How To Bowl A Hook

Bowling is a deceptively simple game that many people may think they can master, but if you want to consistently play well, you'll have to learn how to bowl a hook. Apart from just looking cool when you bowl a hook, you have a much better change of getting a strike. This is because the ball has the best chance of disturbing all the pins when it strikes between the head pin and a neighboring pin at a 30 degree angle. Due to the length of the lane, the only way to strike next to the head pin at this angle is to bowl a hook. Bowling a hook isn't something you're going to perfect on your first try, but with the right hand positioning, you'll be throwing hooks in no time.

Bowl a Slight Hook:

1. Hold the ball up as you stand in front of the lane. Start with your hand positioned so your thumb is pointing back.
2. Rotate your thumb 30 degrees to the inside. Your fingers should now be facing out and your thumb facing in.
3. Step forward and start your backswing. Keep your hand positioning stable.
4. Push the ball forward and allow your thumb to exit the ball first. Keep your hand relaxed.
5. Follow through on your swing, pushing with your fingers as they come out of the holes. The ball will hook slightly to the left.

Bowl a Sharp Hook:

1. Hold the ball up in front of you with your thumb pointing back. This is the same starting place you would have for a slight hook.
2. Step forward and start your backswing. Keep your hand positioning stable for now.
3. At the top of your backswing, turn your thumb about 30 degrees away from you. This is an important step!
4. Push the ball forward as you approach the line. As you bring your arm forward, your forearm will naturally want to turn inside. Let your forearm turn.
5. Release your thumb from the ball at the bottom of the swing. Continue to turn your forearm inside.
6. Push the ball off with your fingers. Your fingers should end in a similar position to when you bowled a slight hook. The rotation that you started in the backswing will produce a major hook.