7 Ways to Stay Calm Under Pressure in Lawn Bowls 🎯

THE ROLL UP - INTRO

1) EMBRACE THE NERVES

First things first, nerves are normal. They mean you care. Recognising this can actually help settle your mind. The key is not to fight the feeling, but to understand it and use the energy positively. Many elite bowlers feel nervous before a game, but they’ve trained themselves to channel those nerves into focus and motivation.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Try reframing nerves as excitement. Tell yourself, “This is my body getting ready to perform.”

2) DEVELOP A RELIABLE PRE-SHOT ROUTINE

A solid pre-shot routine is your anchor under pressure. It gives your body and mind something consistent to focus on and keeps you in the moment.  Whether it’s taking a deep breath, visualising your line, or adjusting your grip the same way every time, routine builds rhythm and calm.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Practice your routine at training so it becomes second nature under pressure.

3) FOCUS ON THE PROCESS, NOT THE OUTCOME

Nerves often stem from fear of failure, missing a shot, letting teammates down, or losing the game.  Shift your focus from the scoreboard to your process.  Think about your delivery, your line, your length and not what’s at stake.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Set simple in-game goals like “focus on smooth delivery” or “commit to my line” to stay present.

4) BREATHE AND RESET

One of the fastest ways to calm your nerves is through conscious breathing.  Before each end, or even each bowl, take a slow deep breath in through the nose, hold for two seconds, and exhale slowly through the mouth.  It helps slow the heart rate and clears your mind.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Use your time behind the mat to breathe, reset, and visualise success.

5) PREPARE LIKE A PRO

Confidence comes from preparation.  The more time you spend practicing different shots, playing under match conditions, and simulating pressure moments, the better equipped you’ll be to handle nerves on game day.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: At training, create pressure situations, set up end-game scenarios or play with a time limit to build mental toughness.

6) POSITIVE SELF-TALK IS POWERFUL

What you say to yourself before and during a game matters.  Replace self-doubt with belief and speak to yourself like you would to a teammate.

✅Bowls Academy Tip: Instead of saying “Don’t stuff this up”, try “Trust your draw shot, you’ve done this hundreds of times.”

7) REFLECT AND GROW

After each game, reflect on how you felt and what helped you stay calm or what didn’t.  This builds self-awareness and helps you create a toolkit for future matches.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Keep a game journal.  Jot down moments where nerves crept in and how you responded. Learn from every game.

 

Nerves in lawn bowls are a part of the game but they don’t have to control you.  With the right mindset, preparation, and tools, you can step onto the green feeling calm, confident, and ready to perform.  At The Bowls Academy, we believe mental strength is just as important as technical skill and with practice, both can be developed.

 

Want more coaching tips? Subscribe to our community or check out the "What a Load of Bowls Podcast" for fortnightly insights from top bowlers around the world.

 

Listen to tips from one of the world's best on dealing with nerves - 7 Times Australian Open Singles Champion - Aron Sherriff...