Mastering the Art of Hook Bowling
Preferred by all top bowlers, the hook ball is delivered with a handshake gesture. Hook bowling invariably nets top pinfall.
Of one thing there is no doubt: the hook ball is the best delivery in bowling. The finish of the ball’s course guarantees more pinfall, and to throw it is as easy as shaking hands with your best friend.
That’s probably the best description of a hook ball-the “shake-hands” ball. Through practically the entire delivery, the right hand is held just as though you were going to shake hands.
In throwing a hook, there is practically no strain on the wrist-a strain which definitely is noticed while throwing a straight ball. The shift from a straight ball to the hook ball is going to make you feel like you’re riding a cloud. And you will quickly come to realize why all the top bowlers in the country employ the hook.
The hook ball should start on almost a straight line down the lane. When approximately two thirds of the way down the lane, the ball suddenly veers toward the left, breaking into the pins with full intensity.
It is the powerful hook ball which is called a “heavy” ball. Many times you have watched the game’s leading stars on television and in person, watched them bury a pocket hit for a strike. That’s a heavy ball. Many times you’ve watched them carry light hits. It’s still a heavy ball.
How do you hold the ball in order to throw a hook? Well, the proper position of the fingers is on the right side or slightly lower, whereas in throwing the straight ball the fingers are under the ball. In other words, the position of the thumb for a hook ball is between 9 and 11:30 o’clock-probably closer to 11.
Using the three-holed ball as an example, your middle finger will go into the ball on a horizontal plane. In letting go of the ball, your thumb comes out first, leaving the ball resting upon your fingers. In that split second, you bring your hand straight up, causing the ball to spin from left to right as it starts down the lane.
Make sure that your hand continues to go straight up, preferably to eye level.
Anyone who has the desire can learn to control the hook and it’s hook bowling that brings you good scores.
Don’t, under any circumstances, roll your wrist to the left. It is most important in throwing the hook that the wrist remain firm. In fact, the stiffer the wrist is kept the better results you’ll have with the hook. It will be a hook-not a curve.
It is very important that every hook-ball bowler do his or her utmost to perfect a uniform delivery which will mean the ball does the same thing every time. This uniformity will enable you to lay the ball down to perfection in converting spares. And, remember, conversion of two extra spares a game is the key to improving your average 20 pins per game.
The hook ball carries with it a turning action which causes a greater pin-fall than any other delivery. This and the ease of delivery are the main reasons I recommend it.
Keeping the wrist stiff is one of the keynotes of a well-delivered hook. And, as with another proper ball delivery, the right elbow should be kept close to the body.
Many women have trouble throwing a hook with a short break. In fact, many women throw a wide hook even though they don’t let the wrist turn. And they have a real control problem. They face the problem of allowing that little extra room for the hook, but as soon as they determine the exact status of their delivery they make out okay.
It is also true that some women have a difficult time getting anything on the ball. All it takes is knowledge of what to do- keeping the fingers horizontal and lifting them at the split second the ball is released.
Hook bowling is the key to success in bowling!
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