Hello again!
In the first part of ‘Why won’t my ball HOOK?’ we talked about the importance of having the correct ball in your hand in order to achieve the hook you’re after. Having the correct ball in your hand is important, but having a ball that FITS your hand is even more important! So the next step is:
Having a ball that fits YOUR hand!
If you ask any good bowler they will tell you that finding the perfect fit is an ongoing process. While it is true that it takes time to fine tune your grip, having a good fit for your first ball is imperative, and will make those adjustments that much easier. If you don’t live near us here at Bellair Lanes Pro Shop you can check out bowlingball.com’s Pro Shop Locator to find a driller near you. I’ll give you some basics that will ensure that your ball fits YOUR hand 
There are several types of grips, but if you’re wanting to hook the ball the only one you want to go with is a fingertip grip. This is where your middle and ring fingers are inserted up to the crease at the first joint. Hence the term, fingertip. The reason this is the best grip is because by just having the tips of your fingers in the ball, it is easier to create lift, which is the way rotations and hook is created (We’ll talk more about that in Part Three ). Most people trying out a fingertip grip for the first time will use finger inserts such as Turbo 2-N-1 Grips Quad Finger Inserts. Inserts are a lot softer than the ball which makes it easier on your fingers. Also, if you use the power lift side of the grips, they can also help you get a little more lift on the ball (which is always great for a new bowler).
The 2nd part of a fingertip grip (and any good fit for that matter) is having your thumb ALL THE WAY IN THE BALL. Let me repeat, ALL THE WAY IN THE BALL! I can’t stress how important this is to having the right fit. Bowling is a sport that is built on consistency. You want a consistent approach, backswing, followthrough and balance – among other things. But the most important is having a consistent release, I mean the only way to knock the pins down is by throwing the ball, right? Well having your thumb ALL the way in the ball is the only way to have consistency with your thumb. If you only put part of your thumb in the ball, what’s to say you won’t put it in more or less the next shot? Inserting your thumb more or less from one shot to the next will make you throw the ball differently each time. And inconsistency is a very BAD thing. We need to focus on the inconsistencies of the lane conditions, not our grip!
Let me make a few things clear:
If this is your first bowling ball fit well for YOUR hand, it WILL feel weird at first! If it doesn’t, then it probably doesn’t fit right.
You’re probably used to using a house ball, or your grandpa’s AMFlite and think that’s how a ball is supposed to feel. But if you think about it, your grandpa is 7 inches taller and 117 pounds heavier than you. How could you both have the same exact hand? You don’t.
Your buddy Cletus’ Hammer Black Widow does NOT fit your hand, bro (Or sis, we are very equal opportunity here at Bellair Lanes Pro Shop ).
This is always the hardest part of having a ball fit for your hand for a new bowler. The thumb most likely will feel tight. You’ll ask to have it opened up about 740 times. But if your pro shop guy is good, he will work with you on how to release the ball right so you won’t have to make the thumbhole so big your grandpa could use it. And in the long run you’ll be glad you didn’t. When you’re averaging 227 in a few years you’ll have that first good fit to thank
So if you haven’t yet, come see me and we’ll get you throwing a HOOK in no time!
Stay tuned for Part Three!!
Dustin
Tags: black widow, bowling ball, bowlingball, fingertip, grips, hook, inserts, pro shop, quad, turbo
Dustin,
Another quality article. I really enjoy reading what you have been writing.
Fit is so crucial. We are trying to relay that to the bowlingball.com audience as well, however it is not always easy. Especially for a customer that A) only open bowl and are just used to finding something that is close enough and B) As a proshop in their center that is never open while they are bowling.
Keep up the great work.
Dustin,
Another quality article. I really enjoy reading what you have been writing.
Fit is so crucial. We are trying to relay that to the bowlingball.com audience as well, however it is not always easy. Especially for a customer that A) only open bowl and are just used to finding something that is close enough and B) As a proshop in their center that is never open while they are bowling.
Keep up the great work.
Ok, so now I have a ball that fits, but how in the world does that make a ball hook? Does it automatically hook if it fits correctly? If so, can I buy one of these cheap house balls and have you drill it to fit my hand so that I can make it hook?
Have fun with this one…