During these last 10 years or so, since the PBA went to machines and patterns and such, the value has decreased as time has went on. They run the "pattern" on Fridays, after cleaning the house shot once. As good as the PBA machines are the house memory is still not gone. Then after practice, the house comes back and cleans and runs the house shot for open play/pro am, most of the time. Saturday morning the PBA cleans and runs the "pattern" again for A squad. They clean/run again for B squad. B squad gets the truest form of the "pattern", less memory.
As the tournament goes on, specially into Sunday, the scores usually get lower, the leans get cleaned/oiled repeatedly. Slick gets slicker, dry gets drier, memory steadily goes away, pattern plays tougher.
So now that I have vented some, I would tell you that the real value of the practice session is to get used to the environment. Lighting, approaches, bowling area, where the RR are, humidity, temperature from one end of the house to the other, where the exits are, things like that. All of these things and more can make a difference when you get away from your usual bowling experience. I like the practice session if I have never bowled there before, or have not bowled well there. If I need work on my game, I feel I get more out of practicing at home by myself.
Other than the above reasons, the pattern never plays the same as the practice session in SW region. They do it on purpose, don't like super high scores, try to eliminate the luck factor of throw it right and boom it back from everywhere. Cary knows how to operate that machine, he "tweeks" the pattern within the guidelines, thats why I kept typing the "pattern" before.
Good luck thegame, wish I was bowling with ya!!
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