How long did it take you to get your hook consistant.

[RABid]

I'm finally to the point of learning to throw the ball with hook. The problem is, during this transition of sometimes getting it correct and most of the time still rolling it straight my aim is all over the place. Right now I probably get it right 10 percent of the time. How long did it take you to build consistency with your release so that you can aim and depend on the hook?

[SVstar34]

Years.

There's been multiple steps for me. I started out as a junior in the 150 range. Improved and moved up to 180-190 avg as a junior. Didn't bowl much for awhile and came back as an adult and took another step to 210 avg or so. And now improved more to where I'm 225-230 now. This is in a span of bowling consistently for only 8/9 of the past 13-14 years.

[spmcgivern]

I'm finally to the point of learning to throw the ball with hook. The problem is, during this transition of sometimes getting it correct and most of the time still rolling it straight my aim is all over the place. Right now I probably get it right 10 percent of the time. How long did it take you to build consistency with your release so that you can aim and depend on the hook?

I honestly feel the time to become consistent is dependent on the bowler's effort, athleticism and quality of coaching.  It takes some people years to achieve a decent amount of success.  Some people are successful in less than a year (depending on your definition of consistent)

Quality coaching is what I would worry about the most.  Trying to develop consistency based habits will be difficult on your own.  With quality coaching and consistent effort, you could average 200 on a THS in no time.

[LookingForALeftyWall]

my aim is all over the place. Right now I probably get it right 10 percent of the time. How long did it take you to build consistency with your release so that you can aim and depend on the hook?

The most overlooked component of successful bowling is FOOTWORK.  Consistency in direction and hitting your target is mostly attributable to solid footwork and repeatable motion.  The release itself is just a component of the overall package and most times is not what causes a bowler to spray the ball all around.

How is your footwork?  Do you work on it/think about it?

[RABid]

I was a good drummer and otherwise lousy in sports. So,

Timing is good.
Footwork is okay.
Have and excellent  and highly regarded coach. He is why I am driving 82 miles for lessons and practice.

I think what I will struggle with for a while is when to shift my position and aim and assume the ball is going to hook. Right now, score wise I am better off aiming like a straight shot. Psychologically I may be better off shifting my position and aim and pushing myself to nail down the hook. If I continue with my current aim I feel like I am rewarding myself for not throwing the hook correctly and that may have an unconscious affect on my improvement.

[Bigpoppa3000]

The question is how many revs you want and different styles of bowling can affect that. You want square shoulders throughout the approach, it will give you more accuracy, but less revs. Opening shoulders allows you to wheel the ball, but takes much longer to get consistent. Also what I think has become more popular in the high rev age is the bent elbow "loading" where you need to load your arm on the downswing and roll the ball off like a yoyo. Very hard to learn and requires more muscle than just straightarming the whole swing, but gets you much more revs and many pros do it cleanly and consistently.

I would say, figure out what style you want, and get a video camera and film yourself bowling. That has helped me the most getting my form back and increasing revs significantly is by looking at myself and changing what I dont like to see. Consistency comes with time, form comes with development, and YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP YOUR FORM FIRST, because you dont want to consistently do the wrong thing.