Hey Gang...I am new to the boards and want to first say HI!. I started a casual league a few months ago at my local AMF bowling house. Growing up I always threw a house ball with a 2 finger grip, basically cupeling the ball and turning it over to hook it. I averaged about 155 or so then. In my league I started by doing the same thing (2 finger grip, etc) and hit my old average but we received our own ball at the end of the league. NOW I am hooked and want to learn to throw a proper hook ball (3 fingers in). I stand just left of center, 4 step approach, and throw it pretty straight and I don't usually get the ball way out to the edge of the gutter. I got the ball (a Columbia 300 blue dot) finger tipped...but as I have learned...its not made to hook. Mainly when I release it now with my 3 finger grip, it rotates but it never turns over and stays long and straight for the most part. I want a ball I can learn with but also grow with for a while too. Any help would be appreciated.

Also...if I were to get lessons from local pro...do they have hooking balls that you can get lessons with...instead of having to use my new Spare Ball.

Thanks.

Go for something in a low-mid price solid reactive ball. Brunswick Avalanche Solid, Storm Street Rod Solid, Ebonite Bash, etc... These balls will be pretty controllable, they will give you help hooking on the backend, and they will fit into an arsenal well once you get to be more advanced and want to have a few different strike balls.

If you get lessons (and you should!!), you will be using your own ball. Ball fit is quite possibly the most important part of bowling, and getting the fit right on your balls can take some time. Using a ball that does not fit properly will keep you from being able to execute basic fundamentals, so having your own equipment drilled to fit just right for you is the only way to bowl.

Welcome to the site

I have to agree 100% with George. I believe that ball fit is the #1 most important thing in bowling. Even with the right coach and technique, you would still be able to hook even a plastic ball, but you will need to get a better ball in the near future. For now, I would just take some lessons to get your mechanics right.

If you take lessons, your Coach can help you in ball selection. Your Coach will see how you bowl and better match up a ball to you. A Coach will also help with your grip and drilling.

Many times, you can be connected with a Coach right at your Pro Shop, and many of them are Coaches. So, try it.

First let me welcome you to the site, SupermanBrandon. Yes the Blue Dot is much of a hooking ball. You want to play as much in the dry with it as possible. On most house shots, this is outside of the 10 board, or the second arrow from the gutter. It sounds like you are staying in the heavy concentration of oil. If you find a coach, work with him with the Blue Dot and a good one can help you pick out a good reactive to start with.

Quick error fix, I think infernocal meant to say the Blue Dot is not much of a hooking ball.

Yeah, in my mind I was meaning not much of a hooking ball. I guess it was a case of my fingers getting ahead of my mind.