The two reactive resin bowling balls I own seem to work well on most of the lane conditions in the area. My problem: spares. I miss at least one or two simple spares per game, keeping my average from being higher than the 182 I currenly hold. What are your thoughts on using a plastic ball for spares? - Mathew Baxter, Tempe, Ariz.

REACTIVE RESIN bowling balls are terrific for strikes because they are designed to take advantage of the wet-dry lane conditions prevalent in most neighborhood centers. However, the same reason these balls work well on the first ball is the exact reason they make spare shooting difficult. Most common spares are not located on the area of the lane which has much lane conditioner guidance. As such, I recommend all competitive bowlers purchase a hard plastic or urethane ball for most spare shooting. These balls go straighter and are much easier to control, which makes your spare shooting a bit easier.

On my first balls, I often fall off balance during the release. Do you have any pointers to maintain proper balance? - Perry Saxton, Gatlinburg, Tenn.

THE MAIN reason you're off-balance during the release is you have too much weight on one side of the body and not enough on the other. Remember, you have a heavy bowling ball pulling you in one direction. To counteract the weight of the ball, point your opposite arm straight toward the side during the release. Additionally, try to make sure that your foot is pointed directly forward and perpendicular to the foul line. If you are looking for bowlers with perfect balance, try watching David Ozio or John Handegard. Both bowlers have textbook balance during the ball release.

As a newcomer to the game, how many steps should I take and where should I start my approach? Most of my friends tell me to use a four-step approach. Should I? - Martha Whitsett, Amarillo, Texas

AS A BEGINNER, the best way to determine the starting point of your approach is to go to the foul line and take 41Ú2 brisk steps toward the back of the approach. Where do you finish? That's a good starting point for your approach. As far as the number of steps, most bowlers do best with four steps, but I would practice a tempo that feels comfortable to you. One factor: the length of your arms and legs. Bowlers with long arms and legs usually find that a five-step approach is appropriate, while those with short arms may prefer three steps. Most use four steps.

Currently, I use a 12-pound house ball. I plan on buying my first bowling ball and would like to know what weight I should purchase because I can get a real good deal at a local discount department store. - Marty Goldstein, Rochester, N.Y.

ASSUMING THAT the 12-pound house ball feels comfortable, I'd say you could use a ball at least a pound or two heavier when it is drilled to your hand specifications. As for buying a ball at a department store, don't. While the price may seem cheap, most department stores do not have knowledgeable people when it comes to fitting and drilling a bowling ball. By purchasing a ball at your local pro shop, you can be assured of a proper fit and additional knowledge that will help you play the game better.

Recently, I got into an argument over good and bad racks and how they affect pinfall. One bowler said that if you have an open pocket (the gap between the 1-3 is wider than normal), it is to the advantage of the bowler. My other friend disagrees. What's your opinion of wide racks? - David Davidson, Lincoln, Neb.

WHEN bowling balls were made of hard rubber or plastic, the ball generally didn't hook as much as today, and an open rack made it easier for a straighter ball to enter the pocket and hit the 5-pin. This usually meant a better chance of striking. Today, however, most bowling balls have enough hook built into them so that getting to the 5-pin is considerably easier on light pocket hits. An open rack may make it a bit easier to hit the 5-pin, but it can sometimes cause a solid 10-pin leave on an otherwise perfect pocket hit. So today, a wide pocket is not really an advantage; in fact, it may be a disadvantage.

Mike McGrath is a PBA and ABC Hall of Famer. Send your questions to him c/o Bowlers Journal International, 122 South Michigan, Suite 1506, Chicago, IL 60603.