Is it true bowling balls are built to curve to the left when thrown?

Answer 1

Not to be rude, but all of the above answers are severely wrong. The only balls that cannot "curve" or hook as we like to call it are simple plastic houseballs with cement cores. Those are for non serious bowlers. People on leagues and in the PBA use balls with coverstocks, finishings/ polishings, fingertips and thumb inserts which all help with the hook but most importantly, they all have a different weight block in the core shaped and designed to either make the ball hook more or less and hook sooner or later as in the back end when it's out of the oil. My ball will follow on the 2nd board, 1st arrow all the way down close to the gutter and then snap at the last second and hit the pocket (which is in between the 1st and 2nd pin for me because Im left handed). Believe it or not, they even make scented bowling balls.

Answer 2

No.

Most people are right-handed, and therefore a left curve is to be expected. It's an evenly balanced sphere, except for where the holes are drilled. The momentum of an 8-16 lb ball is going to be too high for the drill holes to have an appreciable effect if rolled down a standard lane.

Answer 3

NO....It just depends on how the ball is drilled. When you roll the ball, your hand naturally comes up as if you are going to shake hands with someone. Doing so puts a spin on the ball that will curve to the left if you are right handed......curve to the right if you are left handed.

Answer 4

They curve because the bowler puts english on the ball as he releases, making it curve.

Answer 5

No If that were true my average would have been zero (it would have landed in the gutter). I am left handed and used to throw a mean hook resulting in averages in the 180's and 190's.

Answer 6

It is not the ball but it is more of how it is delivered that makes it curve.