Why do you think Pete Weber is so good... other than the fact that he had a great coach (his father, Dick Weber)? - Marselle Viron, Montreal, Canada

I'VE ALWAYS felt that Pete adopted a power-type game, but has the subtle instincts and releases of the older, straight game. While there are many bowlers who can create the big power hook, few have the ability to change their hand positions and releases to adapt to the varying lane conditions of the PBA Tour. Pete learned how to bowl on a lacquer lane condition, which forced him to learn how to keep his shot straighter to score on that type of condition. He has continually changed his game to adapt as the lanes and bowling balls have changed.

As a four-step bowler, I would like to know if I should take a large or a short step for the first step of my delivery? - Margaret Snow, Parkersburg, W.V.

YOU SHOULD always try to make the first step of your approach slow and short. Your pushaway should coincide with the first step. A large first step can leave you unbalanced and put you out of time with your swing, forcing you to rush the next steps to bring the ball back in time with your feet. A good example of a bowler with a short first step is Mike Aulby, whose pushaway is deliberate and upwards in conjunction with his deliberate first step.

The center in which I bowl has heavy oil in the center of the lane and is pretty dry on the first six boards of the lane, giving me a problem with my new ball. I just purchased a Pro Zone ball and it hooks a lot. I like to play the outside line (around 5-board) and bowled pretty well with the Red Hot Storm. Now the ball starts to hook early and either goes through the nose or rolls out. Any ideas on how to use this new ball? - Maxine Boulders, Golden, Colo.

THE NEW Zone Pro is probably the ball with the most hook on the market today. As such, you must move on the approach to take advantage of the lane condition in your bowling center. I would suggest you move both your feet and your target toward the center of the lane and let the ball skid out towards the dry portion. This way, you can take advantage of the strong hook and "hit" potential of the new ball. Your two balls give you a good starting combination so you can combat both heavily-oiled and dry lanes.

I have just started competitive bowling for my country, and my coach has advised me to purchase bowling shoes with multiple slide soles. What's the reason for these type of bowling shoes? - Joanna Cabrillo, Malta

BOWLERS WHO compete in a number of different bowling centers encounter a number of factors that can create problems. One overlooked problem is the inconsistency of approaches: they can be sticky in one center and very slick in another. This is caused by a variance in the humidity from one center to another. If the humidity is very low (usually in centers that are located in dry areas, or during cold weather in which the heaters are activated), the approaches will be slick. In areas of high humidity, the approaches will be sticky. Bowling shoes with variable soles and heals can counter these fluctuations in approach characteristics, and are a wise investment.

Many of my fellow junior bowlers say I have to throw a big hook to compete today, but I throw the ball relatively straight with just a little hook at the back end. My average has risen for the last three years; it's just over 200 today. What's your opinion on changing to a big-hook game? - Eddie Carter, Carrolton, Ky.

YOU SHOULD stay with your relatively straight game, and continue to hone your skills with more practice and some coaching by a qualified instructor. Today, quite a few bowlers seem to get caught up with trying to hook the ball a great deal, and lose the ability to hit a target on a lane. With today's bowling balls, the need for a lot of hook is really unimportant and the straighter bowler can hit the pins with plenty of force. You should remember that the best bowlers in the world all throw the ball relatively straight and they have tremendous speed control.

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.