The Different Types of Bowling Hooks Shots
Many people that are new to the game of bowling don’t know about the many different hook shots that are out there. The stroker, the cranker and the helicopter are techniques that most seasoned bowlers use to bowl at their maximum level. When you see a bowler at the lanes throw a ball and it all of sudden turns into the middle of the lane similar to a curve ball in baseball it’s most likely because they just threw a hook ball.
Hook Bowling
Straight balls are great if you’re a beginner but they can limit your scores to the 160 – 180 range. When you’re constantly throwing straight balls, you have to focus more on bowling perfectly the first time. The way to truly raise your scores is to change that straight ball of yours into a hook ball. In order to hook a bowling ball, put your thumb into the ball first and next the fingers. Your fingers are what is going to cause the amount of rotation on the ball and your thumb will control the direction of that rotation. Start with your thumb in the eleven o’clock position and try to keep it there all the way through your follow through. This will help you start to develop some of the rotation needed to hook a bowling ball.
A hook ball unlike a straight ball, curves after delivery. The bowlers hand comes from behind the ball rounding the side that makes the ball rotate sideways. The sideways rotation makes the ball go to the left or the right. There are three types of hook: the cranker, the stroker and the helicopter. Here they are:
1. The Stroker
Strokers often keep their shoulders square to the foul line and their backswing generally does not go much above parallel to the ground. This type of release reduces the ball’s rate of revolution, thus decreasing its hook potential and hitting power. Strokers do not deliver the ball with as much power as crankers do, preferring instead a more elegant (if unspectacular) style of play. This is reflected in the timing of the approach: strokers reach the foul line just before the swing of the ball does.
2. The Cranker
Cranker: a cranker is a bowler who has very late timing. A cranker is a bowler who opens their shoulders to the lane.Crankers often use “late” timing, where the foot gets to the foul line before the ball. They often use a technique known as plant and pull , hardly using any slide on their final step and pulling the ball upwards for leverage.The cranker is different, using this technique, the ball reaches maximum revolution. This way more power is produced. The bowler stands with their feet to left hand side of the approach and then swings the ball out to the left hand of the approach.
3. The Helicopter
This is a very popular form of bowling in Asia. This technique originated in Taiwan where the lanes generally were in poor condition. When using this technique it is best to use a ball weighing between 10 – 12 lbs. Bring the fingers all the way round the top of the ball, as opposed to the hook where you bring the fingers round the sides. The ball travels straight down the lane but it spins like helicopter propellers as it travels. Once you master this technique, believe me when I say that you’ll love it.
Basically just keep the position of your bowling ball low during approach, bend your knees slightly, cup your bowling ball all the way through and cock your elbow slightly, then deliver the bowling ball straight with your followthrough going towards the right (for righties) or towards the left (for lefties). Your final hand position should look like you just shook someone’s hand. That’s basically a delivery for slow ball speed and maximum hook. Your bowling ball should perform on it’s own due to a correct release and it will definitely hook
Those are the techniques you can use to throw the different forms of hook balls available out there, so take advantage of them
About the Author
Vernon is a professional bowler, instructor, and all-around ballgame junkie. He is the director of popular blog http://www.BowlingTechniquesOnline.com. Learn to bowl if not how to bowl better with Mike’s help. Check out his blog for more info!
How to Throw a Punch pt 3 of 4
|
|
Left Hooks, Right Crosses: A Decade of Political Writing $5.47 Christopher Hitchens, provocateur and contrarian on the Left, makes the news as often as he reports it, and writes about the most controversial news and current events. Christopher Caldwell is a fresh and objective columnist in the opposite camp. Together, they present the best writing from opposite corners of the political ring at the end of the last century. These incisive observers examine each… |
|
|
Left Hooks and Dangerous Crooks $17.38 Left Hooks and Dangerous Crooks is an explosive book that takes the reader on a thrilling journey from the birth of bare knuckle and unlicensed boxing to the present day and blows the whistle on the many myths and misrepresentations about the sport that have existed in the past. As the criminal underworld has well known connections with the world of unlicensed boxing, the book also documents the c… |
|
|
Sucker Punch: The Hard Left Hook That Dazed Ali and Killed King’s Dream $8.95 “Everything that he has done was against this country.” Joe Frazier on Muhammad Ali Part man, part myth, and all American, Muhammad Ali is history’s most beloved, most revered athlete. But though he was “The Greatest” inside the ring, outside he was a hulking mass of contradictions. This book is the first comprehensive, pull-no-punches account of America’s least likely icon. Jack… |
|
|
… |
|
|
… |
|
|
… |
|
|
Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs (6 Feet) $0.01 Belkin Audio Y Cable Splitter 1-Mini Plug/2-RCA Plugs (6ft)… |
|
|
Spare Ear Loop Hook for Jawbone 1 Headset: Left (LONG) EARHOOK EARLOOP $4.98 Brand new and black!… |
|
|
VideoSecu Tilt TV Wall Mount for Most 32-65 LCD LED Plasma TV Flat Screen, Sturdy Steel Wall Plate Free HDMI Cable and 6 Bubble Level M43 $18.95 The VideoSecu MP501B is compatible with LED, LCD, and Plasma TVs and other flat panel display between 32 and 60 inches weigh less than 165lbs. Supports all VESA mounting standards up to 710×450mm and many odd size mounting patterns (mounting holes on the rear of the TV or panel should be no more than 28″ apart horizontally and up to 17.7″ vertically). Over 12 lbs solid heavy-gauge steel constructi… |
|
|
… |