While watching the recent High Roller and Mini-Eliminator tournaments in Las Vegas, I saw many young bowlers who look like they could compete on the PBA Tour. Why do they choose to compete in amateur events? - Marilyn Hotchkiss, Henderson, Nev.

FIRST AND foremost, the cost of competing on the PBA Tour is very expensive. Entries and expenses can be about $800 to $1,000 per week. Not many young bowlers have that kind of money to sponsor themselves on Tour. Second, the Tour competition is very tough, with the stars having the added advantage of free bowling equipment at every event. Third, while these amateur events feature many good young bowlers, there isn't the depth of competition evident on Tour. Recently, the big amateur events have changed some rules to the disadvantage of the so-called "professional amateurs." This is why bowlers such as Chris Barnes, Pat Healey and Robert Smith joined the PBA Tour. With the current rule changes, the high-paying amateur events, more than ever, should act as a minor league for the PBA.

Power is my game, thanks to my big hook ball. While I bowl in many tournaments and do pretty well, I seldom win - I leave too many corner pins. Any suggestions? - Byron Gill, Baton Rouge, La.

BOWLERS WITH big hook balls often have too much entry angle into the pocket, causing the 3-pin to impact the 6-pin at the wrong angle so that it doesn't take out the 10-pin. With today's exotic bowling balls, there are many different drilling techniques that can either increase or decrease your amount of hook. Contact your pro shop operator and have him drill your next ball to "calm" the ball down. Additionally, try to learn to play a straighter angle to the pocket. While this type of ball is not as exciting, it will probably carry the 10-pin better.

I have a number of different bowling balls, and would like to know the advantages of installing thumb grips. - Martin Storkes, Rancho Cordova, Calif.

THE BIGGEST advantage of thumb inserts is that they give you a consistent feel from one bowling ball to the other. The inside of different bowling balls can be made of slightly different materials, and the thumb inserts eliminate these differences. Because of that uniformity, I recommend them to bowlers who use a number of different bowling balls.

I grip the ball very hard in order to develop a strong lift on the ball, but I've developed sore points on both my thumb and fingers as a result. Help! - Marshall Goldberg, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

GRIPPING THE ball hard doesn't create lift so much as it creates a sore thumb and fingers. Proper lift is created by proper timing and a good knee bend during the release of the ball. The best bowlers usually hold the ball very loosely and let the legs and swing leverage lift the ball during the slide and release. Bowling, like most other sports, is dependent on strong legs, not a strong hand.

My first game in league play usually is my worst. I am an older bowler, and the other bowlers say that the lanes change during the first game and then settle down. Are they right? - Martha Bloomfield, Dearborn, Mich.

ONE OF the big mistakes of most bowlers - particularly seniors - concerns proper warm-up prior to competition. Most bowlers simply throw a few shadow balls, then begin league play. Instead, they should go through a 5- or 10-minute warm-up prior to practice. A few knee bends are recommended with lots of stretching, including turning and twisting the waist. When practice begins, start by throwing the ball slowly, and build up your speed with each ball. This way, you'll reach your normal speed more naturally. If this is done prior to bowling, you'll note that the lane condition isn't changing, but your ball speed is, and that adversely affected your scores.

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.