How To Fix a Bowling Ball Hook

Professional bowlers come in all ages, shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: the hook. Watch any televised Professional Bowlers Association event, and you'll notice that every competitor has some degree of hook on his shot, which allows the ball to connect with more pins than if the bowler were to throw it straight. Not every bowler can execute a good hook shot -- and some are consistently bad, launching their ball into the gutter on a regular basis. You can fix a bad hook with a little attention to detail.

Things You'll Need

  • Bowling ball
  • Bowling shoes
  • Access to bowling alley
  • Friend
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Instructions

    • 1

      Throw a predetermined number of hook shots and see where the balls end up. For a left-hander, the ball should arc from the right side of the lane to the center, while a right-hander will ideally curve the ball from the left side of the lane into the middle. Be sure to throw the same shot each time. Keep your hands in the same position, use the same follow-through, and see if there's a pattern. Have a friend watch from behind to see if you are exhibiting any bad habits that can be easily corrected.

    • 2

      Assess what you're doing wrong. If you're a right-hander and the ball is sliding into the right gutter, then either the ball is too heavy and you simply can't control it as it leaves your hand, or you're not putting enough spin on the ball at the end of your follow-through. If the opposite is happening -- the ball is flying across the lane and winding up in the left gutter -- then you likely have too much spin, or are releasing the ball in the wrong spot. Consult with a friend to go over your assessment.

    • 3

      Look for a spot on the lane, and aim for it. Seeing a rack full of pins in front of you can be daunting, but if you target a spot on the lane much closer to you, your chances of success will likely increase. If you're a righty with a slight hook, then you should aim for a spot just off the middle, 15 feet in front of you and around three or four boards to the right. A ball rolling over that spot should end up in a great position. If your hook is bigger, aim farther away from the middle.

    • 4

      Adjust your footwork to fine-tune your shot. Once you've determined the "close spot" on the lane that gives you the best results, feel free to shift your starting position an inch or two. If you're right-handed, and you're finding that you're hitting the front pin head on, then slide a half-inch to your left and aim for the exact same spot on the lane. This way, your arm release point remains the same, but thanks to the adjustment in your starting stance, the ball should maintain a trajectory that carries it directly into the pocket.

    • 5

      Practice, practice, practice. Getting rid of a bad hook isn't an easy process, but with some correction and repetition, even the most mediocre bowler can become good.