Expert: Chip Aki - 10/24/2008

Question
As a total beginner my question is how do you hook the ball,I know there are straight and hook balls but there must be a set of rules to a throw to make the ball hook.

Answer
Every ball can be thrown to hook, but some balls have greater potential than others.
If you can roll the ball end over end, the next step is to change the rotation.  Once side rotation can be developed, then you have hook.
The easiest is to place the thumb at 10 oclock and the fingers at 4 oclock and let the ball roll off the hand.  This will create enough side rotation to get the ball to have a change of direction.  For more, the release would need to start with the thumb at 1 oclock and then rotate to 10 oclock as the ball passes the ankle.  For more yet, the fingers must start below the equator of the ball before the release.  The best way to work on this feel is to use a yo yo to practice with.  If you can get the yo yo to spin, you have the strongest release possible.

Good luck,
Chip