The Hidden Cost of Poor Alignment in Your Delivery

THE ROLL UP - INTRO

One of the misconceptions in bowls is this:

“I get them close sometimes… I get the bowl away ok... I am just not consistent enough.”

Many bowlers have deliveries that feel somewhat comfortable and repeatable… yet they still struggle with:

• Inconsistent line
• Weight variation
• Missing tight one end and wide the next
• Good bowls mixed with poor ones

And in many cases, the problem comes back to a handful of key issues... let's take a closer look at one of them... Alignment..

Why Alignment Matters More Than Most Bowlers Think

The bowl only travels a little distance while it’s in your hand.

But once released, that line continues for 25–35 metres down the rink.

That means even tiny directional errors at release become massive misses further down the green.

Think about it like this:

If an aeroplane leaves slightly off course…
it might only be a few centimetres wrong at take-off.

But hours later, it ends up hundreds of kilometres away from its destination.

Bowls works the same way.

The Biggest Alignment Mistakes Bowlers Make

1. Feet Not Pointing on the Intended Target Line

This is one of the most common issues seen in delivery analysis.

Many players:

• Stand too open
• Point their front foot away from target
• Set up differently every delivery

The body naturally wants to move where the feet are aligned.

So even if your eyes/arms/upper body are looking at the correct line…
your body may be working against them.

What this causes:

• Pulling bowls narrow
• Inconsistent release direction
• Different results under pressure
• Weight inconsistencies from compensating

2. Arm Swing Not Matching the Target Line

A bowl can only travel where it’s released.

If the arm swing moves:

• Across the body
• Around the hip
• Outside the intended line

…the bowl has almost no chance of consistently finding the correct path.

Many bowlers unknowingly “steer” the bowl during release because the swing path itself isn’t aligned properly.

The result?

Some bowls come out perfectly.

Others miss badly even though the delivery felt identical.

That inconsistency frustrates many players because they can’t understand why the results vary.

3. Shoulder & Hip Misalignment

Strong alignment isn’t just about the feet.

Good bowlers generally have:

• Feet
• Hips
• Shoulders
• Arm swing

…all working together on the same line.

When one part is disconnected:

• Balance changes
• Stability changes
• Release position changes

Even slight rotation through a delivery can send the bowl offline.

Why Players Often Don’t Notice the Problem

This is the tricky part.

Most alignment problems feel normal to the player because:

• They’ve repeated the movement for years
• The body has adapted
• They occasionally produce good bowls

So the delivery feels right.

But results tell a different story.

This is why many bowlers say:

• “I thought that was a good bowl.”
• “That felt perfect.”
• “I don’t know why that missed.”

How Small Errors Compound Over Time

Poor alignment creates compensations.

For example:

• A player aligned too wide may manipulate the arm swing
• A high or angled bowl release will lead to weight changes
• Off-balance movement changes consistency

Over time, players begin making constant subconscious corrections.

That leads to:

• Variability
• Pressure inconsistency
• Difficulty repeating good bowls

Why Alignment Issues Get Worse Under Pressure

Under pressure, the body becomes less precise.

If your delivery already relies on:

• Compensation
• Timing fixes
• Manipulation

…it becomes much harder to repeat under match conditions.

That’s why many players:

• Bowl better in practice
• Break down under pressure
• Become inconsistent late in games

Strong alignment creates simplicity.

And simplicity holds up under pressure.

Why Video Analysis Is So Powerful

Most alignment issues are incredibly difficult to feel yourself.

But they become obvious on video.

That’s why players are often shocked when they first see:

• Their foot alignment
• Their arm swing path
• Their body movement
• Their release position

What feels straight… often isn’t.

Common Problems We See From Our Remote Delivery Analysis

At The Bowls Academy, some of the most common alignment issues we identify are:

• Feet not aligned with target line
• Stepping across the body
• Arm swing travelling outside the line
• Shoulder rotation during release
• Bowl wobble from poor hand positioning
• Inconsistent release points

And in many cases…

Small adjustments create huge improvements in consistency.

The Good News

Alignment issues are usually very fixable.

The key is:
✅ Identifying the issue correctly
✅ Understanding why it happens
✅ Building simple corrections
✅ Repeating them consistently

The earlier you identify these problems, the faster improvement happens.

The Big Takeaway

Most bowlers think inconsistency is caused by:

• Poor concentration
• Green changes
• Weight control

But often…

The real issue starts long before the bowl reaches the head.

It starts with alignment.

And small alignment errors repeated hundreds of times create big inconsistencies over time.

Want to See What Your Delivery Is Actually Doing?

Our TBA Remote Delivery Analysis helps identify:
✔️ Alignment issues
✔️ Stability problems
✔️ Arm swing inconsistencies
✔️ Release faults
✔️ Areas limiting consistency and performance

You’ll receive:
+ Personalised analysis
+ Visual feedback & corrections
+ Improvement steps
+ Clear coaching direction

👉 Learn more here:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development

Free Download

Want to improve your consistency immediately?

Download our FREE Weight & Line Consistency Drill:
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/free-weight-line-download

Explore the TBA Drill Pack Series or learn more about our player development programs:
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development