How to Make The Ball “Hook” in Bowling

How do you make the ball hook in bowling? For starters, you really can’t make the ball hook with any kind of consistency without buying a quality ball. This is the first thing I tell anyone who asks how to hook it.

• The only way to hook a house or plastic ball (most house balls are plastic, but you will occasionally find a low-level urethane ball if the house recycles old balls) with any power is to use fewer fingers, exaggerate a cupped hand, and jerk your arm up as fast as you can when you throw the ball. Even then, I have seen a few people who can hook a plastic ball in the way I described and score half-decently, and they are by far the exception to the rule.
• Regardless of whether you can manage to get a board or two of movement out of the alley-supplied balls, a quality bowling ball from a pro-shop will hook way harder, have way more power, and make it far more possible for you to throw strikes. To clarify: two-handed bowlers may be able to hook a plastic ball without changing their form much. However, if they throw at their normal speed, a ball like that isn’t going to move anywhere but straight.
• Bowling Etiquette Bowling etiquette is very important. If you’re going to bowl seriously, or just bowl at all, please make sure you respect bowling etiquette. It’s not very hard, but people seem to not realize these few simple things:
  • Do not stand on the approach.The approach is the wood area where you stand when you’re ready to bowl (in other words, where you go to “approach” the actual bowling portion). After you bowl or while you’re waiting to bowl, please step away. Never stand on the approach unless you are actually in the process of picking up the ball and bowling! As soon as the ball hits the pins, you should be making your way back to the area behind the approach (where the seats are). If you are to go again, you should continue to wait there and not step onto the approach until it’s your turn. This is very important and worth putting first because of it.
  • Wait your turn. Again, this is regarding the approach area. If there is someone bowling on the lane to either side of you, don’t step on the approach until the other person has started to bowl. As soon as they start their movement towards the foul line, you are allowed to step up. Not before!
  • Don’t use balls that aren’t yours. This should be a given! Don’t use other people’s balls without asking. Though, really, you shouldn’t even ask . . . it’s a bit awkward.
  • Don’t yell or shout things. It’s not cute at all but just annoying.
  • Don’t kick the ball return.
  • No mockery or taunting. Bowling is a game of respect, especially in leagues and tournaments.
  • Don’t hit or try to hit the pin-sweeper. This should be plainly obvious.
  • Don’t throw several balls at once. Don’t be stupid.