Hypothesis: Bubble attachment to hydrophobic solid surfaces is influenced by the liquid film instability. Inclusion of transiently formed holes within the film rather than the so-called hydrophobic force in the theory is expected to better describe and explain film rupture and triple contact line formation in the bubble-surface attachment process. The significance of surface hydrophobicity and hole formation renders the stochastic nature of the induction time of attachment. Experiments: A combination of high-speed video microscopy and theoretical analysis was applied to investigate the induction time of attachment and critical film thickness of air bubbles rising freely perpendicularly to silica surfaces of different hydrophobicities. Findings: Film rupture occurred statistically for shorter induction times and thicker films on the more hydrophobic surface, rejecting the conjecture of hydrophobic force. Computed results of the critical base radius of the transient holes causing film rupture were merged together nicely, independently of surface hydrophobicity. The paper sheds light on the significance of hydrophobicity on the attachment process by means of a novel and easily implemented methodology, without relying on the debatable hydrophobic force. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.