Despite what some people may say, you can really play it anywhere you want to, it's just all about making good shots . . very good shots.  Typically people will play inside, but it's so tight that it's difficult to get the ball down the lane, but get a decent move on the backend.  Inside where?  That depends on a lot of things, the lane machine, the lanes themselves, and a few more of your specs such as axis tilt and angle of rotation.  The one thing I can tell you is that as the lanes transition, you will want to go deeper.  Trying to play right through the transition is worse than playing the shot to begin with.  I'm going to say you'll have the best look with your Crossroad, maybe the Hot Sauce Pearl.  Solids don't offer that great of a look on that pattern, you want to clear the front part of the lane as easily as possible and get a good move on the backend.  Might try to burn up the 8-11 board before scoring starts, but then again that goes back to the lane machine and the lanes.  I've played 15-6, but I've also played 17-12 on the fresh, just depends a lot on the house and lane machine. 

what do you average now on a house shot?

Just make your spares and grind it out.  180 is a good game.

Thanks alot guys for the insight and info about playing this pattern...

NFLFAN.. right now THS ave is at 217... and yes i have heard that 180-190 is pretty good game for guys that have bowled on it before

I also don't agree with the 180-190 being a good score. Sorry, just my opinion again. Sure it's tough and scores aren't going to be huge, but if you want to win the tournament, then 180-190 isn't going to cut it, unless it is a bunch of local house rats that have never seen a sport shot before. If you have bowled on sport shots before, then you can certainly use what you have learned from them to help you on the US Open. (again, yes it's tough, but telling yourself 180-190 is good only works when you have 65 in the 5th after 3 splits...You can't go into a tournament mentally saying if i just shoot 190 every game I will be ok...at least in my area you can't)

I'd agree here too.  As long as you can keep your LOW games at 180-190, then you'll be in business, but there's no reason you can't go higher.  I've had the Open shot down for a PBA league several times before, and I've been in the 700's more often than not.  Again, it depends on how "good" the lane machine is.  I can't find the lane graph, but if it calls for reverse oil, and the lane machine isn't capable of putting it down, scoring pace will most likely be higher.  Play for spares and get the strikes when you can get them. 

I also don't agree with the 180-190 being a good score. Sorry, just my opinion again. Sure it's tough and scores aren't going to be huge, but if you want to win the tournament, then 180-190 isn't going to cut it, unless it is a bunch of local house rats that have never seen a sport shot before. If you have bowled on sport shots before, then you can certainly use what you have learned from them to help you on the US Open. (again, yes it's tough, but telling yourself 180-190 is good only works when you have 65 in the 5th after 3 splits...You can't go into a tournament mentally saying if i just shoot 190 every game I will be ok...at least in my area you can't)

Yes, very important point.  US Open and USBC Open are only two letters away from a night and day difference. 

Just make sure it is the US Open pattern and not the USBC Open Championships pattern.  I have heard many people using the terms interchangeable.  US open is 1:1 and the USBC Open is 2.5:1.
Big difference.

Well, I still wouldn't call it a good score, the point was that if you want to win, 180-190 isn't going to cut it.  That being said, 180-190 is a safe score.  Those numbers will keep your head above water and you in the hunt.  I DEFINITELY agree about keeping yourself out of trouble and making spares. 

My comment about 180-190 being a good score is pretty valid.  The cut for the majority of the recent US Opens (2005 to present) is around 192-194.  Yes you can score but as we have all discussed depends on the machine, volume, break-down, # of games for the tournament etc.  The main thing is keep yourself out of trouble and make ALL spares. 

Jeff S.