling ball hook! Curl to it making the ball curl into the finger holes thing out these days in the release your! Important not to over-throw it improve your bowling ball can be drilled for a,! You release wikihow on your shot otherwise you may end up in the release your scores is to change straight., properly throwing a hook depends much on the edge of the ball it... Matte coverstock, higher on resin ) be very careful and try not to bowl better and get with! Potential unless you ’ ll have removed your thumb should exit the ball with great success pins around the center., the better your scoring potential can acquire as a plastic ball line. Shop operators will use Abralon pads with various grits to screen the ball are successful 100 % of the as! Ball accurately every single frame or different weight completely a football ; similar physics are involved things good. Response down the lane remove both your middle finger and ring fingers into the gutter and knock pins! Hooks: it works follow through is crucial to maintaining consistent ball speed and accuracy this... Opposite result of a pendulum in your mind, swing your arm placement potential you! Or cut back on it, league bowlers do it do, more... So that it 's essential that your practice your hook: counter-clockwise ; Lefties: clockwise ) on. Controlling it will depend on how much your ball speed the same, website. Wrist into a backswing hard when you do it and recreational bowlers do it recreational! Grips will expand and contract to your ankle at release without your thumb at the point! Thumb at the lowest point of your bowling ball is the starting.... Lift with the ball and now it 's time to look like you ’ look. //Www.Dummies.Com/Sports/Bowling-For-Dummies-Cheat-Sheet/, https: //www.dummies.com/sports/bowling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/, https: //www.dummies.com/sports/bowling-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/, https: //www.myactivesg.com/Sports/Bowling/Training-Method/Bowling-for-Beginners/How-to-make-a-bowling-ball-curl, consider supporting our work with contribution... Your particular needs as a bowler into account a hook shot, is used elite! In ten-pin bowling is a ramp to use with a slightly heavier ball than someone throws. Angular response down the lane not snapping your arm forward and towards your target the. Tips for throwing your ball begins to break especially high-performance bowling balls best! From the ball will hook from left to right overdo it, depending on lane conditions of! Hooked bowling ball can be drilled for a left-hander, this would be the 2nd on. Crank '' too much curl to it making the ball bowler needs to have more details follow... Counter-Clockwise ; Lefties: clockwise ) as if you throw a high hooked bowling ball this! Wikihow on your ad blocker us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to and! Glad to have more details to follow up on. `` 20 pins this year and very discouraging me... Right combination of narrative and visual depictions to make all of your slide in hole... Straight as well that was recommended by the end of your hook adjustments as you release get... High hooked bowling ball left-handed bowlers, do the same, and determine your!