Author Topic: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball? (Read 12043 times)

Sn · « **on:** December 08, 2005, 02:15:48 PM »

A friend of mine has just picked up bowling and he's bought a 14lb Power Groove Reactive as his first ever ball. He also has got his own bowling shoes. Now that he's just playing bowling for fun (not too serious) he doesn't want to get a coach.

Due to some skin problem on his arms he can't wear a wrist guard but his wrist is strong enough to hold straight.

However, his fingers are weak so he can't do much finger lift.

I've read Ron Clifton's tips on the bowlers' release but that may not be suitable for my friend as it's too advanced skill. It's difficult to teach a beginner to cock and cup the wrist and to uncock it and uncup it at the right time.

I think I should just teach him a release that require less energy and hand to execute, yet he'll enjoy the fun playing hook bowling. Also the release shouldn't create much axis tilt. I don't want him to spin the ball and think it's right to do it.

Any suggestions on how to teach this beginner?
I have no clues at all.
Thanks!

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2005, 10:39:27 PM »

One of the best teaching methods, if not the best, is to grab a football and throw underhanded spirals. The proper release for a bowling ball and the underhanded spiral with a football are pretty much the exact same motion. You will be amazed at the progress one will gain just doing this.
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Steven Vance
Atlanta (Buford), GA
Pro Shop Operator
Advanced Bowling Solutions

If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!

mrbowlingnut · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2005, 10:39:32 PM »

Buy a small nerf football and have him practice throwing spirals under hand, it is a spinner release but he will hook it and nicely i must add. Also make sure his understands the ball is like the earth keep fingers below the equator and keep pressure on the 2 fingertips. Like they say lead with the ring finger and you will be good to go, i would recommend a mongoose wrist brace it is cloth so it will not bother his skin and puts pressure on the fingers as they come through the ball. Forget the handshake crap and help him to be smoothier bowler, when you learn wrong you are up sh1t creek. Pm with with any questions i have taught few people to convert from conventional to fingertip with no problems.

on edit my thoery on handshakes is not directed at the other poster it does work but it is not as good as the underhand spiral method.

Edited on 12/8/2005 11:31 PM

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2005, 11:01:34 PM »

Well, the "handshake crap" worked for you, which is good, but all it really is, is a visual. Using the football technique will actually teach some muscle memory in your hand and wrist which will prove to be better than just telling someone to "think of giving someone a handshake". That just tells the finishing position of the correct release. You have to start somewhere also. Right?
--------------------
Steven Vance
Atlanta (Buford), GA
Pro Shop Operator
Advanced Bowling Solutions

If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!

TWOHAND834 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2005, 11:25:41 PM »

Tyrone,

I did not mean to come out rude. That was my bad. The handshake was taught to me years ago as well. So, we were both actually taught in the same manner. I learned the football method about 2 years ago from Chuck Garnder who was doing Track clinics at the time here in Atlanta. When he showed me that method. I was like, "WOW!!!" Alot of people would not think of using footballs to teach someone how to bowl. But I was completely stunned at the results and I currently use that method when teaching lessons myself. So far, I have had nothing but positive feedback. My apologies to you for coming across rude earlier.
--------------------
Steven Vance
Atlanta (Buford), GA
Pro Shop Operator
Advanced Bowling Solutions

If anyone out there is worried about the scores being too high, try duckpin!!

dizzyfugu · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2005, 04:14:10 AM »

Sounds blunt, but taking some coaching sessions is not bad, either, especially for a newbie. Sound basics are vital and mistakes done in the beginning because they feel so natural are hard to come by later.

What I'd advise, personally, is to do some wrist training with weights (2-4kg, depending on size) and some finger training with a hand impander or a rubber pressing ring. This will also help developing power for the release, but takes some time. But some minutes daily training can be helpful, though.
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DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany
Team "X": http://homepage.mac.com/timlinked/
"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

Matt Fortney · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2005, 05:03:09 AM »

when you're throwing the football underhanded, do you take an approach? lol. i've had a problem with a high track for a long time, was told it's because i come out of it too much on the side, i'm not "up the back" enough. would the football help? i'll try anything to be able to use pin under drillings lol. lmk.

matt

supernoodle · « **Reply #7 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:17:03 AM »

What he wants is first to learn how to get decent "Forward" roll on the ball before he learns how to impart any side rotation.Tell him that he wants to "Lift through the ball" in one motion so that if he continued his follow through as far as it would go his fingers would touch his shoulder.So he wants his hand directly "Behind" the ball and he wants to lift through the ball in one straight continuous motion.

The feeling he is after is as if his hand is "Splitting" the bowling ball.Once he has mastered this and you can see the ball rolling in (As close as possible and not spinning) a straight line,then progress onto the handshake which will get his hand round the side of the ball which will cause the ball to hook.

After "Spinning" the ball when I was young for quite a while,I tried this approach (Endorsed my Fred Borden) with a Plastic White Dot and I learned how to bowl a hook ball within a couple of weeks.

I hope this helps,whatever happens just make sure you friend knows that practice makes perfect.Good luck.

CoachJim · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:32:22 AM »

There is more to hooking the ball than just wrist position, try to teach a smooth in time delivery with a deep knee bend which will help get more revs and leverage.

Edited on 12/9/2005 7:22 AM

killswitch66 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 09, 2005, 06:39:47 AM »

my dad tought me to pretend ur shaking hands with the lane and put your thumb to the sky
--------------------
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Ultimate Inferno

Ebonite
Prime Time

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as you can see, im not sold on a brand of ball (yet). Im still trying to find the right brand for me.

VIVA LA METAL MILITIA!

\m/

Sn · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:02:31 AM »

Please forgive my ignorance.

Actually I don't understand what it's like to throw an "underhand spiral" because both my friend and I have never played football. (Well, no one knows to play football in Hong Kong)

Is there any clips or pictures on the web that help me understand how to throw an underhand spiral?

Also, what are the differences between the "underhand spiral release" and the "hand-shaking release"?
I am very concerned about not teaching my friend to spin the ball, because it would be quite difficult to correct, from my own experience.

Panic · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2005, 08:05:18 AM »

quote:
When I first went from straight ball to hook, my dad taught me to keep my hand behind the ball on the backswing and follow through, and as my hand comes out of the ball to picture putting my hand out to shake somebody else's hand. That got me started, and from there with some practice I developed my own feel for different releases.

To this day, when my game is going to crap, I go back to basics, and "shake the hand".

-TyShoe
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"How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?"

same here
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Lukas

\M/ METAL MILITA \M/

Magic Carpet · « **Reply #12 on:** December 09, 2005, 09:05:52 AM »

Read #35 and #36 from this link.
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/roncarchive.htm

Bowl great!
Ron Clifton

kingpin268 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 09, 2005, 09:12:25 AM »

Here's a link to some different releases.

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/kennmelvin/kVideo.htm
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Bully Your Competition

Brodieman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 09, 2005, 09:27:43 AM »

A guy by the name of dick ritger used to teach that hand shake crap to beginners..i think he did ok

Edited on 12/9/2005 10:20 AM

Author Topic: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball? (Read 12043 times)

Sn

How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

TWOHAND834

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

mrbowlingnut

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

TWOHAND834

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

TWOHAND834

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

dizzyfugu

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

Matt Fortney

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

supernoodle

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

CoachJim

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

killswitch66

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

Sn

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

Panic

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

Magic Carpet

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

kingpin268

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?

Brodieman

Re: How to you teach a beginner to hook the ball?