Start right and work left. Watch yours and others reactions to find the best plan of attack.

Surface is money.

Im not saying straighter is greater, only cover several different areas to get an idea of the pattern and determine your best line of attack. Many are affraid to get in deeper on longer patterns and stay outside. Many times there is a great look deeper inside because you have fewer boards to cover when exiting the pattern.  It will vary, watch the ball reaction.

A longer pattern does not mean more oil.  Bowled in the Hoinke the last few years, and had to use a dry lane ball inside to get the ball down the lane.  Even though the pattern is long, the volume is very light.

Oh well, it looks like I am too late to the party ... but here is what I posted anyway.

One piece of advice, take it for what it is worth.  Last year when I went to the Hoinke, I went to the center the night before.  I waited around about an hour to get a pair that was supposedly not bowled on.  I found it very dry, and found an ok look around 5, while trying every ball and line combination I could. 

The next day I started out there, and bombed the first game ... like 150.  I could get to the pocket from out there, which sucked me in, but I had to be spot on.  I moved in for the next two games and followed where others were bowling and banged out two low deuces.  My partner shot around 700, so I screwed the pooch for us.

I went in to the tournament with a preconceived notions and that was a big mistake.  So like other here have said, look where others are playing and try and stay where the scoring is.  Remember that you have to move lanes, so watch where the other people in front of you are playing.

Good Luck,

dR3w