How to Get a Spin on Your Bowling Ball

Watching the spin and rotation of a bowling ball as it heads down the lane is sometimes quite mesmerizing. But, when the pins crash and scatter as the ball blasts through the strike pocket the awakening is immediate.

Sometimes according to lane conditions it's much easier to watch this rotation of the ball than it is to actually make it happen on the lane. Several factors such as: timing, speed, technique, and follow through, are the main dynamics of controlling the hook and spins of a bowling ball.

Of course without the correct ball to actually "grab" the surface of the lane all of these factors fly out the proverbial window. Wet or oily lane conditions require a ball which can grip beneath the oil on the lane to track the spin of the ball into the strike pocket.

With the availability of bowling balls today this decision is relatively easy to make. For good gripping power on most wet lane conditions the reactive resin ball works very well. The particle ball has even more power to drive harder into the pocket which drastically increases strike potential on all lane conditions. Also available on the market is the new epoxy bowling ball. Either of these balls will work fine according to the type of spin or hook you prefer in bowling.

The logistics of the swing

Now that you've acquired the equipment needed the only thing left to do is go through the physics of a good swing and release to put your ball on the track to the strike zone sixty feet ahead.

A conventional grip on the ball will most likely provide enough spin on the ball, but I highly recommend using either a semi-finger tip grip, or full fingertip. Both of these grips provide more lift and control on the ball when it's released.

As you stand on the approach lane cock your wrist so that your fingers are at the bottom of the ball as it sits on top of your hand. Look at your arrow or mark on the lane as you start your approach towards the foul line. Remember to get a good back swing as you're into your approach as the ball is brought down below your waist.

Look back to your release area of the ball as you approach the foul line. As you release the ball out into the lane bring your hand straight up turning the wrist as you release the ball with your hand towards the top of the ball. Follow straight through on your release; with your hand in a straight line toward the release of the ball as you bring your arm straight up towards the side of your head.

The follow through

Keep your release arm straight, don't try to curve the ball with your release, this will only make the ball go in the direction of your release. Remember to get your ball "out" on the mark of the lane; this will set the ball on its track on the lane. Keep the speed of your ball constant; don't try to overpower the ball.

If you've used the hand and wrist correctly and followed through with your release, then the ball is well on its way towards a beautiful spin and hook towards the pocket. As a lefthander my ball is put out just past the first mark on the lane as it starts to spin and catches the track of rotation. When the ball passes the ¾ mark on the lane the ball is beginning to hook into the 1-2 pocket and the pins begin to scatter.

If you hit the pocket too tight you can be left with the solid 7 or 10 pin; or even worse the dreaded 7-10 pin split. The correct speed of the ball and the angle when it hits the pocket determines the pin action on the lane.

Different types of hook

The exact angle of hook is one for each bowler to figure out on the lane for themselves. Each ball and release will begin to spin and track different than other balls; some of this is due to lane conditions and speed. Adjusting the speed of your ball also plays a factor when the ball starts to grab and hook on the lane.

By changing which mark you release the ball on or by adjusting where you stand on the approach lane will also change the angle of trajectory towards the strike pocket. If your ball hooks too much there are several options for solving this matter.

One solution is to get the ball farther out on the lane. This will put the hooking ball farther out on lane and the hook will hopefully come in at the correct time towards the pocket. Work with different speeds of the ball to either speed up the hook, or slow it down if needed.

If this still doesn't work then try bowling a little cross alley on the lane. Move two feet towards the center of the lane and shoot for the same mark again. This angle of release will counteract the spin of the ball.

Dedication

Practice, practice, and more practice is the only thing which will help you to understand not only your ball better, but also the release of it. Fingertip inserts also helps to give the bowler an even better grip on the ball along with more control.

Each lane which you bowl on provides a whole new plan of attack for the ever popular strike pocket. Once you've found the groove which works for you watch the way the ball is tracking and use this ability towards picking up the much needed spares of the game.

Every bowler's style and release is just as different as their own individual personalities. In time you'll begin to feel as comfortable in your approach and release of the ball as you do when you crawl into bed on a cold winter's night.