Mastering the Draw Shot: The Most Important Skill in Lawn Bowls

THE ROLL UP - INTRO

When you strip lawn bowls back to its essence, one skill stands above everything else: the draw shot.
Whether you're a new bowler still figuring out your stance or a seasoned competitor wanting to sharpen your skills, mastering the draw shot is the single biggest improvement you can make to your game.

Why?  Because everything flows from the draw shot.  A solid draw shot underpins your consistency, builds confidence, and gives you the control needed to influence the head no matter what your opponent throws at you.

This guide breaks down the draw shot from fundamentals to advanced application, combining years of coaching experience, proven techniques and training principles used by elite bowlers.

The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Draw Shot in Lawn Bowls

What Is a Draw Shot?

A draw shot is delivered with controlled weight and an accurate trajectory so the bowl finishes as close as possible to the jack, ideally within a mat length or better.  It’s the foundation of all strategic play because:

• Draws set up scoring opportunities
• Draws recover poor heads
• Draws force opponents into risky shots
• Draws build pressure end after end

A bowler who can consistently draw is always dangerous, even if their drive or up-shots aren't as strong.

The Fundamentals of a World-Class Draw Shot

To master the draw shot, you must refine four core pillars:

1. The Setup

Your setup determines your delivery before you even move.

A strong draw setup includes:

✔ Foot positioning

• Feet shoulder-width apart

• Toes pointed toward the intended delivery line

• Weight evenly distributed

✔ Bowl grip

A relaxed, natural grip with fingers supporting the running surface.  Avoid excessive tension, it kills feel and touch.

✔ Stance

Slight bend at the knees, head steady, eyes focused down the line.

✔ Pre-shot routine

Consistency starts before movement.
Top bowlers repeat the exact same routine every shot:

• Visualise line

• Confirm aim point

• Set grip

• Breathe

• Deliver

This routine reduces anxiety and sharpens focus consistency.

2. The Delivery

A smooth, repeatable delivery is the cornerstone of great draw bowling.

Key elements:

• Smooth backswing

• Stable head

• Bowl delivered under the lowest possible point of the arc

• Follow-through toward the intended line

• Body weight driving gently forward

The most common fault budding bowlers develop is “pushing” the bowl instead of swinging it.
A draw shot must be rolled, not shoved.

3. Line Control

Line is often misunderstood as a technical skill but it’s actually part technical, part tactical.

How to find the right line:

• Identify the natural draw path for your hand you are playing

• Select an aim point on the bank or rink edge

• Deliver through your aim point, not at the jack

A good line allows the bowl to finish its natural arc.  If your line is wrong, your weight becomes irrelevant.

4. Weight Control

This separates average bowlers from elite players.

Great draw bowlers develop touch, the ability to feel the green and adjust weight instantly.  This comes from repetition and feedback, not guesswork!!

Tips for mastering weight:

• Train with purpose, not random rolls/practice

• Adjust to green speed within the first two ends

• Focus on feel, not "how hard" you're bowling

• Keep a consistent cadence and rhythm in your delivery

Top players describe weight control as “muscle memory fuelled by focus”.

The 7 Most Common Draw Shot Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Across coaching hundreds of bowlers, these are the biggest blockers to consistent draw shots:

1. Incorrect aiming

Fix: Pick a visual target on the bank and commit to it.

2. Changing delivery pace

Fix: Develop a repeatable rhythm, think smooth, not fast.

3. Poor follow-through

Fix: Hold your follow-through for two seconds after release.

4. Dropping the bowl

Fix: Keep your hand under the bowl until the very last moment.

5. Standing up too early

Fix: Stay low through the shot - imagine “delivering under a fence.”

6. Overthinking the green

Fix: Trust your routine; adjust incrementally, not dramatically.

7. Tension in the grip or shoulders

Fix: Shake your arms before each shot, relax your grip, breathe out on delivery.

Fixing these alone can dramatically elevate your draw consistency.

All of these were addressed in our technique-focused blog:
👉 Delivery Mistakes & Fixes

Mental Mastery: The Psychology Behind a Great Draw Shot

The draw shot relies heavily on mental clarity.

Top bowlers do three things exceptionally well:

✔ Visualise the shot

They see the entire arc (the path the bowl will take) before they deliver.

✔ Clear distractions

Wind? Opponent? Noise? Doesn’t matter.  They lock into their routine.

✔ Stay emotionally stable

You can’t draw well if you’re frustrated, rushed, or anxious.  The mind must be quiet, the routine handles the rest.

Tactical Application: How the Draw Shot Wins Games

The draw shot isn’t just a technical skill, it’s a tactical weapon.

1. Opening the End

A strong opening draw:

• Establishes control

• Creates pressure

• Sets team strategy

Clubs and national squads emphasise first bowl effectiveness for a reason.

2. Building the Head

Draw shots create structure.
You can shape the head by drawing to:

• Block driving lines

• Force narrow lines/increased weight in shots

• Surround the jack

• Create risk for your opponent

3. Saving the End

When you're down, a single draw can reduce damage or even convert a losing head into a winning one.

A bowler who can reliably “save” with a draw is priceless.

4. Forcing Opponents Into Errors

Good draw bowling multiplies pressure.  Opponents forced to play weight shots tend to:

• Miss more often

• Move the jack in your favour

• Open the head

Pressure creates opportunities.

The Best Drills to Improve Your Draw Shot

Here are Bowls Academy approved drills used by many state and national players:

1. The Four-Corner Drill

Place targets (or Purposeful Practice Targets) in all four corners of a rink.  Deliver alternating forehand/backhand draw shots to each corner.

Builds:
✔ Line adjustment
✔ Weight control
✔ Pre-shot routine discipline

2. The Mat Length Challenge

Set targets one mat length from the jack.
Try to finish your bowl between the jack and the target.

Builds:
✔ Touch
✔ Control under pressure

3. The Jack High Ladder

Move the jack in 1-metre intervals and draw to each position.

Builds:
✔ Adaptability
✔ Green reading
✔ Weight variation

4. The Consecutive Draw Challenge

Goal: draw 10 bowls within a defined scoring zone.

Every bowl that lands inside the zone = 1 point.
Record your progress over time.

Builds:
✔ Consistency
✔ Feedback awareness
✔ Performance mindset

Building Your Draw Shot Confidence

Confidence comes from three things:

1. Technique you trust

2. Practice you believe in

3. Experience under pressure

When you master all three, the draw shot becomes automatic.

Key Takeaways

• The draw shot is the foundation of successful bowls

• Mastering setup, delivery, line, and weight is essential

• A consistent pre-shot routine improves reliability

• Most draw shot errors come from tension or inconsistent rhythm

• Tactical draw bowling can win matches even without weight up-shots or drives

• Purposeful drills accelerate learning and strengthen game-day performance

• Confidence grows through repetition, feedback, and intentional practice