Question: What factors determine a bowling ball's hook potential?

Answer:
The main factors are the coverstock type (solid, pearl, or hybrid), core design (symmetrical vs asymmetrical, RG, and differential), and surface finish (grit level). Aggressive solid coverstocks and asymmetrical cores with high differential create higher hook potential. Pearl coverstocks and polished surfaces usually produce lower overall hook but sharper backend motion. Bowler style (rev rate and speed) also plays a big role in how much hook you actually get from any ball.