The straight ball is aimed directly at the pins and is the easiest delivery for new bowlers to learn. Your thumb should leave the hole first, while your middle finger turns and propels the ball forward - a push to the pins, but don’t rush it! Keep your follow-through straight down the lane.
Hook Ball
This is the best “working ball”, the perfect step up once you’ve mastered your approach and swing.
As your ball comes forward in this delivery, imagine reaching our to shake someone’s hand:
thumb forward and fingers extended to apply a sharp lift, creating the ‘hook’. Your wrist
should remain straight right through the delivery. Get it right and watch the pins come
crashing down!
Modified Hook Ball
If controlling your hook ball proves difficult, this can be a particularly useful delivery to try.
Your approach begins as it would for a straight ball, until the final moment when you turn
your hand to a hook position. Keep your follow-through straight towards the pins and be
careful not to turn your hand too far and create a curve ball.
Curve Ball
A curve ball is bowled much like a hook ball, however, your hand is brought upwards and to the left in a wide arc as your release the ball. Difficult to control, the curve ball is not widely used.
Back-Up Ball (Reverse Hook)
Practiced only by very experienced bowlers, the back-up ball, or reverse hook, is achieved by lifting your ring finger as you release the ball, often in front of your left foot. Even when bowled correctly, the resulting downswing (or short backswing) can be ineffective − one for the experts!