Getting my ball to hook!

[NWASSUP1]

I have a Cyclone Ball that I got in a Ball League . Is this a good ball ? trying to throw a hook with it but can't get it to hook when I throw it right to left . I can throw it back-up ball and it moves more than the other way . The PIN is just to the uper right of the second finger hole . I asked the pro shop guy if it will hook if I throw right to left and he said yes . By the way it is a finger tip . More confident in throwing a back-up ball especially when get a spare shot . Does this hurt the way the ball is drilled with the core if I throw back-up ? Sometimes I stick with back-up if I see that the ball doesn't do anything the other way . I know most everyone throws it from right to left .
Norm

[billf]

The pin is above yur finger hole. Where is the MB and CG? Is there a balance hole? Throwing a back up ball does not hurt the ball in any way.

[Josch]

My first ball was an Ebonite Cyclone with a simular lay out. If you naturally throw a backup ball it may be difficult to change to a standard release. My friend started throwing backup and it took him a couple months of trying to get comfortable with a right to left hook. The Ebonite Cyclone is a great medium to medium light oil ball. Any heavier oil and you'll have to play a very direct line into the pocket and any lighter it may be extremely difficult to get the ball into the pocket at a good angle. There are times when I have to switch to throwing my plastic because my Cyclone will not hit the pocket.

[NWASSUP1]

There are 3 circles ( don't know if this is CG or not ? ) below 2nd hole to right of thumb , little more than half way between thumb & 2nd hole . Don't know what MB is or where it's at . There is no Balance Hole .

[Josch]

I believe that is the CG. The CG is usually fairly close to the center of your span and grip for most standard layouts. Mine is drilled the same way.

[NWASSUP1]

Forgot don't know what MB is or where it's located . On Bowlingball.com lots of time looking at bowlversity & videos and the tech stuff is very confusing to me .

[billf]

The tech stuff can take a while to learn but it does come in handy when trying to figure out what to expect out of a ball. The reason I asked was to see if maybe it was drilled for a back up style. It's not so know we have to figure out why you can't get a proper hook. A balance hole is used for two things; make sure the ball has the proper weight balance in accordance to USBC standards. Also the position of the hole can increase ball dynamics by as much as 40%. That's how it got the nickname 'get back hole'. You may want to consider asking your driller to add this. If so, you want it in the P3 location. He should know what that means.

[bowl1820]

If your wanting to make the ball hook, You have to Stop throwing a backup ball first!

(Assuming your right handed)
If your throwing a backup ball, that means your "dumping" your wrist (Meaning your putting a clockwise turn on the ball,rotating the thumb out towards the gutter during the release,.)

First thing I would start with is your release.
Keep it simple at first,
A firm straight wrist, hold hand at about a 45 degree angle and hold this position through the swing.
This will give you a good basic roll on the ball, little bit of hook. Your not going to swing the whole lane with it, so you might have to move right with it some. Your just working on a consistent non-backup release.
http://www.bowl4fun.com/ron/TipGraphics/e005Vfront.JPG
Once your consistent there, then you can work on adding more hook.

And yes a hole can help the dynamics of the ball, but it won't fix a improper release.

Also the Cyclone ball is a light to medium oil ball, so it won't be a big hooker if there's a lot of oil.

[billf]

I didn't mean to imply that a balance hole or anything else would fix an improper release. But without seeing or getting a good description of the release I didn't want to totally blame the release. I know many people with good releases that can throw a back up ball so being able to throw that way doesn't necessarily mean the normal release is flawed. Norm Duke still uses a back up ball on occasion too.

[bowl1820]

I know many people with good releases that can throw a back up ball so being able to throw that way doesn't necessarily mean the normal release is flawed.

Yes having good release in the first place and then being able to throw a backup ball "deliberately" doesn't mean someone has a flawed release.

But if your not trying to throw a backup ball deliberately in the first place and are still doing it then you should look at the release first.

Once you eliminate the release as the issue for the ball not hooking, then look at surface and layout issues.

I think the O.P.'s is a release issue.

My comment about a X-hole wasn't meant as a criticism of your suggestion. Just that he should look at his release first before exploring other options and not to think that punching a hole in the ball would be a instant fix.

[billf]

I eliminated surface because he said he can throw a back up and have it hook when the regular hook wasn't working. That''s why I was asking about drilling thinking maybe if the driller saw him bowl before hand and saw the back up ball he then may have drilled it to do just that. Now that all those questions have been answered it does only appear to leave a release issue. we both know it's nothing new for a bowler to have a poor release and not even realize it. We just approached the same question from different angles which is the way a forum is suppose to work.