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What would you consider a great practice session? I practice three times per week -- two games at just picking up the 7- and 10-pins, but after that, I am somewhat stuck as to what else I can practice to sharpen my game. -- Annette Sullivan, Chicago, Ill.

I like the idea that you practice the 7- and 10-pins, but I really think are overdoing it at this point. Assuming you are right-handed, I would take five shots at the 10-pin and three at the 7. After that, I would concentrate on playing different lines to the pocket to develop different ways to get strikes. Sometimes the lanes favor a certain line, but learning to hit the pocket from another line will improve your shot-making ability. You also should work on different parts of your game. For example, keeping the armswing in line with the side of your body, or making sure that your release is the same every time. Finish the practice session with five or six frames in which you're just trying to throw strikes. And, finally, always finish the practice session with a strike.

For years, I have been what I call a "stroker," but now it appears that almost all of the good bowlers are "power" players, using six to eight steps with little or no slide. After 40-plus years of being a "stroker," how should I go about becoming a "power" bowler with more revs and speed? -- James Fleming, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Don't underestimate the "stroker" type of game. One need only look at Norm Duke to see what a good "stroker" game can achieve. Part of the problem may be that you're bowling on super easy conditions, on which the big hook bowlers can perform. Put many of these bowlers on a more demanding condition, and the flaws in their games appear. There is one area that "strokers" can improve to increase their scores, and that involves getting more speed on the ball. One way is to increase the height of your backswing. Another: Go to a lighter bowling ball. If you are currently using a 16-lb. ball, a decrease in weight to 15-lbs. will result in more speed and little or no decrease in hitting power.

I have problems, on a consistent basis, hooking my ball on oily lanes. I turn my thumb to 10 and sometimes 9 o'clock to make the ball hook, but at the point of release, I am told, I am topping the ball and it's in an inward claw position. How can I stop this and make my ball hook on oily lanes? -- Theresa Revis, Houston, Texas

You are probably rotating your hand too much during the release, and this is causing you to throw a spinner-type ball that skids a great deal on oily lanes. To correct this problem, you should rotate your hand so, instead of the thumb being pointed to 2 o'clock, it's pointed to around 12 o'clock. Also, concentrate on feeling the fingers release the ball last so that you're actually using the fingers to direct the ball toward the intended target. You might want to practice without taking an approach, and just feel the thumb releasing and the fingers lifting on the bowling ball. Do this a number of times before you employ this technique with a normal approach.

When I bowl, I use only two fingers and no thumb. I have been bowling like this for a while and average in the 180s. I want to try some tournaments, but I do not know if I can bowl sanctioned tournaments like this. I am a right-handed bowler, and I use my left hand to balance the ball during my release. -- Victor Tucker, Melville, N.Y.

You absolutely can bowl in tournaments using two fingers and no thumb -- or rolling the ball in whatever manner you want to. The first PBA bowler I ever saw employ this type of game was Mike Miller, and he won a couple of national titles with it. There are a number of high-average bowlers both in the U.S. and abroad who use only two fingers to roll the ball. Just keep in mind that the ball must pass all USBC rules for weight requirements.

I have a question about picking the spot to look at on the lane. I start by looking at the arrows, but then find myself looking at the dots, and am very inconsistent with my release. What is the correct choice -- arrows or dots? -- Chris Schneider, Rochester, N.Y.

There really is no one correct choice here, as I have seen successful bowlers use both arrows and dots. A few bowlers (Glenn Allison comes to mind) even target at the foul line. One thing I do believe in is choosing a single way of targeting and sticking with it. The reason I say this is when you target at the arrows, your back is a little straighter than if you target at the dots (because your eyes are focused a bit farther down the lane). You usually will lay the ball down closer to the foul line if you target at the dots, while you will loft the ball a bit more if you target at the arrows.