All the top bowlers prefer the hook ball and is delivered with the hand in the handshake position. There is no doubt the hook is the best delivery in the 10 pin bowling game and nets the most pin falls. It’s delivery is easy as shaking the hand of a friend. The best description of the hook is the “shake hands” ball. The entire throw of the ball is as if you were going to shake hands.

Throwing the hook ball is delivered with practically no strain on the wrist, a strain which is most apparent while throwing a straight ball. Shifting from the straight to the hook ball will be quite apparent and you will notice quite a difference in the deliverance and realize quickly why top bowlers around the country use the hook ball.

On releasing the hook ball there will be a straight line till about two thirds of the way down the lane. Then the ball will suddenly veer left and break into the pins with its full power. A powerful hook ball is called a “heavy.” I’m sure you have watched professionals in bowling places and seen them bury a pocket hit to strike. That’s a heavy ball and even watch them hit light, this is still a heavy ball.

How do you hold a ball, to deliver a hook? Correctly held the fingers will be on the right side of the ball, or slightly lower. However, when you throw a straight ball the fingers are under the ball. Ideally the position of the thumb, for a hook ball, is between nine and eleven thirty o’clock, but probably closer to eleven.

For example with the three-holed ball your fingers enter the ball horizontally. When you let go of the ball, in that split second, the thumb is released first and the ball is upon your fingers and your hand follows through upward to eye level. This causes the spin on the ball from left to right going down the lane. Anyone with a desire to improve their game can learn to control the hook ball.

Not under any circumstances do you roll your wrist to the left. This is very important to remember to keep your wrist firm when throwing the hook. The stiffer you hold your wrist, the better the results. It’s not a curve ball…it’s a hook ball.

Important to remember, when you learn the hook ball you need to practice the uniformity of that ball. Allowing the same performance of the ball each time. A uniform delivery of the hook ball will enable perfect spare conversion. It only takes two extra spares per game to improving your average 20 pins per game.

The hook carries with it turning action which creates greater pin fall. More than any other ball delivery. A stiff wrist is one of the keys to thee delivery of the hook I recommend this ball, the main reason being it’s ease of delivery. And as with any other god ball delivery the right elbow is to be kept close to your body.

There are a number of women who have difficulty throwing a hook ball with a short break. Many women throw a wide hook ball, even keeping the wrist firm and straight. They face the problem of needing a little more room for the hook ball delivery and as soon as they realize what the problem is, they correct it and do better in their hook ball delivery.

It’s also true of some women with having a difficult time in getting any action on the ball. A little knowledge is all that’s needed, keeping fingers horizontal and lifting them at the second the ball is released.

A hook ball is key to success in bowling!

Wouldn’t it be great to go bowling and consistently have your average score increase?

Follow these few bowling tips and you will be scoring higher in no time.