I've not seen the pattern posted for this year, but I believe that they have been moving towards a flatter pattern...and for those that are used to the block provided on a THS, a flat pattern can easily seem like a reverse before all is said and done.  

We are only a week into the event...IIRC, the event has historically had low scores in the first few weeks.

And let's not forget to factor in that there are only a couple of practice shots on a foreign condition...I don't know about most, but it take me more than a few shots to get loose regardless of how much I try to stretch before the first ball.

I heard similar from 2 teams that just returned from the WIBC nats this week.  The ladies that really didn't have any hand weren't getting anything they had to wrinkle.  Even the higher average ladies that frequent tournaments that don't use a THS were walking away with less than 600.  I wasn't there, but that certainly sounds like a flatter pattern, perhaps sport compliant, with more oil than most houses put out.
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The summer...  time to get my ARSEnal in gear!

serice,
The most important thing in a flatter pattern is to duplicate your shots. Find some sort of line that works to get your ball to the pocket, and leave makeable spares. Accuracy - with targeting, speed, and release, are critical. Mistakes tend to be very costly.

If you're bowling on a THS and miss 2 boards right, you will probably get the ball back to the pocket, but will probably leave a 10. On a flatter shot, you'll be very fortunate to leave a rail, if not a washout...

If you pull the ball a couple of boards on a THS, it might not be pretty, but you'll probably have hold to the headpin. On a flatter shot, you'll be lucky to leave a 4 or a 4-9.

I tend to favor a milder ball on these kinds of conditions - something that rolls true. Not too shiny, not too dull. I don't want an asymmetrical core to take over from what my hand puts on the ball - too unpredictable.

My 2 cents.

A friend of mine was 3rd high in the nation for women's sport average with a 197. Spares were the basis of her game.