What are the advantages of two finger and three finger grip hooking in bowling? And which is better?

Question

Is it wrong to two finger hook?

Answer 1

Nothing wrong with either style.  Every bowler learns how to bowl in their most comfortable and effective way, whether they be self taught or with a bowling coach.  My son bowls with the two finger style of hooking a ball and averages 200+ in our jr./adult league.  I've been bowling with the traditional style of semi-fingertip grip with two fingers and thumb in the ball.  My current average is 208, but since I've had wrist and rotator cuff problems in the past, I need to use my fingers and thumb to get a good grip.

When I bowled professionally, I crossed lanes with PBA Champion Mike Miller and other regional PBA members that used the two finger style effectively and successfully.  It gives them more revolutions on the lane and that increases pin action, especially on light hits.  Seems like everyone learning to bowl is using that style, but make the mistake of using bowling balls too light for them, and that makes for lots of splits and corner pins due to deflection.

Two fingers and thumb gives you more control over where you want the ball to go, but not that many revolutions unless you are able to do so like Robert Smith, PBA member with most revolutions and ball speed with a traditional grip.  Also, if you have access to reruns of the PBA Team Challenge earlier this month, Jason Belmonte from Australia uses a two handed, two finger delivery, which is mind blowing.....