A Few Days Away From Open Championships 2015!

Well, as I sit here hammering away at the keyboard, I am just three days away from hopping a flight to El Paso for the 2015 USBC Open Championships. This is one of my favorite tournaments of the year, so I am already super excited!

As usual, I have contemplated by six-ball arsenal more times than I can count. At long last, I have decided on the following:

Brunswick Mastermind - 2000 abralon

Brunswick Mastermind Intellect - 1500 abralon

Brunswick Melee Cross - 500/2000 abralon

Brunswick Melee - 2000 abralon plus lane shine

Brunswick Melee Jab - 2000 abralon plus polish

Brunswick T-Zone - Box

It's hard to leave the Mastermind Genius, DV8 Brutal Nightmare, and Strike King at home, but I think that the pin down symetricals in the Melee line will give me the control that I need to tame down the flying backends I've seen while watching USBC's live-stream coverage of both events.

I'm happy to report that my teammates and I will be going through the team practice session on Sunday morning prior to our set that night, so I should get a decent idea as to how the championship lanes are going to play. After watching, my plan during Team is to start outside around 1st arrow with the Melee Cross and then consider bumping in to 2nd-3rd-etc with the Mastermind Intellect as the set wears on. As for minors, my guess is that the Melee Cross or Mastermind Intellect will be the first out of the back between about 2nd and 3rd arrow, and then I'll keep chasing it left as needed with the Melee and possibly the Jab. Well, those are the plans anyhow; we'll have to wait and see how it all works out.

Still, no matter how I bowl, I'll enjoy the opportunity to catch up and bowl with amazing teammates and friends. This trip will be extra special since I will get to see good friends Shannon and Brian O'Keefe as well as one of my best childhood friends and the proprietors of the center I grew up in. With all of that on the table, this trip is sure to be a blast no matter how the pins fall.

I'll be sure to post a trip recap as soon as I return so as to help any of you are still finishing up your arsenals for later trips. Until then, thanks for reading!