spinner used to be very popular but these days it's less effective becoz the bowling centres r putting out lanes which are either giving the advantage to hook bowlers or is fair for both hook n spinner. in both cases, the hook has the advantage unless it is a 9 pin tap event.
i advise my friends to take up spinner if they don't have the time to commit n learn to play hook and/or they want to see quick results. i've seen bowlers get good at it after just 1 month of learning. it's relatively easy compared to hook to avg 190-200.
there r soooooooooo many ways to play spinner but the chinese taipei bowlers have really mastered the art. there has been some fantastic malaysia spinners, my favourite being pang boon say. he used to be an average straight bowler, but when he switched to spinner, he even entered the national team. watching him spin was such a joy to see the pin reaction. i don't see him playing these days.
how to spin? i know a few of the techniques but not anywhere as effective as the chinese spinners. firstly for sure, ur hand and arm has to be as soft as cotton. not a single muscle strained in ur arm if possible. that would naturally keep ur elbow unbent throughout delivery, which is very important for "leverage" in the sense of spinner balls. just hold flat like a hook ball at start (palm upwards) and just before release, turn ur wrist/arm without bending ur elbow and let go of the ball when ur palm is facing down straight. i've seen some spinners turn even more till their palm is facing right n downwards to get more spin n more backup.
i do encourage learning spinner coz it's so much fun to see the pins dance around ... or what some of us affectionately call "char kuew teow".