Difference between backend and hook?

[chvti]

Can someone distinguish these two for me? I thought they are the same: more hook means more backend? Thanks!

[Constantine]

Even though Newsted lacked confidence in his response, he got the answer correct.

Backend is from the breakpoint to the pins.  Hook is from the release to the pins.  

For example, you might play a dull arcing ball across the center arrow out to the 5 board and back.  Or you could play a mild shiny ball down & in on the 5 board.  Both balls might have the same exact breakpoint and backend, but the hook would be vastly different.
--------------------
Good luck & good bowling

[TheBowlingKid25]

backend is, in my opinion, more of the breakpoint shape. A ball with "a lot of backend", usually has a very sharp breakpoint, but may not cover many boards. A dull arcing ball may cover from 35 to 5 and back, and not look like it hooks a lot because its so even down the lane, but a shiny ball with a lot of flip could be played straight up 5, but not make its turn until 45 feet so it seems like a huge hook.
--------------------
....BRUNSWICK!
¡Viva la nación de Brunswick!
Nothing more to be said.
....DEATH BY CHEETOS!!!!

[dizzyfugu]

Hook and backend are different things, and both hard to measure or compare.

Hook will tell you how many boards the ball will be able to cover (with the right drilling, depending on lane condition and bowler's style etc.) from the release up to the pins. But hook or hook potential will not necessarily tell you about the shape of the hook - polished/pearl ball will have an edgier reaction (skip/snap), while dull balls make a rather smoothe curve, reacting earlier. Dull balls will hook more, polished less with a later and more "violent" reaction.

Backend is the ability to convert the ball's revolutions in to a forward move in the final 3rd of the lane, after the ball reached its breakpoint and revolution axis and the ball's path point into the same direction: the pocket. This is physics. The "more" backend a ball has, the better it will be able to convert revs and exploit the energy the player gave it upon release in the pins. I am no technician, but as far as I can tell from observation, balls with a strong backend will be rather low RG balls which save rev energy longer/better than low RG balls.
 
You can see this effect very well on balls with a balance hole: when it reches the breakpoint, the hole has gone into its final axis, the ball turns towards the pocket and it seems to gain speed - this is the backend reaction.
--------------------

DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe

[LuckyLefty]

Funny thing!

A lot of people can't even "SEE" hook!

I talk to a lot of people and they will often say... "Oh this ball doesn't hook at all"

Often while telling me this they will throw shots with their usually dullish ball(when this comment is made) and the thing will arc all the way down the  lane say oh 20 to 9 and back to the pocket(18 about) and hit weekly covering a total 20 boards.

I'll ask them if I can help take and sand the thing to 1200.  They'll now get up the ball will go 13 to 9 make a sharper break and powder the pins.
They'll say,  "Now it's hooking!".  True story, Less hook, more backend.

People in general just "SEE" backend, not total hook and not what the ball is doing in the heads and midlane.

REgards,

Luckylefty

[chvti]

So if someone(RH) starts on the right of the lane and throw straight, and the ball snaps to the pocket, does that mean it doesn't hook and has a lot backend? If someone(RH) starting point is on the left of the lane and throw ball 2 to his right, and ball 2 makes a smooth arc, does that mean it has less backend and more hooks comparin to the first ball?

[dizzyfugu]

Yes, this is the idea. Snappy balls generally have less hook potential than dull ones - this comes from the coverstock and ball reaction. Backend means that the ball converts rotation into speed due to spin axis change. The earlier rotation and ball direction go together (arcing balls), the stronger is the backend. The challenge is to have the drilling right, so that the backend move reaches its highest potential upon entry of the pocket. With a too eraly reaction or too short oil, a strong backend ball might "burn out" and simply roll into the pins.
--------------------

DizzyFugu --- Reporting from Germany

"All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream..." - Edgar Allen Poe