Yesterday was very good. Got up early (5:20AM) to make the drive from Lafayette to Sterling (about 110 miles) for their U.S. Open qualifier. Entries were in the low 30's and the format was simple - 9 games qualifying with a cut to the top 5 for the stair step finals. The best part was that they actually put out a U.S. Open shot! I had my best look with a pin down, 40 x 5 x 70 Magic Action that I had just drilled the day before. This ball give me a great look on the fresh playing about 16 - 10 at the break, as it picked up very well in the mid-lane, which is always a problem on this pattern. With a 238-214 start, I was in good shape.

As the day went along, they continued to get a little tougher for me, but I just kept grinding and qualified 3rd. Although I lost my match on a brooklyn strike by my opponent in the 10th, I was very happy with this tournament. I led the first 6 games, made good shots and made my spares. I missed a few spares my last couple games, which dropped me to 3rd, but I came away from this tournament sharper and feeling very good about my swing.

The key to the U.S. Open pattern is to throw a medium strength ball, usually pin down, that does not try to read the fronts, reads the mid-lane a lot, then lays off at the back. Any ball that tries to flip too much at the back of the lane is not going to work very well. This is why I like to use pin down, although I have seen people use weaker pin up layouts to help get as much forward roll as possible. You need to use more forward roll than you normally would playing anywhere from 15 - 30 at the arrows, but you need to sacrifice a little carry to control the pocket.

I was able to maintain medium speed and forward roll, and I let the ball, which is a pearl, turn up at the back without jumping. With the pocket under control, the right reaction in my hand with a 2000 Abralon finish, I had a good look with this ball most of the day. If I had a weak pin up ball for the finals, I might have won this tournament.

Last night in the PBA Experience league was good; +180 for 6 on Viper with a combination of the new Ebonite Magic Action and the Pin Slasher. On the tighter lanes the Magic Action was very strong through the midlane with great continuation at the back end.

It's also interesting to me that some people end up using pin down equipment on Viper while I keep gravitating toward higher pin equipment. Both balls I threw last night were high pin. I will throw lower pins if the shorter pattern is just too strong at the back, but that was not the case last night.

Sunday was another typical day at RMSBT - very nice 5-5 shot and I got to use my new strong layout Ebonite Boom. I shot 278-258 out the gate and ended up +354 for 9, but lost my match to Larry Means. I didn't have a good look on the right lane and he had a GREAT look on both lanes. Congratulations Larry on your win.

I need to learn to figure out a look quicker when the shot gets really wet-dry in the FRONT of the lane, and is more blended down-lane, which is what happened at the end of the day Sunday. I should have picked up a ball that rolled earlier and nudged into the oil a bit, then used the dry down the lane more. I tried to go around it with more speed and ram it through the dry a little - bad idea. Oh well, live and learn.