Tips on Hooking a Bowling Ball

Most amateur bowlers roll their balls straight down the center of the alley toward the head pin, but the best bowlers throw a hook. A hook release causes the ball to bend into the front few pins. A hook offers a notable advantage to straight bowling. The ball plows through the heart of the rack and maximizes the number of pins that come in direct contact with it.

  1. The Target

    • Bowlers who throw a hook do not aim for the head pin. Instead, they aim for markers, small arrows painted on each lane, to the right and left of center. Lane markers play a crucial role in shot accuracy.

      Bowlers find their preferred marks through trial-and-error. Bowling lanes feature seven different lane markers. A bowler's preferred target depends on how much his ball tends to hook. A sharp hook requires a bowler to aim nearer to the gutter, and a mild hook requires a bowler to aim nearer to the center of the lane.

    Starting Position

    • A good hook requires a good approach. Most bowlers start the approach with the release arm in line with the lane marker toward which they aim. By moving in a straight line down the lane, they maximize control of the body, which directly impacts the accuracy of the shot.

    The Release

    • When a bowler throws a hook, he uses spin, which causes the ball to arc on its path toward the pins. The ball's spin determines the amount of hook.

      In a 2002 Bowling Digest article, expert Bill Spigner describes two spins, vertical and horizontal. Finger position during release controls one and thumb position during release controls the other. According to Spigner, the thumb should release first. For best results, the thumb should be positioned on the side of the ball midway between the top and bottom of the ball as it releases.

      After the thumb releases, the fingers release. The finger release creates a natural spin. The higher the fingers are on the ball during release, the more spin the ball possesses.

    Adjustment and Consistency

    • Hook bowlers hold more control over their balls with minimal axis tilt. Axis rotation, meanwhile, varies. Bowlers tend to find a happy medium between throwing a straight ball and using extreme axis rotation. Ultimately, they adjust their rotation and tilt until the ball rolls directly into the narrow pocket. Adjusting the target marker on the lane also helps bowlers adjust where their balls hit the pocket.

      The best hook bowlers display consistency with their shots. They use the same amount of axis tilt and rotation on each shot, and they hit the same target with each shot.