This is the pattern I will be bowling on for one of the 2 labor day weekend tournaments I will be bowling in. It is obviously very high volume , but with much more of the oil forward oil rather than reverse oil...should that indicate that the oil will break down or push down somewhat quickly? Any thoughts on this pattern?

Brad

I pretty much agree with good times.  4 loads 2 to 2 is enough to take away the bump that most people are accustomed to on house shots.  This one appears to have 9 loads 2 to 2 on the forward pass.  Most volume 2 to 2 I have ever seen.  Key will be trying to go fairly direct until a track starts to open up.  There are usually two phases to the transition on shots like this.  The first transition is carry down as you start to lose back end reaction if you are playing much out angle.  This is why I like to try to find a way to play direct out of the gate.  The bigger on going transition will be the track opening up inside of 10 board.  How this one develops will depend a lot on the styles of the guys in the tourney.  If it was a senior tourney like I am use to bowling, the transition in would be fairly gradual.  The more power players you have the more likely you will have to make a bigger move in after as little as one game

Looks tough and fun.  I agree with playing straight and a little right if possible to help create a bit of bump area when you have to move left.  I think no matter the move always a breakpoint of 10, 9, 8, somewhere around there..  When they really break down and I have a hard time getting the ball down the lane I like to remember where the heavy oil is and get deep enough so the ball will exit the oil right off the corner of the heaviest and longest part(dark blue).  They may never break down that much though.

Is this tourney at the stadium up in Reno this weekend?

That'll be fun, too bad I'm skipping out this year. Last year, we cashed 1st in our division lol..

"In my opinion", this will play incredibly tough.  With virtually no buff, and that volume, your ball won't start to hook until it leaves the pattern.  It will be difficult to get anything to read the midlane on that shot.  Likewise, when the pattern is fresh, balls will fly on the backend, because they will be retaining energy all the way through the pattern.  And although I typically don't worry about carry down, this pattern will get weaker as people play the same area.  I think initially your ball will fly on the back, and then start to labor a little.  I can sometimes move right with everything (feet and line), switch to something slightly stronger and use that tracked area for a little hold .. but it won't be much.  At least until the pattern really starts to get chewed up.  And if you are moving every game, it will be even worse. 

I imagine the scoring pace will be really low, and making spares will be a premium ... like on all tough shots. 

If the house has old lane beds, you could try to use the chewed up track to try and find some early friction.  I can't see playing the first few boards as an option.

I'm sure opinions will vary:)