Well, here's the best recap of the regional I can give. I definitely did not do well, averaged 173, but I led the guys who were doing this for their first time on the squad I was on. Made me feel good, as it was my first PBA regional.

Pattern was the Viper pattern. First day we got to practice, the lane machine went berserk and spat oil a lot more and a lot further than it should. Had everyone disgruntled, but we all dealt with it as we could.

I ended up just standing on 10, pitching it up 5 angled up to the pocket, hoping the ball carried. I used a Midnight Vibe, Mutant Cell Pearl, Robo Rule, Rule GP2, and Black Widow Sting, trying to get motion, but with the way the oil was, it was hard to get anything going.

I decided to opt out of the sweeper, because I wanted to save a little bit of energy for the next day.

So, we go into the actual tournament play, starting at 9 in the morning. I was so unfamiliar with the 2-pair rule, I couldn't get a rhythm or pace established and was just flailing, honestly. Whenever I was able to settle down and make a shot without worrying if I was double jumping, stood 15, rolled the ball up 10, and it caught friction and rammed the pocket. Loved the shot, but I was just too unsettled to keep making it. Was using the Rule GP2 at this point, as it was reading the friction later than my Robo Rule, and was more controllable.

The 15-10 was there all the way through 4 games, honestly, didn't ever have to move a board. Pull it a board, through the nose, swing it wide, washout. Game 5 I switched to the Mutant Cell Pearl and moved to a more comfortable position, swinging from 20 to 10, watching it jam the pocket beautifully. Again, though, if you missed you paid for it. Everyone's line held very well for all 8, minimal boards moved. Mike Edwards was eating it up, as was Casey Powell. I was paired up with them, and it was amazing watching them bowl, honestly.

Edwards was playing pretty much right up 5, and absolutely slamming the pocket. He was using the Manic, and that ball was reading friction nicely. Powell was using the Reckless, and had a lot more hand than either of us. He did the best, honestly, and I think was second in standings after our squad was over.

All-in-all, I love the pattern, and now that I'm comfortable with the pacing and how things run, I'm fairly sure I could be more comfortable in another tournament. I'm happy with the experience I got, not necessarily the outcome, but overall happy. I managed to bring myself back from a 150 average the first three, to a 173 overall.

My spare game was terrible that day... I either revved too much or not enough. It was just a lot touchier than I'm used to. But the reward of getting everything right...well...I don't think I've seen more beautiful strikes! Come September or October, I'm gonna try to hit another regional!

Also, the Defiant, Hell Raiser Revenge, Vivid, and Jet Black Taboo were the 4 most used that I saw during my squad.

Edit:
Forgot to include that they had just redone the approaches. Everybody was sticking on one lane, and sliding a mile on the other. Squealing tires were everywhere, and I ended up looking like I was trying to fly when I stuck on a shot and ended up literally on my tiptoe. Saw a few people changing slide pads and it didn't appear to help em at all. That was honestly my first time experiencing that kind of thing, too. A lot of firsts at this one.