ASHCOMBE PARK BOWLING CLUB
BOWLS TRAINING
BOWLS TRAINING
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1. Playing Heavy
Slow down. Just move more slowly and reduce the speed of your delivery
This is created by the pace of the arm swing during delivery. Reduce it and the bowl will slow down and will not travel so far.
2. Playing Short
This is the reverse of playing heavy! Increase the pace of the arm swing slightly during the delivery action.
3. Playing Narrow
Ensure the whole body is committed down the shoulder line you're trying to play.
Have you identified the position of the shoulder? (the point at which the bowl should start to turn)
Are the eyes, feet, whole body pointing at the shoulder?
Be careful not to look at the jack throughout the delivery phase.
Ensure the whole body is turned towards the shoulder line - the front corners of the mat can help here.
Have you identified the position of the shoulder? (the point at which the bowl should start to turn)
Are the eyes, feet, whole body pointing at the shoulder?
Be careful not to look at the jack throughout the delivery phase.
Ensure the whole body is turned towards the shoulder line -
4. Playing Too Wide
This is the reverse of 3 above, but many of the focus points will be the same.
Ensure the whole body is committed down the line down to the Shoulder.
"Step Down This Line" - not too wide outside the line
Check the arm is not thrown out too wide and the body twisting during delivery.
Ensure the arm is a smooth pendulum action down the side of your body.
Check the natural line of the bowls.
Ensure the whole body is committed down the line down to the Shoulder.
"Step Down This Line" -
Check the arm is not thrown out too wide and the body twisting during delivery.
Ensure the arm is a smooth pendulum action down the side of your body.
Check the natural line of the bowls.
5. Delivering the Jack into the Ditch
Too many people just "Cast the Jack" up the green in order to get on with the match. This is a disaster waiting to happen .
The control of the match rests with the person who controls the Jack.
This is undoubtedly the most important delivery in every single end and should be treated with more care and effort than any bowl.
Great care should be taken with the grip and delivery of the Jack.
Don't treat the symptom but tackle the reason for the the extra pace by learning how to control the Jack on all types of greens.
The control of the match rests with the person who controls the Jack.
This is undoubtedly the most important delivery in every single end and should be treated with more care and effort than any bowl.
Great care should be taken with the grip and delivery of the Jack.
Don't treat the symptom but tackle the reason for the the extra pace by learning how to control the Jack on all types of greens.
6. Trial Ends "What's the Point?"
This is an opportunity to learn about the green, the opponents and team colleagues. It starts when the trial bowl is delivered. Everyone, especially the Skip, should be learning with every bowl that is delivered.
Some teams ensure that each of the following: Drawing, Running, Firing and Edge of the Ditch are included together with lines in the trial ends.
Each person on the rink has a job to do in the Trial ends.
Each person on the rink has a job to do in the Trial ends.
The Skip should start the first competitive end with the information on the green gathered from the delivery of 16 bowls from their own team, delivered to their instructions.
The Skips also have the information gained from watching their opponents' 16 bowls.
Not only will they have green information but may have started to formulate views on strengths and weaknesses in each of their opponents that they may confirm early in the match and exploit to their advantage.
Each player should also have been watching their direct opponent's bowl and started to formulate similar views.
Not only will they have green information but may have started to formulate views on strengths and weaknesses in each of their opponents that they may confirm early in the match and exploit to their advantage.
Each player should also have been watching their direct opponent's bowl and started to formulate similar views.
What is the point?... Absolutely none unless you use them and don't just treat them as a tradition to be gone through.
7. Bumping your bowl
This can be very embarrassing, particularly if the green is marked or, even worse, a divot is taken out of the green.
The reason is very simple. The bowl is being released too high up.
Try to get the bowling hand closer to the green and release the bowl so that it simply runs off the ends of your fingers along the green.
This is easy to say but not always easy to achieve. It is often caused by physical conditions making it difficult to get down low enough.
Put a £10 note on the ground in front of you at approximately where the bowl would normally be released. Pick it up. Notice your stance and remember it for when the next delivery is made.
The reason is very simple. The bowl is being released too high up.
Try to get the bowling hand closer to the green and release the bowl so that it simply runs off the ends of your fingers along the green.
This is easy to say but not always easy to achieve. It is often caused by physical conditions making it difficult to get down low enough.
Put a £10 note on the ground in front of you at approximately where the bowl would normally be released. Pick it up. Notice your stance and remember it for when the next delivery is made.
The problem regarding bouncing the bowl is that the "weight" is taken out of the delivery.
It may be that another stance will need to be developed to compensate. However, be aware some clubs have large signs stating that if you are perceived to be damaging their green you will be asked to leave it, irrespective of the competition.
It may be that another stance will need to be developed to compensate. However, be aware some clubs have large signs stating that if you are perceived to be damaging their green you will be asked to leave it, irrespective of the competition.
Take a picture of the moment of the release of the bowl on camera. As the bowl leaves the fingers there should be no discernable space between the bowl and the green.
QUICK COACHING TIPS
From English Bowls Coaching Scheme
The following are not the definitive answer. They are designed to be a bit like a sticking plaster which just may help.
Information extracted from the English Bowls Coaching Scheme. www.englishbowlscoaching.com
"I always play a bit narrow on that hand. I think it's the bowls I play with"
"I hate it when they bring the mat right up. I just go to pieces"
Only ever play backhand and have done so for years!
Don’t like being asked to play a running or firing shot?
"I hate it when they bring the mat right up. I just go to pieces"
Only ever play backhand and have done so for years!
Don’t like being asked to play a running or firing shot?
Help
Do you recognise these comments?
Have you heard them and comments like them many times?
Have you ever found yourself saying or thinking any of them?
Do you recognise these comments?
Have you heard them and comments like them many times?
Have you ever found yourself saying or thinking any of them?
Do you actually start to dread playing in some matches?
Do you dislike playing with certain Skips because they may criticise?
Is it bad enough to make you not want to play in a match?
Do you dislike playing with certain Skips because they may criticise?
Is it bad enough to make you not want to play in a match?
Ask yourself if you would like a little help to manage these situations.
Nobody can make you a Champion but maybe it would be nice to have just a few "Well Played" comments now and again in your next Club friendly?
Nobody can make you a Champion but maybe it would be nice to have just a few "Well Played" comments now and again in your next Club friendly?
You need to make the first move by contacting one of our Coaches
How can our Coaches Help?
Our EBCS Coaches can provide the basic KNOWLEDGE.
which can be converted into SKILL by the player
which can be converted into SKILL by the player
Knowledge
Our Coaches can help a player to analyse why the bowl will not go where it was meant to go consistently.
This could make the difference between frustration and success.
Our Coaches can help a player to analyse why the bowl will not go where it was meant to go consistently.
This could make the difference between frustration and success.
Skill
Through using the knowledge gained the coach can start the player on the road to success by developing the skill levels and providing purposeful practices to maintain them. Can't play a good forehand drawing shot?
Through using the knowledge gained the coach can start the player on the road to success by developing the skill levels and providing purposeful practices to maintain them. Can't play a good forehand drawing shot?
A Coach can help.
Each individual is different and a Coach can help with all aspects of the game as individuals develop their skills and knowledge.
Each individual is different and a Coach can help with all aspects of the game as individuals develop their skills and knowledge.