Ashcombe Park Bowling Club : Training

Whether you have ever played bowls, or have never stepped onto a bowling green, you will be welcomed to the Coaching sessions at Ashcombe Park Bowling Club.

Coaching is also available to Members who are seeking to improve their game. Lessons are always held in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.

Training Sessions are held on Wednesday and Saturday Mornings:
10.00am to 12.00(noon). Meet by the Club Pavilion at 9.45.

TRAINING at ASHCOMBE PARK

Lessons cost £3.50, and the first lesson is free.

Our coaches are: Roy Simmons, George Finnegan and Alan Freke and Joan McInally
They are all fully insured and E.B.C.S. Qualified Bowling Coaches.

We can provide you with bowls (woods), and will recommend a size suitable for your hand. The Club has most sizes - even down to the smaller sizes suitable for children.

What to wear for Training Sessions

Shoes to be worn on the green should always be flat soled, with no heels, and coloured white, grey, or brown. You should wear white above the waist, ideally a plain white polo shirt for men, and white blouse for ladies. Below the waist you should wear grey trousers, or ladies may opt to wear a grey skirt. Denim jeans are not permitted.

However, you will not be turned away for wearing incorrect clothing during your initial period of training. Providing your shoes have acceptably flat soles, with no heals you will be welcomed to learn to bowl at our Club. Remember, please bring your shoes, and don’t wear them to the Club.

Additional Pages

1. LETS PLAY BOWLS The first principles of the game, from a trainees point of view.

2. ELEMENTS OF THE GAME More details of the terms used in the game.

3. SPECIAL VISITORS Pictures of a local junior School, who recently tried the game of bowls.

CHANGE OF SEASON - Beginners who have mainly played Indoors

It has now come to the time of year when the winter indoor bowling has come to a close and outside bowling with long summer evenings, and cool drinks come to mind. To beginners who have yet to play outside we have change our style for the different surface we are going to play on. The greens are going to be very heavy due to the new green grass and the dampness. This will cause the bowls to slow to the point that they may not reach half way up the green.

So, we have to change our stance slightly, this will include back swing and forward step. When playing on fast indoor greens, one normally lowers the body on delivery. On the heavier greens, that we are going to meet outside particularly for the first few weeks, we will use a bit more of a upright stance. By using this stance, more body weight will be used, and this will produce more momentum going forward; at this point you can also use a slightly longer step forward.

After a few weeks, as the green starts to dry out, the delivery will have already started to become easier and the change from inside to outside may have become less noticeable.

Please feel free to come and join us. If you wish, we will invite you to join our club, to continue training as a Club Member, when lessons will be free of charge. We have two full-size outside greens, in a lovely parkland setting. The Club has a welcoming Clubhouse, newly refurbished for this season, with a well-stocked licensed bar.