Bowling Strike Or Spare Hook Ball
The hook ball, the best of all "bowling strike-getting" deliveries, makes a slightly sharper "break" than does the so-called "curve," and is easier to control. If your looking for the bowling strike or spare, you may want to look at the hook ball.
Nevertheless, the latter is a highly effective pin spiller itself. Some of our greatest stars of the past and present made their reputations with the curve ball. In general the hook is favored by most experts because it has proved to be more uniformly successful under varying conditions.
The curve-ball expert has been known to soar to dizzy scoring heights on one lane and plumb the depths on the adjoining alley. The hook devotee, meanwhile, continues to make good scores on nearly any lane or under the most variable conditions.
There are actually four ways in which to make a ball hook. The first is the "natural hook," in which the ball is held so that the thumb and forefinger form a "V" with the thumb alongside the body. After
the full release of the ball, the "V" formed by the thumb and fore finger should be pointed directly at the target on a horizontal plane.
When it comes to the bowling strike or spare, the two things that make a natural hook work are a comfortably loose thumb hole and a good follow-through. The ball hooks because the thumb, being short, comes out of the ball first, and the fingers alone complete the follow-through.
This gives a natural spin to the ball. The "lift" is the second type of hook. In this delivery the hand
is directly under the ball, with the thumb on top. In the delivery, the ball rolls right off the tips of the fingers.
In both the natural and the "lift" hooks, there is no turn or wrist action. The third way of making hooks is the "turn." As the hand comes forward with the fingers held as they are for a natural hook, the wrist is turned from right to left after the ball has passed the left foot.
No lift action is used. The fourth style of hook is the "lift and turn." In this delivery, nothing is done to the ball until it passes the bowler's left foot at the foul line. At this moment the player's hand should be directly behind the ball as if to lift it.
As the ball passes the bowler's foot, he lifts the ball with his fingers and turns his wrist from right to left. A bowler may use as much lift or as much turn as he desires or can control. When it comes to the bowling strike or spare hook ball, these are the four fundamental ways of making a ball hook.
There are many variations, depending upon the individual and her ability to control a particular type of delivery. Good luck with the bowling strike or spare. Click here to return to bowling tips 101 how to get strikes page Click here to return to bowling tips 101 home page
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