For the beginning bowler, simply getting the ball from the foul line to the pins without falling in the gutter can be a challenge. As your skills growl, however, you learn to control the ball better and execute various shots when a particular situation arises. The three most common types of shots in bowling are the straight ball, hook and backup ball.
Straight Ball
The straight ball is the first skill that a bowler should master. By being able to throw the ball straight down the lane, you develop the fundamentals of aiming properly, which is necessary to execute more difficult shots. The straight shot is also useful to pick up spares close to the gutter, such as the No. 7 and No. 10 pins. By throwing a straight ball in a cross-lane fashion at these pins, you increase the angle you have to hit them correctly.
To execute a straight ball, hold the ball with your thumb at the 12 o’clock position when you release it, and do not turn your fingers in either direction. The ball come off all of your fingers simultaneously, and have very little spin.
Hook
The hook shot is the most common technique that professional bowlers use. According to Help With Bowling, the hook is the best shot to “consistently bowl strikes” because it creates greater pin action when the ball connects with the pocket. While the hook is one of the most difficult shots to throw accurately, investing the practice time into a good hook is likely to improve your bowling average over time.
You execute the hook by holding the ball with your thumb at 10 o’clock or 2 o’clock, respectively, for right-handed or left-handed bowlers. When you release the ball, it leaves the thumb first, and then the middle and ring fingers that you rotate toward the ceiling. The rotation imparts spin on the ball. The amount that the ball curves down the lane will vary depending upon the amount of spin you place on the ball and general lane conditions.
Backup Ball
The backup ball is similar to the hook ball, but curves in the opposite direction. Also called a reverse or inverted hook, the backup ball is executed by turning your fingers in the opposite direction as you would for a normal hook shot. Because the ball typically curves less when using a backup ball, it may be necessary to aim more toward your target than you would for a typical hook shot.
Professional bowlers rarely use the backup ball, but it can be a useful and unique shot to have in your arsenal for spares that stand on your dominant side.
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