Just got back a few days ago and had a good trip. 

Team Event just sucked.  Of course we couldnt get the guys to team up and break the lanes down.  We had a plan of a few guys firing plastic up the middle because there was so much free hook.  Even on the practice lanes I couldnt keep my Gamebreaker 2 right of the headpin.  So I got to the team event and one guy decided to go on his own and threw a sanded IQ Nano up the middle.  Pissed me off from the get go.  Shot 176 first game.  Get into game 2 and felt like a pulled my left quad.  So getting to the foul line was a chore.  Shot in the 160s second game and 170s the last game for 513.  Not the start I was looking for.

Singles and Doubles was a complete redemption.  Somehow my quad loosened up enough that I could get to the foul line even though was still pretty sore.  In shadow, I used the Arson LF Solid with the 2 inch layout.  Ball reaction was decent but not totally set on using it.  Was more worried about how my quad was going to get through 6 games.  I was walking very slow to the foul line to take some pressure off that slide leg.  Arrows go up and decided to grab my Deep Freeze.  Throw the front 8 out of the gate before a baby split stopped the run to perfection.  Struck out in the 10th for 266.  Just to make a long story short; I shoot in the 200s second game and 230s last game for 705 and a 1328 doubles score.  We had a really good shot at eagle territory about halfway through game 3 but lack of carry from frames 8-10 cost us.  But I am totally happy at this point because I was able to get through 3 games and help my doubles partner.

Singles started out the same.  Really good look with the Deep Freeze just playing 17-18 at the arrows and playing to the second range finder.  By now the area out by 7-8 had broken down some so I had a little miss room right.  Made 2 big splits in the middle of the set to set up the last game.  Started open in frames 1,3, and 4.  Finally caught on to the difference in transition from one lane to the other.  SO I changed to my Violent Eruption on the right lane and stayed with the Deep Freeze on the left and throw the final 8 in a row and pull out a 226 for 658 in singles.

All in all a 1871 AE was more than satisfactory considering my legs were not under me and lacked a little ball speed.  Really wish we had closed the deal on doubles as I believe we were sitting in 18th as of a few days ago. 

The main thing I was able to prove is that you cant always get stuck on what is the "right way" to play the lanes.  Stay open minded because all I kept hearing was that you had to use surface playing the extreme outside.  I watched a guy throwing a polished ball during his singles/doubles and he had a really good look playing that are around 15 out to 10.  Not sure what ball it was.  But it gave me a great idea as to how I could play them as long as the right ball was in my hand. 

All in all El Paso was a good experience.  Food was excellent.  People were nice.  Always a fan of Landrys and Cattlemans Ranch.  Would go back in a second.  It was a nice change from the Reno location we have seen so much of the past 5-6 years.