Its bad to bowl straight right?

Question

When i go bowling, the few times i do, all i do is roll the ball in a straight line at the middle of the pins, but i see professionals and other experienced players curving the ball. how do you curve the ball and how do you make that accurate?

i need to know how before i can practice it. :)

Answer 1

Okay, first things first. If you want to starting throwing a hook, it must mean you are quite interested in the sport and would like to pursue it more. This is good because if you are serious about this, the first step in throwing a hook is owning your own equipment. The first big key to throwing that beautiful arc is a ball that can handle what you're going to do with it. Trying to hook a house ball is extremely difficult and can be frustrating.

Start with a simple plastic or urethane ball. Don't invest a lot of money, yet. When you see bowlers throwing that line you'd like to start doing, there's one thing you may not realize. Their bowling balls are drilled with a method we call 'fingertip'. They only put their fingers into the ball up to their first knuckle. This allows you to put lift on the ball which, in turn, becomes rotation on the lane. It will feel awkward and unusual until you get use to it, but hang in there!

Now, to throw the ball: DO NOT turn or rotate your hand as previously suggested. This is not the proper method of throwing a well executed curve. To get that ball to rotate, here’s what you do: When you release the ball, your thumb should come out first. As your thumb retracts from the ball, lift the weight of the ball with your two fingers that are still in the ball. The make this motion sound less complicated, ‘snap’ your fingers into the palm of your hand as your release the ball. This puts rotation on the ball and will make it curve down the lane. Remember too, once you let go of that ball, make sure your arm follows through. Your hand should come up like you’re reaching out to shake hands with the pins. Carrying that arm up and over your head will give you more power and ‘umph’ on the ball.

Always start with a simple line. If you are a right handed bowling, try standing with your sliding foot on one dot to the right of the center dot on the approach. Throw at the second arrow from the right. Most ‘real’ bowlers rarely look at the pins themselves. The only time I look at the pins is when I shoot at ten pins. And even then, I’m actually looking at the reflection of the pin in the lane and not the pin itself.

Reading lane conditions is a whole different step though. First master throwing that hook and you’ll advance from there. Don’t get discouraged. It’s a lot of work, but once you get there, you’ll be quite proud of yourself. Feel free to contact me if you’d like anymore advice.

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Answer 2

If you really want to learn to curve or hook the the ball, start with your feet in the middle of the approach, with your hand under the ball in the six o clock position. As you approach the foul line and deliver the ball rotate your hand to the 3 oclock position (9 oclock if you are left handed, like me) and swing the ball out toward the gutter. If you put enough spin on the ball it will curve or hook back towards the pins about two thirds of the way down the lane . To get good at getting the ball to the pocket will take practice, though. It took me about 15 years of league bowling to get really good at it and my average went from the 150's range to the mid 190's in that time.

Answer 3

It's not bad to bowl straight, my cousin does great with it. The reason for the curve is to add a nice rotation to the ball when knocking down the pins, but its all aimed at the first pin. With the straight line you can achieve the same thing as a curve, just aim the ball to hit the pin more on its side, then directly at front. Do it with some finess, it seems to work best.

Answer 4

Too much to write here,but I use a straight ball to pick up spares.

An easy basic curve can be done rotating your hand 90 deg.
and swing and release the same as if you were "thumbs up"

Answer 5

If you watch enough professionals. You will see one that sends it straight eventually.

I always wondered this too though why isn't that the standard.

My husband bowls with the curve thing though and he sucks.

Answer 6

thats is what is know is a curve bowl and i dont no how to do it either so i bowl like you do dont worry about doing anything fancy just have fun

Answer 7

i dont know how to do it, i just have a natural curve but i suck completely at bowling.

Answer 8

practice! No joke...you gotta practice...a lot.