Q. What exercises are good for bowling?

A. If you are a serious bowler who competes in long format tournaments I suggest incorpor-ating a fitness workout program with a personal trainer. I have personally belonged to a gym or health club for many years and currently work with personal trainer Dave Davis at Tel-Ex Powerhouse Gym in Southfield, Michigan. Bowlers should focus on building strong legs, (leg curls, leg extensions, leg press etc.). Most women should do exercises to strenghthen their wrists (wrist curls). Bowlers should try to do exercises that don't build a lot of bulk and inhibit mobility. Remember to always consult a physician before begining an exercise program.

Q. How do I know when to switch balls?

A. Unfortunately there is no exact answer to this question, but when I am in competition and I start to lose my consistency of hitting the pocket or carry and I have already tried making adjustments with my angle to the pocket or hand position then I switch balls. There are times when you are on a tough grind out and if you are keeping the ball in play (hitting the pocket) you may be better of sticking with that same ball even if you are not striking.

Q. Is there is anything that I can do at home to improve my game when I cannot get out and practice?

A. There are a lot of instructional bowling videos that you can study at home or different books on bowling, maybe these resources can help you to identify the things in your game that will help you to maximize your limited ability to practice.

Q. How can I get more rotation on my ball?

A. In order to get more rotation there must be some acceleration at release point. As the thumb exits, the weight of the ball rest on the finger tips for a split second. The fingers must move quickly through the ball at this point to impart spin. Your leverage position is very important. You should be solid at the line with a good kneebend. I will spend more time on this topic in later articles.

Q. How come I drop the ball when I relax my grip on the ball?

A. Have the reverse pitch in your thumb and the length of your span checked. You may have too much reverse in your thumb which makes your thumb release early or your span may be too short. Another possibility is that your thumb hole is too large.

Q. What are the lane conditions on (the pro bowling) tour like?

A. The conditions on tour are much more demanding than most league conditions . Our tour has a lane maintenance professional who puts out a condition that is much flatter usually using a longer oil pattern of 36' to sometimes 45' down the lane. There is not a lot of oil built up in the middle. When you miss inside your target it goes high because there is less oil built up in the head area where you set your ball down, like wise if you miss your target to the outside the ball will not make it up to the pocket. We as professionals are required to know how to play from an extreme outside shot (right of the first arrow) to an extreme inside line sometimes as deep as the sixth arrow and anything in between. The lanes are oiled only once per day and because we bowl early in the morning and very late at night the lanes go through many transitions and play very differently as the day goes on..

If you have any bowling-related questions or have a problem with your game and could use some advice from a professional bowler, Mrs. Daniels can be contacted one or two ways. Snail mail: Cheryl Daniels, P. O. Box 250014, West Bloomfield, MI 48325. Email address: Cheryl_Daniels@msn.com. Also, please visit Mrs. Daniels' website: www.my.freeway.net/`Shebe.