Winning At Lawn Bowls - What Does It Really Take?
THE ROLL UP - INTRO
Week in week out we take to 'the green', striving to outcompete, overcome and get the better of our opposition. Spending many hours battling it out in blistering heat, driving rain or gusty conditions, do we actually appreciate what aspects of our sport will directly impact the final score. Why will one opponent win and one opponent lose? Some will say "they are just better".... but why are they better? What aspects of winning do they outcompete and what aspects do you need to focus on to become a victor. Winning at Lawn Bowls involves a combination of skill, strategy and purposeful practice. Here are 9 aspects to help you succeed.
FUNDAMENTALS TO WINNING AT LAWN BOWLS
MASTER THE DELIVERY
A consistent delivery is fundamental to any success. Delivery's come in all shapes and sizes, however the key points to a solid and reliable delivery include.... aiming/stance, grip, timing and release point.
Click here to read…. Fundamentals to improve your lawn bowls consistency
UNDERSTAND THE GREEN
Paying attention and understanding the characteristics of the green can significantly improve your chances of not only successfully playing the 'right' shot but also assisting in your strategic play and the final outcome of the game.
ABILITY TO PLAY A RANGE OF SHOTS
You do not have to master every type of shot, but not being able to play both forehand and backhand shots, or have an up-shot or drive shot in your locker will only lead to limiting your strategy and game play.
PURPOSEFUL PRACTICE
Purposeful practice is seen as a key component for achieving high levels of a particular skill. Being deliberate and focused in your efforts during practice will accelerate improvements, however the most important part of purposeful practice is the 'feedback', and utilising scoring systems to understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Click here to read…. Fast track your game development with purposeful practice
READING THE HEAD
Another essential skill in being able to win is the ability to 'Read a head' - What is 'reading the head?' Fundamentally it is assessing the position of the bowls and planning your own shots accordingly. This is also done with the state of the game in mind. ie. Score line and/or momentum and how the head may change with each player's delivery.
PLAY STRATEGICALLY
Trying to get 'the' shot every time with every bowl is not necessarily the key to winning. Strategic play is positioning bowls, the jack and the mat to gain an advantage over your opponent. This advantage gained bowl after bowl will ultimately lead to multiple shots scored and minimal shots conceded.
STAY FOCUSED
Focus only on your bowl you are about to play and learn to let go of mistakes. Staying relaxed, and maintaining focus even during challenging situations (lucky shots against you) is a skill all elite bowlers hold and consistent winners excel in.
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR TEAM
In team games, being inclusive and communicating with all team mates is vital, generating support and encouragement along with accountability to the rest of the team. A strong team is a cohesive one and fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose can be portrayed through clear communication.
KNOW THE RULES AND CONDITIONS OF PLAY
Understanding COP (Conditions of Play) prior to the start of a game may seem a simple task, however we have all seen and heard many players question the COP during the game. ie Does the jack get re-spotted? How many ends are we playing? Is is two bowls? Being unclear on COP during a game will only lead to a lose of focus and game performance when focus should be clearly on the bowl you are about to play.
Inspirational Quote
Zig Ziglar
FINAL END
The cumulative total of many aspects lead to a win on the lawn bowls green. The aspects mentioned above are intertwined and have flow on effects both positively and negatively to each other. Simply looking at one aspect and focusing totally on it will not achieve win after win but a collective approach to your game will certainly help you chalk up the wins.
Control your thoughts, and you control your emotions
Control your emotions, and you control your actions
Control your actions, and you control the outcome
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