Is your ball not reacting the way you want it to? Bowlers misreading lanes is one of the common problems why their bowling balls don’t respond according to their expectations. Maybe the problem is not finishing correctly at the backend or maybe the ball throw didn’t go too smoothly. Either way, you are not gonna see nice ball hooks and reactions which isn’t super fun. So how do you overcome this problem? When your bowling ball is not hooking or reacting, what is the solution to those problems? Let me break it down for you step by step.
Why Your Bowling ball is not hooking?
A bowling ball can lose its hooking ability for various purposes. The culprit is probably the lane, the ball itself, or your bowling technique. Let me tell you some of the common ones that bowlers face when their bowling ball is not hooking.
Having Incorrect Bowling Balls:
Using the right bowling ball on the right oil pattern is so important! You can use multiple bowling balls on a THS oil pattern. However, when it is a sport pattern, you cannot just use any bowling ball. This is when a careful selection of bowling balls is needed. Similarly, when a pattern is long, you should opt for a ball that can go straight, and when the lane is short, you should use a ball that tends to hook a lot more than other balls.
A Ball that Doesn’t Fit Your Hand:
Have you recently purchased a second-hand bowling ball? Are the drilled finger holes too tight or too loose for your fingers? Well, that is probably why you’re not getting the expected results out of your bowling ball. When the holes are too tight the ball will be interrupted when getting out of your ball and landing on the lane. This is when the ball’s hooking motion gets disrupted. Similarly, when the holes are too loose you won’t be able to hold the balls with comfort. You will put way too much pressure while gripping the ball and this will ruin your shot and you will end up with a poorly-hooking bowling ball.
Not Creating Enough Revolutions
To make your bowling ball hook, you need to create revolutions. And, to do that, there are a few things that you should keep an eye on at the point of bowling ball release. If you fail to get your thumb out on time, your ball hooking will be off. Another mistake bowlers do when they don’t lift the ball with their fingers. This also ruins your ball’s hooking motion. Improper hand and wrist rotation and coordination is another big problem your bowling ball doesn’t hook.
Poorly-maintained Bowling Lane:
Maybe the problem isn’t you. Maybe it’s the lane that is the barrier for your perfect shot. A bowling ball can lose its hook due to the dirt and oil build-up from the lanes. This happens because of poor maintenance, the material, and the age of the lanes. Because it is natural for your ball to pick up some of the oil from the lane and it gets absorbed into the coverstock pores, the ball’s performance tends to go down over time. This is why if the lane is not properly cleaned, oiled from time to time, and stored at proper temperatures, your bowling ball will not hook.
Lane Breakdown:
How many games have you played? Is it your 3rd, 5th, or 8th game? The longer you play, the more the oil moves from the lane and then starts to break down. The more the oil gets picked up from the lane, the more your ball hooking motion will be hampered. So when you suddenly see your ball is not hooking like it was hooking on your first game, know that it must be the breakdown of the lane you’re bowling on.
Top signs of Bowling ball not hooking—
If you didn’t know already, a bowling ball does wear out over time. Indeed, a good quality bowling ball can last for more than 10 years. But with time, the ball loss its finesses. So when you see your new bowling ball not hooking enough, what does it indicate? Here are some of the signs that are saying the ball isn’t hooking.
1. Not making any curve at the breakpoint
A breakpoint is where your bowling ball exits the oil pattern and starts taking the entry angle to the pocket. When the ball makes this transition, it moves pretty strongly from the outside to the inside. This curving motion helps the ball produce more force, and retain more energy to hit the pins harder. This clearly does enhance your chance of knocking down more pins and possibly more strikes. If you suddenly see your ball not making that curved hooking despite having correct hand rotation, and rolling straight to the headpin or in-between the headpin and pin no 2 or 3, this is a clear sign your ball is no longer hooking.
2. Ball going into the gutter more often
Let’s say, you’re bowling for a while now and your ball is unexpectedly going into the gutters. Does that mean your shot was off? Don’t doubt yourself for a second! When your bowling ball isn’t hooking properly, it can fall into the gutter instead of making a sharp angular move toward the pocket. Indeed, the risks of bowling from outside include getting your ball into the gutter. But when a ball loses its hooking ability, it tends to roll on the wrong path and this is when it is more prone to fall into the channels.
3. Ball having a wobbly roll
If you suddenly see your bowling ball rolling weirdly, and by weirdly, I mean making a slight wobbly move, it’s time you gave that ball up. Especially if you are planning to use it for hooking purposes. So any weird move— don’t expect the ball to hook at all.
Bowling ball type
Okay, Another sign that says your bowling ball isn’t hooking is because you are using a a low hooking ball (i.e. a plastic bowling ball). So one of the common signs of your ball not hooking indicates that you are using the wrong kind of bowling ball.
Dinged-up Bowling ball surface
A bowling ball is an object. The more it’s getting hurled down the lane, the more it is gonna get beat up. This is why resurfacing, cleaning, and servicing the bowling ball from time to time is important. When your bowling ball is not hooking, it is a clear sign, you give some tender loving care to the ball to revive its action.
How to make your bowling ball hook more?
Pick the Right Bowling Ball:
Choosing the wrong kind of bowling ball throws off your bowling ball greatly. By “kind” I mean the bowling ball coverstock. If you attempt to hook your plastic bowling ball, well, good luck, that thing isn’t hooking. If you plan to get on the fast track to hook your ball, you’re gonna need something like a reactive resin bowling ball.
Reactive resin bowling balls have porous surfaces. They are designed to grip the lane in a certain way and provide a great level of traction through the oil. This is exactly what you need for your ball to hook down the lane. Because plastic bowling balls are a bit harder and smoother than reactive resin balls, they fail to provide the same traction on the lane.
Drill Your Bowling Ball Correctly:
Drilling your bowling ball in a certain way that fits you and you feel comfortable while bowling is extremely necessary. This is why you should choose the right bowling ball drilling layout to drill holes into your ball. Proper measurements, (PAP, Pin-to-PAP, etc) your bowling style, etc are some of the major factors that should be considered when you drill your bowling ball. So my dear bowlers, choose your layouts wisely. If your first-time drilling went wrong, consider plugging and re-drilling the ball. If the holes are drilled on the right points but are a bit too spacious, you can just put on some finger grips to solve this issue.
Proper Finger, Wrist, and Hand Coordination:
– The first thing to do is to not squeeze the bowling ball with your thumb. When the ball is properly drilled, there’s no need to grab tighter using your thumb. Learn to keep your hands and fingers relaxed.
– A common misconception among bowlers is that hooking = “spinning” the ball. But that’s just wrong! Indeed, there are many bowlers who spin the ball more than others, but if your goal is to see the majestic hooks, you have to create lift. This is where you should feel your thumb exiting the ball right when you start to lift. And how can you do that without making any mistakes? Just make sure there is no motion made toward hooking your bowling ball until your thumb is fully out of the thumb hole. If possible, you should try to feel the bowling ball with your fingertips and lift the ball right when you’re getting ready to release it.
– This is where the previous two steps get combined. During your lifting process, get yourself ready for hand-and-wrist coordination and right-handed players should rotate their hands and wrists counter-clockwise (for lefties it is clockwise). The farthest rotation you can do with your hand is the “handshake position”. If you rotate your hand any more than that, let’s say your hand is on top of the ball during release, you will hamper your ball’s hooking motion greatly. So the best tip I can give you is if you pretend the ball is a clock and rotate accordingly as you swing the ball. This will produce adequate revolutions to get your ball hooking on time with the right angle.
Bowl on a Nice Lane
Besides choosing the right bowling ball, it is important that you go to a good quality top-rated bowling alley where the lanes are very well-maintained. When the lanes are properly taken care of, you will hardly have any issues regarding the lane condition or oil type and volume. So when you’re bowling, make sure the lane is well-maintained and its condition will not prevent you from hooking the ball.
Adjust to lane breakdown
One of the biggest problems among bowlers is that they fail to adjust to any changes that occur when they bowl. After a few games, it is important to adjust your angle and ball motion when you are bowling on your 3rd game or onward. If you suddenly see your ball is not hooking, consider adjusting to the change or ask your lane operator to reapply the bowling lane for better hooking your bowling ball.
Conclusion
“Bowling ball is not hooking or reacting like before”— this is one of the common concerns among my friends and acquaintances at my local bowling center. Indeed, almost all bowlers experience it at some stage in their lives. Don’t worry, you don’t have to throw away the ball. You just need to make some adjustments and you’re good to go. Make sure you identify the problem first so that you can solve it accordingly. No unnecessary steps is required. Other than that, good luck and see you later, my fellow bowler friends.
Passionate Bowler and Bowling Enthusiast
Jess Pinelli is a dedicated bowling enthusiast with a deep love for the sport that spans over 6 years. With numerous strikes, spares, and a few gutter balls under hes belt, he has honed his skills on lanes across the country. Pinelli’s journey in the world of bowling has been a remarkable one, from casual weekend games with friends to competitive league play and even a few local tournaments.
Driven by her passion for the game, Pinelli decided to channel her expertise and knowledge into the digital realm, becoming a prolific author on this bowling website. She’s your go-to source for everything bowling-related, from mastering the perfect hook to choosing the right bowling ball and even navigating the world of bowling etiquette.
When she’s not busy writing informative articles or reviewing the latest bowling gear, you’ll likely find Pinellis at her favorite local bowling alley, helping newcomers improve their game or enjoying some friendly competition with fellow bowlers. She firmly believes that bowling is not just a game but a community, and she’s committed to fostering that sense of camaraderie both online and offline.
