In bowling, you can apply spin to the ball when you release it, to cause it to roll a certain way as it rolls down the lane. For right-handed bowlers, a hook will curve from right to left; for left-handed bowlers, a hook will curve from left to right. You can use this hook to knock down a few pins left standing on one side, or to bowl strikes more consistently. Many advanced players use the hook shot to direct the ball more forcefully into the pins from an angle.
Step 1
Grip the ball with a fingertip grip rather than a conventional grip. Put your thumb all the way in the thumb hole, and put only the tips of your middle and ring fingers in the finger holes. The first knuckles of your fingers should sit just inside the finger holes, with the rest of the fingers outside the holes.
Step 2
Position your palm under and slightly behind the bowling ball as you swing it forward out of your backswing.
Step 3
Use your thumb to support and control the ball up until the moment you release it.
Step 4
Release your thumb from the ball before you release your fingertips. Your thumb should slip out of the ball while it remains below the ball, rather than at the top of the ball. If you release your thumb from the ball higher up, you will put unwanted vertical spin on the ball that can interfere with the hook shot.
Step 5
Rotate your fingers quickly before removing them from the ball. You should rotate the ball by about a quarter-turn. If you are right-handed, imagine moving your fingers from a 7 o’clock position on a clock to a 4 o’clock position. If you are left-handed, imagine moving your fingers from a 5 o’clock position on a clock to an 8 o’clock position. As you rotate your fingers, move your palm up toward the side of the ball.
Step 6
Release the ball with your palm in a handshake position at the side of the ball. Accelerate your swing as you follow through to release the ball.
Step 7
Watch the ball’s motion down the lane. If you have put too much spin on the ball, it will hook quickly and curve into the gutter well before reaching the pins. If you have not put enough spin on the ball, it might not hook at all. As you practice, adjust the amount you rotate your fingers to put the right amount of spin on the ball.
Tips and Warnings
- Choosing the proper bowling ball well help you throw a hook more easily. High-friction, reactive resin balls grip more easily on oily lanes, allowing them to respond more to spin. A plastic or polyester ball with little traction might simply slide straight down the lane even if you put the proper spin on it. Also look for balls weighted on the outside rather than at the center. These balls have a high radius of gyration, commonly abbreviated as RG, and will respond more to spin.
Things You'll Need
- Bowling ball
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