A. It is true as we throw the ball at the same spot the oil pattern will change. The bowling ball picks up oil from the lane and the lane will dry out. You don't have to change your curve; you have to change the spot you are aiming for. You are looking for more oil in the front part of the lane or head area. You usually have to move closer to the middle of the lane. If you are aiming at 2nd arrow you might have to go between the 2nd and 3rd arrow. You may even have to move deeper than that as the night goes on.

Q. Is it true that I should concentrate on posture, form, and release rather than concentrate on arrows?

A. Yes and no. You have to hit mark or arrow. But if your form or timing is off you will have trouble hitting your mark. So my suggestion here is too get a coach and get some lessons. Just to make sure you are getting to the line with proper timing and balance. This will increase your consistency and your leverage on the ball. Many bowlers tell me that they can't afford lessons. You can't afford not too get lessons if you want to improve your game. A series of lessons in most instances will cost you less than a new ball, and lessons will last much longer.

Q. When I bowl in tournaments I seem to have too much going on in my head. I am thinking about where to stand what mark to hit. I want to stay slow but I also want my release to be firm and so on. How can I focus better?

A. This is a common problem with a fairly simple answer. You know how to bowl and all of these things you are thinking about you have practiced. When you get into the tournament you need to put on the cruise control. Think of all the things you need or want to do back in the settee area. When you get on the approach just look at your mark and go. When writing this article on my computer I have to think about my answer and put it into words on the screen. When I get it done the next move is to send it to the printer. There is no more thinking involved that's been done, all that's left is hit the print key. When you get on the approach hit the print key.

Send your questions to sosbob@charter.net