This game has become to dependent on equipment. You could have the best game in the world but you can never outbowl bad ball reaction.
For nationals, take 3 balls you trust, plus a spare ball if you need one and bring various abralon pads and polishes. You will not be hooking the ball coast to coast and the name of the game will be controlling the midlane. Bring a big solid, a medium solid and a pearl you can work the surface on. Assym vs sym cores .... who cares. You are going to play defense quite a bit until the shot opens up. If you are bowling with a bunch of recreational house bowlers who refuse to play the shot as it is intended, it could be a long day.