Mark Roth made a plastic ball hook with his hand. Reactive resin made more hook a purchase. The PBA later put his name on a plastic-only championship.
In 1978, Mark Roth won eight PBA titles in one season. His high-revolution release helped define the modern power game while he was still throwing the hard plastic equipment of the era. Across 34 tour titles and four Player of the Year awards, the Original Cranker made his hand the attraction. Marshall Holman became his great rival, and Roth’s televised 7-10 conversion in 1980 gave bowling another moment it would keep replaying for decades.
Full documentary: youtu.be/1sj6-yBwrS0