Andrew is again on the money. Surface is the major determinant for how a pattern varies from house to house. And boy, is it a big variable! We set up a similar pattern at Bathurst, using a tweak on the Brunswick Euro Challenge pattern. But Bathurst is a different installation with an Authority 22 lane machine and air conditioning that is set much cooler than Rooty Hill, so it was much higher volume and you could camp out in a zone a lot longer. At Rooty Hill, it was little move, little move, little move, little move, JUMP ZONES! Little move, little move, little move... And this is if I was striking!
So many variables. Don't ever think it will play just like the practice at your local centre. Just take that session as an indication of how tough it will probably be. Would be really nice to see seniors play on 6:1, which on a decent surface plays very nicely. (I'd like to see house shots between 6&8:1.) Just watch out for the surface again. For example, 6:1 is just brutal in a house that's got a hard surface and has been ditched up forever. (Example House - Starts with a "T", ends with an "uggeranong") Once the outside 10 boards (that never see oil) on the panel get the texture coat worn off, oil 'em up and they play like ice with spots of gravel on it. Slick and random! So go 8:1 there. Easy is better than impossible, IMO.
Watch the Youth Event coming up at Tuggeranong for an indication. WTBA Tokyo on almost clapped out Brunswick Anvilhang. It's going to be very tough indeed from out with the outside 8 boards probably ending up OOB. But at least it'll be long, so the players can find a way to hold the pocket from the inside.
