How to Hook the Ball in Bowling

Video Transcript

"Hi! My name is D.C. Knight, general manager, pro shop operator of Carter Lane's Beach Bowl, Wilmington, North Carolina. We're here today to talk about how to throw a hook ball. Most beginners when they come to the bowling center do not have their own equipment. Get a house ball such as this and use a conventional grip by putting your fingers down to the second knuckle. You can hook the ball this way. You just want to make sure your thumb comes out first and then your fingers up to side of the ball if you're shakin' hands with somebody. Most of the house balls are plastic or rubber. You can still hook 'em, just not as much. The next way is to fingertip. That's by putting your fingers into the first knuckle into the ball. Most of the fingertip balls are custom drilled. Put your fingers in then your thumb. When your thumb comes out you get more lift with just your fingertips. There's another way to hook a ball and that's by not putting your thumb in the ball. You're going to put your fingers in and then roll the ball back up on your wrist so that when you release the ball, the ball comes off your wrist and your fingers again come up the side of the ball. The new way now, a gentleman by the name of Jason Belmonte who is on a PBA Tours now doin' is a two-handed style. He puts his fingers in the ball, rolls the ball up, places his other hand, opposite hand on the ball, whacks the ball back and when he comes through, his hand comes off, his wrist comes off and his fingers come up the ball. There's a three different ways that you can hook a bowling ball."