Bowled nationals, BJI, BTM, and 40-framer last week.
Used "normal" equipment for nationals and did well. The BTM extended the pattern another 6 feet to a total length of 48 feet (including buffing) and heavy volume, and it plays like a long, heavy pattern.
The BJI/40-framer was the sahara desert. I ended up using only plastic (for all shots) and had to swing it 15 boards on top of that. Still scored pretty well, despite that.
The nationals pattern, according to the head mechanic, is setup to yield an inside/outside shot. You can play down and in off the gutter if you don't have a ton of hand and can roll the ball. The standard nationals inside shot is also there. You can play it either way, but you'll still need to execute well to score well.
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J.J. "Waterola Kid" Anderson, the bLowling King : Kill the back row