Q&A for How to Hook a Bowling Ball

Here's the secret. When you lift the ball with three fingers, rotate your hand and wrist (Righties: counter-clockwise; Lefties: clockwise). The first digit that should go out of the ball when you release it is the thumb. When you release, if you were successful, it will curve, go on the edge of the gutter, and knock down around 6-10 pins varying on the angle of the shot.

Your ball may be soaked with oil. I would recommend having your ball rejuvenated (i.e baked and refinished).

Not too much (around a punching position). This creates too much curl to it making the ball curl into the gutter. Here's a tip: Cock your wrist into a sort of handshake position. This will create curl that makes the ball go on the edge of the gutter and knock down pins around the front center pin.

You can buy a bowling ball towel to wipe the oil off.

Try a "medium reaction" ball and changing your hand position (behind the ball to start, then "handshake" position upon delivery).

I am also a new bowler and bought a plastic "beginner" ball. I could only throw a slight hook with it. I just bought a "medium reaction" ball and throwing a fairly drastic hook was easy. (Controlling it will take some more work.)

Check where you bought the ball and see if it is marked as a plastic ball. Plastic balls do not hook and they are meant for spares, so you may have issues hooking it.