When playing lawn bowls, two important choices have to be made with every shot, namely the direction to bowl and the speed with which the bowl must be sent.
Which “Hand” to Bowl?
The lawn bowler can play shots either forehand or backhand. For a right-handed bowler, a forehand shot will be sent out to the right and a backhand shot to the left – the reverse is the case if you are left-handed.
Most bowlers adopt the convention of placing stickers (usually in their club’s colours) on their bowls, such that a circular sticker goes on to the centre of the “inside” of the bowl and a ring-shaped sticker on the “outside”. Because it is easy to think of a bowl curving, as it runs, towards the “inside” of the rink, this should ensure that the bowl is held the right way round when it is delivered.
Getting this wrong is a typical beginner’s mistake, and it can also happen to experienced bowlers if their concentration lapses. If the bowl is held the wrong way round it will curve away from the target rather than towards it, which is known in the trade as “wrong bias”. The shot is wasted and much embarrassment ensues!
Every bowler should be able to play forehand and backhand shots with equal ease, because the situation may call for either hand at any time. That said, many bowlers do have a preferred hand, and it is not uncommon for lead bowlers, for example, to play a whole match using only that hand. However, it is a good idea to vary the hand that is played, so that the non-preferred hand will not suffer from lack of practice when it is needed.
Generally speaking, the reason for playing one hand rather than the other is that the route that is available to the head is easier from one direction than the other. If there is a blocking bowl on the forehand, for example, the choice will switch to the backhand. However, as the head builds, there will be all sorts of possibilities presented to the later bowlers in an end.
Not every green is perfect, and most amateur bowlers are used to playing on a rink that is easier to play on one hand than the other. It may be that the best choice is to bowl forehand from one direction and backhand from the other.
Choosing the Line to Bowl
Bowls of different weights and sizes will take different lines as they proceed up the green. Bowlers need to get to know how their bowls will behave for different weights of shot and lengths of jack.
Some bowls take a wide line and others a tighter line. Bowlers quite often work out a point on the far bank that is their aiming point. The bowl will set off in that direction and, if the delivery is correct, will end up in the right place, in terms of “longitude” (meaning the position to the right or left of the target). The weight of the shot will determine the “latitude”.
Varying the Line
Just as choices are made as to the hand to bowl, choices are often required that mean that a different line is necessary.
This is often the case if the jack has been moved off its original spot, or if the intention is to bowl to hit or touch another bowl rather than the jack. It may be necessary to put a “blocker” in place, or a bowl that will be a few feet away from the head as cover in case the jack is sent in that direction.
This means that the bowler must be able to adjust their line to take account of the circumstances, possibly bowling deliberately wide or narrow. When bowling wide, it has to be remembered that the bowl may be travelling over “fresh grass” that has not been disturbed by many bowls so far in the match. This will affect the line that the bowl takes and the speed at which it will travel.
Variation in line is also needed if the shot is weighted as opposed to a draw shot. The more weight is given to a bowl, the less time it will have in which to curl inwards, which happens when the bowl is slowing down. A weighted wood therefore needs a tighter line.
Conversely, it is important for a draw shot, especially for a shorter jack, to be given plenty of “green”, because it is being sent at a slower speed and the bias will take effect over a greater proportion of its run.
Getting the line right is therefore an essential part of being a good bowler, and is something that should be practiced as often as possible.
John Welford - I was a full-time professional librarian for more than 25 years before redundancy made me take a fresh direction. I now work as a ...
