Is your bowling ball hooking right after it crosses the front part of the lane? Do you know what that means? Your ball is hooking too early and that is not something you need if you want to see a decent overall score. Although it is a common problem among beginners, this can happen to anybody with a new bowling ball or a new bowling lane condition.
There are a few things you can do to solve this problem. And no, it’s not just practicing and getting used to the lane or ball or technique. To get your bowling ball hooked right on time, you should first know why your bowling ball is hooking too early. Here is your solution. I would highly recommend you take your time to go through this article.
Why is your bowling ball hooking too early?
There could be a million reasons why your bowling ball is hooking early. But instead of assuming, it’s smarter to make sure you acknowledge the root of this issue. If you have seen others bowl before, then you know that the curving pattern of a bowling ball takes place right before it hits the pins.
Therefore, you shouldn’t take the “early hooking” of your ball lightly. Here are some of the common reasons your bowling is hooking at the wrong time.
– Are you using a plastic or polyester bowling ball? Or is it a high-hooking asymmetrical bowling ball? If your bowling ball lacks the required amount of hook potential, it won’t give you the timely hook you need on the lane. To have control over your ball’s hooking motion, a bowling ball with zero to no hook or extremely high hook potential is a big reason why your bowling ball hooking too early.
– The weight block of a bowling ball influences the ball’s hooking motion. Bowling balls with high differential tend to have high flare potential, meaning, they are more prone to hook aggressively. If you don’t know how to control a high differential bowling ball and roll it down on the lane at a high speed, the ball can hook earlier can you expect. Similarly, a bowling ball with a lower differential can get off the track and make a hooking motion, and fall right into the gutter.
– Another major reason behind your bowling ball hooking too early is using a ball that is center-heavy with low RG. Cover-heavy bowling balls with a high RG hook later at the backend, so if you’re using a low RG, center-heavy ball, you might consider changing that.
– Your speed must be off. To make your ball hook, you need to create momentum with speed. This is the most important factor that determines whether a bowling ball will hook or not. The faster the bowling ball travels takes less time it takes to roll the 60 ft distance of the lane. When you set the motion with speed, there’s no way the ball will be able to hook early.
– The problem can be the drilled holes of your bowling ball as well. Each bowling ball is different and they need the right drilling layout for proper distribution of weight. This will promote the right amount of hook at the right time. When you drill the ball using the wrong layout, it can jeopardize your bowling ball hooking and that includes early hooking of your bowling ball.
How to Fix Your Bowling ball hooking too early?
You can’t enjoy bowling for a long time if you aren’t progressing in that sport. So you gotta do something to get that ball hook right on time to hit the right pocket with enough force, and of course, get the best results. So how do you have more control over your bowling ball and roll it with enough speed to make it hook on time?
1. Boost your speed
Low or medium-speed bowlers tend to face the early hooking problem the most. Contrarily, the speed-dominant bowlers never have issues with their ball hooking too early. If their ball does hook early, it’s definitely for other reasons. When the speed is pushing the ball to go the distance, it will never make a hooking motion without crossing the midlane. If you want to overcome your problem, you should start by increasing your bowling speed and see if that solves the problem.
2. Get the perfect hook-rating ball
You would be making a terrible mistake if you get yourself a bowling ball with high hook potential. This kind of bowling ball is very sensitive to hooking. You can get away with a mid-range hook potential bowling ball even if your shot is a bit off. But that’s not the case for bowling balls with high hook potential.
Similarly, if your bowling ball has a very low hook potential and you try to curve it on the lane, chances are your ball will travel from the right side to the left (or from left to the right for left-handers) and get into the gutter after crossing the mid-lane. So keep an eye on the bowling specifications and see if the ball’s hook rating is something you can control. If not, look for another one.
3. Play from outside if you weren’t already
Do you recall using the rule of 31? You weren’t? Well, that is probably why you are facing all the early hooks. When the oil pattern is long, you should be playing from the outside (closer to the first or second arrow). If you are bowling on a longer oil pattern and you decide to play from inside, let’s say around the third arrow, your ball will most likely hook when it reaches the middle part of the lane.
When you’re bowling on a shorter oil pattern, you should be playing from the inside. If you bowl from outside on a shorter oil pattern, your ball won’t be able to create much length and hence it will either end up hooking at the wrong time. And even if it hooks on time, the target pocket will be missed and you will end up with some terrible splits. Trust me, you don’t want to face that.
4. Take a look at the oil pattern sheet
The flatter the oil pattern, the harder it is to bowl on that. I always encourage my fellow bowlers to take a look at the oil pattern sheet before starting bowling. This will allow you to calculate and prepare for what you are about to face. Flat oil will make your ball get off the track and this could be a reason why your bowling ball hook early.
5. Right ball finish
Maybe the technique you’re following is alright. Maybe your ball is drilled perfectly and you are nicely adjusting to the oil condition. So what can be the reason your ball is still hooking early? It can be your bowling ball surface finish. Yes, it can also impact your bowling ball hook motion. Bowling balls with higher grits tend to hook very early. So to prevent that you can bring it down a little and have more control over your ball. You decide when the ball should hook, and nothing else.
6. Correct your grip and ball release
Is your grip and ball delivery mistake-free? If you’re not comfortable with your grip, how you will be able to get your desired ball throw? When you’re not doing your ball swing and follow-through properly, your ball can lose its momentum and speed which can result in an early hook. So when you are bowling, make sure your grip is comfortable, and you’re delivering the bowling ball with the perfect follow-through. Do not grab onto your bowling ball too hard, or too loose.
7. Consult with a bowling coach or instructor
Can’t figure things out yourself? You are always welcome to seek professional help if you think you need that. Just go to your local pro shop or bowling center with your ball and they will hook you up with an instructor or a coach. Of course, they are a pro at this. They will point out your mistake in a moment. They will also tell you which technique you should be following instead. Do keep in mind that these consultations may not be free unless someone is volunteering.
8. Practice and calibrate your technique
Bowling is all about practicing. With an adequate amount of practice, you can easily stop hooking your bowling ball early. Repetitive shots and practicing different angles and techniques will help you understand the bowling dynamics. This will help you control your ball’s hooking motion. Apply multiple strategies and see what is right for you. Once you know that a specific strategy is working for you, calibrate that and become unstoppable.
Which type of bowling ball is best for consistent hooking?
Any bowling ball with an asymmetrical core is a big no-no! The more asymmetric a bowling ball is rated, the higher the total differential will be. And when the total differential is high, it will produce a great amount of hook. Due to this high hook potential, your bowling ball will have a strong reaction in the mid-lane or probably right after crossing the front part of the lane.
The reaction is much stronger than symmetrical bowling balls even if it has the same type of coverstock and surface finish. Therefore, a symmetrical bowling ball with some basic grit surface is what you need for consistent and timely hooking.
Conclusion
Now can you say that you know what to do when your ball is hooking early? Probably you know someone who is dealing with this problem. Do let them know what you have just learned from here. Not seeing the expected result from your bowling ball is always disappointing.
So if your or anyone you know whose bowling ball is hooking early, time to fix that matter. With controlled and timely hooking motion, you can achieve the optimum bowling ball score. Do let me know if you have benefited from this article. I love to read your comments and learn about your progress. So keep on bowling and good luck, my fellas!
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.
