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Lawn Bowls Delivery Technique: Improve Accuracy and Control

technique

THE ROLL UP - INTRO

At The Bowls Academy, we believe that a great delivery technique is the foundation of every successful lawn bowler. While equipment, green conditions, and tactics all play their part, the way you deliver the bowl has the biggest influence on consistency, accuracy and control. Whether you’re a new player learning the ropes or a seasoned bowler refining your form, getting the fundamentals right will elevate your game.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key aspects of a sound delivery technique from stance to follow-through.....

Mastering Lawn Bowls Delivery: Key Steps for Consistency & Accuracy

1) Stance: Building a Stable Base

A good delivery begins before the bowl even leaves your hand.
Your stance is the platform for every shot, and stability is crucial.

Key points:

Feet position: Stand with your feet comfortably apart, around shoulder-width, with your weight balanced evenly.
Alignment: Your feet, hips, and shoulders should be square to your chosen delivery line.
Relaxed posture: Keep your knees slightly bent and your upper body loose, tension will reduce fluidity.
Bowls grip: Hold the bowl with a relaxed but secure grip, ensuring your fingers are evenly spaced and your thumb rests comfortably along the running surface.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Imagine you’re a tripod, your body and stance should feel solid and steady, yet ready to move smoothly.

2) Grip & Bowl Orientation

Your grip determines how the bowl behaves upon release.

Essentials:

Hold the bowl so the bias side is facing the correct way for your intended shot.
Support the bowl with your fingers underneath, not just in the palm.
Keep your grip consistent for every shot to build muscle memory.

3) The Step & Swing: Creating a Smooth Motion

The delivery action is a controlled, pendulum-like swing of the arm combined with a gentle forward step.

Step mechanics:

Backswing: Start the swing straight back along your intended line, keeping the bowl low to avoid jerky movements.
Forward step: Step forward with your opposite foot to your bowling hand (right hand = step with your left foot, and vice versa).
Smooth acceleration: Let gravity help with the forward swing and avoid forcing the motion.

✅ Bowls Academy Tip: Think of your arm as a pendulum, the more relaxed it is, the more consistent your speed and line will be.

4) The Release: Letting the Bowl Flow

This is the most critical part of the delivery.
A poor release will undo even the best stance and swing.

Key elements:

Release the bowl close to the ground to reduce bounce.
Keep your hand and wrist aligned with your target line.
Maintain a steady speed and avoid snatching or rushing the release.
Follow the natural arc of your swing, allowing the bowl to roll smoothly off your fingers.

5) Follow-Through: Locking in Accuracy

Many bowlers make the mistake of stopping their motion too early.
A proper follow-through ensures your delivery is stable and your aim stays true.

Follow-through checklist:

Your arm should finish pointing towards your target.
Your body weight should end slightly forward.
Hold your position for a moment after the release - this helps reinforce consistent muscle memory.

6) Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over gripping – Creates tension and inconsistent releases.
Looking up too soon – Keep your eyes on the aiming point until the bowl has left your hand.
Rushing the delivery – Smooth and steady wins the end.
Dropping the bowl from height – Always release low to the green.

7) Practice Drills for Improvement

Here are two simple drills we recommend at The Bowls Academy:

Line & Length Drill:
Place markers at different distances and practice delivering bowls consistently to each one, focusing on smoothness and rhythm.

Shadow Delivery:
Without a bowl, go through your full delivery action, concentrating on balance, posture, and follow-through.

Practice with Purpose – The Bowls Academy Targets

If you want to accelerate your improvement, structured practice is key.
That’s why we’ve developed the Bowls Academy Purposeful Practice Targets, designed to help bowlers train with precision and purpose. These easy-to-use, durable targets allow you to set measurable goals for line and length, track your progress, and make every practice session count.

They’re available now through our online store, so you can bring professional-level training to your home club. Shop Now.... https://shop.thebowlsacademy.com/products/tba-purposeful-practice-targets

FINAL END

A great delivery is about balance, rhythm, and repetition. Once your fundamentals are solid, you’ll be able to adapt to different green speeds, weather conditions, and tactical situations with ease.

At The Bowls Academy, we encourage players to work closely with coaches, video-analyse their technique, and keep a log to track improvements.

Remember - every champion started with the basics. Master your delivery, and the rest of the game will follow.

Cover Image: Barrie Lester - four-time Commonwealth Games medallist with 252 games played for the Australian Jackaroo’s https://www.barrielester.com.au/coaching

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