Hook (bowling)

A hook in ten-pin bowling is a ball that rolls in a curving pattern (as opposed to straight).

A hook ball can also help the bowler shape the shot on challenging oil patterns.

Just before releasing the ball, the entire hand starts rotating in a counter-clockwise motion.

The thumb must fall out of the ball first, then the middle and ring finger release almost simultaneously, again in a counter-clockwise direction (called "lift").

A lift release gives the roll more torque (and therefore more power), along with the spin needed for the hook.

[6] Backup balls are rarely thrown intentionally by serious bowlers, as the hand motion is much more difficult to accomplish than a standard hook, with no benefit in most cases.

However, certain spares, such as the 2-8-10 for a right-hander, are easier to accomplish with one (as the rules of bowling prevent a bowler from switching hands).

True scale diagram: A straight path, even one starting from the extreme outside corner of the lane, results in an angle of entry of at most 1.45°. Larger entry angles (shown in diagram) are achievable when hooking (curving) the ball. Larger entry angles have been shown to be generally more favorable for achieving strikes. [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
• Top: Simplified representation of the skid, hook, and roll phases of bowling ball motion.
• Middle: Hook is enabled by side rotation as the ball frictionally engages dry lane surface as it nears the pins.
• Bottom: Though the ball's translational speed down the lane (brown arrows) decreases, its rotational speed (yellow arrowheads) increases.

Technological advances since the early 1990s in ball design have allowed dramatically increased hook potential and strike frequency, without requiring additional skill on the part of bowlers. [ 3 ]
A left-handed release with a backup ball (shown) causes a hook in the same direction as that of a right-handed release using conventional hook. (Shown: Eric Jones)