REMEMBER--- THE SUCCESSFUL TEAM IS THE ONE THAT IS MOST 'CONSISTENT' AND SO MAKES THE LEAST MISTAKES'
SET UP === USE 4 JACKS / OR 1/2 TENNIS BALLS.
1= PLACE ONE JACK ON TEE, SECOND JACK ON END OF CENTRE LINE.
2= PLACE OTHER 2 ON EITHER SIDE OF CENTRE LINE APPROX 20 MTRS FROM TEE. [ NOTE= CHANGE THE OFF SET JACKS EACH END, SO THE LINE CHANGES EACH SET.
MAT IS ALWAYS ON TEE.
FORMAT 1 = DRAW TO BACK JACK
2= THEN A BOWL TO SHORTER JACK
3= THEN BOWL TO OFF CENTRE JACK
4= THEN TO OTHER OFF CENTRE JACK
ALL 4 BOWLS ARE FIRST PLAYED ON FOREHAND ; AND SCORE ACCORDING TO YOUR PROXIMITY TO JACK' THUS YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE YOUR BEST RESULT WITH YOUR 1ST BOWL ;RETRIEVE BOWLS, AND NOW BOWL ON YOUR BACK HAND, YOU CAN VARY YOUR PLAY TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS.
RE-BOWL ANY BOWL OUTSIDE 3 MAT LENGTHS RETREIVE AND PLAY AGAIN. [THATS A PENALTY FOR BAD BOWL] YOU CANNOT GAUGE YOUR IMPROVEMENT UNLESS YOU SCORE.[A NORMAL CARD CAN BE USED. SET YOUR PB.[ PERSONEL BEST] AND WATCH IMPROVEMENT. PRACTICE IS NOT A ROLL UP. PLAY WITH A MATE IS A GOOD IDEA
PRE-SEASON WORK
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CLUB BOWLER AND A REPRESENTATIVE BOWLER IS "PRACTICE". BOWLS IS A GAME WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK. THIS IS DONE BY PRACTICING THE DIFFICULT SHOTS, REPEATEDLY . THE REP BOWLER WILL PRACTICE THESE 'LUCKY' SHOTS OFTEN ENOUGH TO BECOME CONFIDENT WHEN REQUIRED TO PLAY THEM.
WE MUST REALISE THAT 'LUCK' BEGINS ONLY WHEN THE BOWL REACHES THE HEAD OR TARGET. TO PRACTICE ALL SHOTS, ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO WEIGHT. REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE.
A TRAINING METHOD FOR THIS IS = 1[1] PLACE A MARKER [CD / PLASTIC CUP/COTTON BALL] AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ON THE RUNNING LINE.THEN PLACE ON THE EACH SIDE 1 MAT WIDTH ANOTHER MARKER TO CREATE A "GATE WAY' FOR BOWL TO PASS THROUGH.
NOW PLACE ANOTHER MARKER 1 MAT LENGTH BEHIND THE TARGET. THE EXCERCISE IS TO PLAY YOUR BOWL THROUGH THE GATE, /OVER THE MARKER/ BUT BOWL MUST NOT PASS THE BACK MARKER
MANY BOWLERS PLAY THIS SHOT WITH TOO MUCH WEIGHT. THIS EXCERCISE REQUIRES WEIGHT AND EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD LINE. ONCE YOU IMPROVE ON THIS SHOT, YOUR OVERALL WEIGHT/LINE WILL IMPROVE.
MY ADVICE IS == PRACTICE REPEATINGLY SHOTS THAT WORRY YOU MOST. SPEND PRACTICE TIME ON 1 OR 2 SHOTS AT A TIME.UNTIL YOU ARE CONFIDENT IF CALLED TO DO SUCH SHOT.
LEADS SHOULD PRACTICE "NOT TO CROSS THE CENTRE LINE" - YOU WILL BE SUPPRISED HOW MORE TIMES YOU WILL BE CLOSER TO THE JACK AND REMEMBER , PLAY TO GET "CLOSE" - GET YOUR BOWL, WITHIN 1 1/2 MAT WIDTHS [450 CM] OR 18 INCHES. YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB WELL.
HAVE A GOOD SEASON.
COACHING CLINIC No 3 - line of delivery
LAST CLINIC HOPEFULLY HELPED ELIMINATE THE FLIP/DUMP. I WILL ASSUME FOR THOSE WHO TRIED THE EXERCISE THAT YOU HAVE IMPROVED IN THIS PART OF YOUR GAME
IN THIS CLINIC I WILL HOPEFULLY HELP TO ESTABLISH "LINE OF DELIVERY".
BY WAY OF EXLPLANATION, = THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SET-UP PROCEDURES TO PERFORM, TO HELP IN THE SET-UP OF THE ANGLE OF DIRECTION FROM THE MAT.
NOTE=== [1] STAND BEHIND THE MAT-[ NOT ON THE MAT] behind gives you a better elongated view along the line selected ]
[2]== USING THE OPPOSITE END BANK. SELECT A POINT IN LINE WITH YOUR SELECTED LINE.[SAY 1/2 WAY BETWEEN THE RINK NUMBER, & RINK DEFINING PEG.
[3]== NOW PLACE YOUR "ANCHOR FOOT" ON THE MAT POINTING AT THE BANK MARK YOU SELECTED. [ NOTE= TO ESTABLISH LINE , LEAN BACK SO BODY IS BEHIND THE LEADING FOOT. # IF YOU ARE STANDING ON MAT, AND UPRIGHT IN STANCE , THIS WILL RESTRICT THE WAY YOU LOOK UP THE LINE YOU ARE TRYING TO SET UP. [ A 5% angle turn of foot is approx. 2 mtr distance off line at the other end]
NOW YOU ARE SET-UP, MAKE SURE YOUR SHOULDERS ARE SQUARE TO LINE OF DELIVERY.
## most important point, -BRING YOUR EYES BACK ON DELIVERY LINE TO A POINT APPROX. 3 TIMES YOUR BODY HEIGHT.[SAY 5=6 MTRS] THIS BECOMES YOUR 'STARE POINT" # CHECK YOUR DISTANCE TO TARGET AREA, SIGHT "STARE POINT" AGAIN, AND DELIVER BOWL ACROSS THIS POINT.DO NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE STARE POINT UNTIL BOWL IS WELL PAST THAT POINT.[in other words STAY DOWN THROUGHOUT DELIVERY]
I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU TO ESTABLISH THAT EVASIVE DELIVERY LINE!
COACHING CLINIC No2 - FLIPPING/DUMPING
this is a common fault among the newer bowlers and lower graders. when corrected , the bowler will improve most basics ,which will make bowling more enjoyable. The cause is mainly due to ===
1=too upright in stance and delivery ( which does not allow delivery extension to take place.
2=backswing too short
3=delivery extension short and jerky
4=the light fingertip grip, is negated by flipping action at release
5=bowl is rarely grounded on its level plain.
6= delivery weight difficult to achieve.
correction tips
grip=
bring bowl back into palm of hand. [ palm grip] allow fingers to settle in a comfortable position. [do not worry about little finger up the side of bowl] do not allow thumb to get high on bowl, let it rest ,and relaxed on or below the rings.
set up = in a lower position bending at the hips. with eyes over your feet.
now= practice pendulum swing starting at belly button height, swinging close to hip, and going back approx. 2 feet in height.
now== very important, before delivery, check 'grip"
2= check line of delivery.
3= lock elbow to straighten arm. [ keep arm straight throughout delivery]
4= bend forward at waist, eyes over feet.
5= step with your normal walking step lowering body down and thru into the release of the bowl.
6= extend the arm at release in line with line of delivery
note = use a slow backswing and firm but smooth extension and release
note=
at first practice attempt, just start with=
1= grip
2= lower body at hip.
3=start swing at belly height
4=take normal walking step.
5= make sure you extend delivery arm.be positive .
get the basics right, is the start for a good correction.
good bowling
COACHING CLINIC No1
=============================
FIRST THANKS TO BOWLS 360 FOR INCLUDING COACHING IN SUCH AN INFORMATIVE ADDITION FOR OUR BOWLING COMMUNITY.
MY CLINICS ARE FOR BOWLERS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME. I WILL SPEND LITTLE TIME ON THE BASICS, AND ASSUME THE READERS OF BOWLS 360 HAVE COMMAND OF THESE ELEMENTS
WE HEAR, AND ARE A PART OF "HIGH PERFORMANCE" AT ALL LEVELS OF COACHING. INCLUDING LAWN BOWLS. WHEN ALL WE REQUIRE AT GRASS ROOTS LEVEL IS IS GRASS ROOTS COACHING.
THROUGHOUT THE CLINICS I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO COVER ALL ASPECTS REALISING THAT 90% OF READERS ARE EXPERIENCED BOWLERS, STRIVING TO IMPROVE. MOST CLUBS HAVE GOOD / EXPERIENCED CLUB LEVEL COACHES, THIS READ DOES NOT DETRACT FROM SUCH COACHES.
OVER MY YEARS OF PLAYING SEVERAL SPORTS, I HAVE MET AND PLAYED WITH SOME GREAT PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THEIR CRAFT.
THE ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT, AND THEY HAVE IN COMMON, IS, 'BEING DIFFERENT' THEY ARE THE BEST BECAUSE THEY THINK DIFFERENT, AND ARE NOT SCARED OF MAKING MISTAKES. [WE LEARN BY MISTAKES]
YOU WILL NEVER IMPROVE BY 'COPYING' SO STOP REPEATING THE WRONGS AND IMPROVE THE RIGHTS.
NOTE
PRACTICE =
IMPROVE =
BE MORE CONSISTANT =
TRYING INNOVATION WITHIN YOUR LIMITS =
WORK ON DOING THINGS NO ONE ELSE CAN DO AND NOT THINK TOO MUCH, TRUST YOUR GUT FEELING/ABILITY.
