Expert: Chip Aki - 7/20/2007

Question
I have a question about the release while hooking the ball. I first began with hooking the ball by the 2 fingers (middle/ring) method and I got pretty good at it (avg. 168). So I've recently bought a Morich Awesome Finish (15lb) bowling ball with middle/ring inserts, no thumb. I've told the pro shop to drill to so it hooks at the very end.

I was wondering about the release while hooking the ball. Do you take out your thumb a little bit earlier in the release? I mean do you remove the thumb with the bowling ball is at the ankle level of the release?


Also I've been trying to make the ball hook for some time now, and I've figured out one reason it is not hooking...my pinky and my point finger both points outward away from the middle/ring finger. But when i did this, on a perfect release, I've been seeing that the ball doesn't really hook that much. It is about a half a pin difference? How can i change that?

Answer
The release would start about your heel.  If the thumb comes out later than that you lose rotation potential.  Most bowlers will keep their pinky in close to the ring finger or even tuck it and keep the index finger away from the middle finger.  I would play around with the finger position until you find what works for you.

Good luck,
Chip