Hand on top of ball...HELP!!!

[DPHammerhead]

I have been bowling now for about 4-5 years now and started up a hook shot two years ago. I know how to throw a proper hook but I cant do it correctly. I NOW get more hook from throwing my balls with forward roll but with a lot of lift. The reason I do this is because when I was learning to throw a hook shot I started to get my hand ontop of the ball giving it much less reaction and carry. I was throwing a "Helicopter Shot." I now throw with forward roll and a lot of lift but every time I try to get side rotation I get my hand ontop the ball. Only a few times a year this does not happen. I would love to be able to throw a proper hook shot. My average is not the problem, it's just the reaction. I own a No Mercy, Pain, Cherry Vibe, and Tuff. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thepainscoming]

who says ur not throwing a proper hook shot? if it hooks its a proper hook shot.

[hbhammerhead]

I have been bowling now for about 4-5 years now and started up a hook shot two years ago. I know how to throw a proper hook but I cant do it correctly. I NOW get more hook from throwing my balls with forward roll but with a lot of lift. The reason I do this is because when I was learning to throw a hook shot I started to get my hand ontop of the ball giving it much less reaction and carry. I was throwing a "Helicopter Shot." I now throw with forward roll and a lot of lift but every time I try to get side rotation I get my hand ontop the ball. Only a few times a year this does not happen. I would love to be able to throw a proper hook shot. My average is not the problem, it's just the reaction. I own a No Mercy, Pain, Cherry Vibe, and Tuff. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you're looking for a bigger backend reaction, then more side roll will achieve this, but you need to ask yourself is it worth messing with your current release to try to get more reaction? if your avg. is fine then i would just leave things the way they are. if you really want to work on it, then my suggestion is to build more strength in your arms. if you already know what you need to do (form wise) then strength must be the only thing that is keeping you from attaining the release you want.

[Stampy79]

Just work on getting out of the ball earlier. You are in the ball too long. Get your thumb out sooner and your fingers should come out when you get to 4 oclock or just after. It sounds like a timing issue to me is all. Takes time and want to ! Oh, one more thing, keep your wrist as flat as possible while working on this

[jackhammer]

One thing to do is keep your arm loose. Most of the time when I hear people say they are coming over the top they are muscling the shot or its a timing issue. Use the advice that was posted about your thumb and fingers when releasing.

Have someone watch you to see if you are tucking the ball behind your back. This could be a big part. Hope it helps you. This way you'll let the ball do the work and it will benefit you.

[Rowdy]

I'm with Pain on this one. If you're hookin' a No Mercy I don't see where the problem is. Go with what you've got.

[DPHammerhead]

Thanks for the suggestions. My coach has been working with me on my timing. However, the problem is not getting the ball behind my back. I do muscle it sometimes, though. But one person said that I need to build strength, that's not an issue I'm in my high school's 1,000 lb. club. This might seem to be a problem with speed but my average ball speed is probably around 16 mph. None of my teammates understand this (one is a cranker, the other a boomer) but my Pain has been hooking more than my No Mercy recently, they have tried out both balls on a heavier pattern so they were not flaming up. Also, my Proshop said my NM is not dead or needs to be baked or cleaned more. I actually clean all my Hammers after each bowling session. Keep the replies coming!!! Oh yeah, sorry about the long posts.

[TenPinSniper]

Try a hot water bath, for the No Mercy.

Like everyone has said, Free Swing, Relax the Thumb, Good Follow Through, Knee Bend (if you got good knees), keep your hand behing the ball... Heck if its a timing issues it might be time to practice the one-step drill. Stampy is right the earlier the ball gets on the lanes the more time it has to hook.

As far as more side rotation, that would be depended on your track or PAP. If your track is low or PAP's over shorter... than this would make the ball spin more like a top.

Do you know the PAP... if not would you say you have a track low? Please share if you know. (Basically if your over less than 4 1/2" you have a lower track.) Anything less then 4", the more worry about being a spinner.

[Rowdy]

I have been bowling now for about 4-5 years now and started up a hook shot two years ago. I know how to throw a proper hook but I cant do it correctly. I NOW get more hook from throwing my balls with forward roll but with a lot of lift. The reason I do this is because when I was learning to throw a hook shot I started to get my hand ontop of the ball giving it much less reaction and carry. I was throwing a "Helicopter Shot." I now throw with forward roll and a lot of lift but every time I try to get side rotation I get my hand ontop the ball. Only a few times a year this does not happen. I would love to be able to throw a proper hook shot. My average is not the problem, it's just the reaction. I own a No Mercy, Pain, Cherry Vibe, and Tuff. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PBIII seemed to do well with his ball in The Motel 6 Roll to Riches and it had a ton of forward roll. I don't think it's you,it may be the way the balls are drilled.

[TenPinSniper]

PBIII seemed to do well with his ball in The Motel 6 Roll to Riches and it had a ton of forward roll. I don't think it's you,it may be the way the balls are drilled.

The Hammer Drilling Instructions are some of the best in the Industry. They address the Low, Medium and High Track Layouts. IMO

If your wrist is broken back your generally going to have a low track, so you'll need to have a ball drilled with a PtoP of 5-6". To help deal with the transation of the lanes.