Expert: Chip Aki - 9/7/2007

Question
Hi, I have been using my 15lb Morich Awesome Finish with a fingertip grip for some time now, and I still have trouble getting the ball to hook properly. Right now, I am using the 5-step approach and I believe that I am "locking" in my wrist and arm until the release when I would spin the ball by moving my hand from under the ball to the side as if "shaking hands with the pins". I've been trying to do that for quite a while now, and I have noticed that the ball is just "barely" hooking. If seen, the ball looks like it is moving at a straight line with about a half-pin size hook at the very end.

So I was wondering how I could improve my game and get the ball to hook towards its potential. I've seen the test videos and I know that it could hook and give a much greater performance then what I been doing.

Answer
You may be over rotating during the release.  This will cause the ball to spin on a smaller ball track and lessen its hook potential.  Another thing to watch for is the wrist breaking down during the release.  Your fingers need to be below the equater of the ball in order to produce revs.
Try to use slight pressure on the ball via your index finger to keep the wrist firmer during the release.  I would also try to only rotate your thumb to the 10 oclock position during the release.

Good luck,
Chip