I know another loaded question but just curious as to what people think. Getting some extra practice in before team USA trials. Sydney seems the hardest if not lined up with proper equipment but I suppose a lot of shots are going to be like this. I thought Montreal played fairly easy after i broke it down. Was maybe thinking about either Mexico city or Paris. Just curious to what people think. Thanks.
The WTBA patterns are on the website Worldtenpinbowling.com.

I agree that most people find shorter tournament patterns the toughest, although everyone has a comfort zone that is usually most closely associated with the length of the pattern.  For me, the medium length patterns ( 39-40 ) are often the toughest, not sure why, but probably because I can square up outside on the short patterns, and can also play straighter inside on the real long patterns. 

I struggled on Athens at the Orleans in Vegas, but when I put it out at our house it played more how I expected where in Vegas it played really wet

short patterns are the bane of bowling existence.  I am not nearly comfortable/consistent enough playing outside of 5 board, which is where a lot of the short patterns would play best for me.  I tend to have a lot of over/under.

I love the longer/heavy patterns.  that is my sweet spot.

We need a like button like Facebook for this post. I get some coaching from Ron Hatfield at times and this is a topic of discussion for us when we are brain-STORMing. Ron feels the 39-41 foot patterns are starting to be the "tougher" pattern lengths and one of the reasons that Bob states is the hugest.

I know when I warm up, I try a couple of shots out and in and the 39-41 patterns "trick" my eyes because I usually see ball reaction both in and out. I can think of a couple of times where I got fooled into thinking the look was out when the field was just balling down and playing left more and striking more.

Good question and even better discussion!!

After thinking about it, the reason I often struggle on the 40 foot patterns is there can be too many potential options on how to play that length for me.  I get caught up in trying to find an optimal line and sometimes don't execute.  Also, transitions are tougher because carrydown in conjuction with breakdown in the heads can force bigger adjustments quickly.  On longer patterns carrydown is not an issue, and on short patterns you can usually deal with it by making changes that don't involve moving to a different zone.   

The WTBA Athens pattern (40 feet, 2.5:1) was my lowest scoring pattern in 2014.

The WTBA Tokyo (43 feet, 2.7:1) is my lowest scoring pattern in 2015.

I have a good bowling friend who recently bowled on the WTBA Mexico City pattern (45 feet, 2.32:1). She and several others have sworn off bowling on sport compliant/flat patterns after that experience.

My favorite movie line ever Mike.

 As for pattern length, I had a conversation about this maybe 15 years ago with an ABC lane man who set up patterns for nationals.  Typically the nationals pattern was always about 38-39 feet in those days.  We talked about it and he said that over 40 feet, and the shot set up too easy after the transitions.  They weren't oiling every squad in those days so it was a squad equity issue.   Note that the Nationals team event was very high scoring in 2014 when they buffed 43 feet, a historically long buff for nationals. 

Finding hold area is an under used strategy in the modern game where so much friction is usually available, but it is the reason scoring can be so good on long patterns.

I never knew much about nationals because I have never bowled it nor have I ever really followed it. Very interesting. And I agree that in today's game it seems everyone heads towards the free hook or friction of the lane. I remember one league night on the scorpion (2014-2015 version) I had a great line inside but the ball barely hooked two boards. I followed everyone and the track was well burnt but I had over under like crazy. Stupid me liked seeing the ball hook more. Who cares about score when the balls are hooking.

One thing to realize is it matters what the environment is for the competition.  What I mean is, a sport shot league with any pattern will play differently than a multi-day tournament on the same pattern.

Lanes have memory.  Pumping day after day of 10:1 ration THS will have an affect on the lane.  You have the track area and you have the memory.  Oiling a sport compliant shot over THS will not give you the true sport shot.  Because of this, where people think the shot is based on theory isn't always where it is best played.  This is why I would always try a line near the track area of a center if it is a sport league.

As for longer duration tournaments, each subsequent oiling of a sport shot will get it closer to what the intention is.  This is why people will see a significant difference between practicing on the USBC Open patterns at their home center versus the actual venue.

Be open to new lines and be watchful of what the successful bowlers are doing.