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The quick answer would be "A head that give points in the end" but this is not true unless there is a lot of thought into the strength and weakness of the opponent.
This interesting 12 bowls must have been dropped from a fly by aircraft.?? does not look like the jack has been moved and with the exception of the right 2 points and blocks there seems to be no pattern. But still 4 bowls of 16 of pairs coming. Photos shows Greens slow (short bowls and standing bowls) and pairs (2 players on other green) INTERESTING
From the time the jack is thrown until the final skip bowl is rolled, there is always that part of bowls which resembles Chess. What will be their move if we do this ? Canadians and the sport Curling, which is our Bowls on Ice, often find skips doing a Time Out to discuss this very question. Usually as the last stone (bowl in Curling) of each skip is thrown.
First part of the game is done off the green (or ice in Curling) in building the team and the expectation of each player in each position. Basically, the Front end, Lead in Pairs and First and Second in Fours) set a head type and the Back End (skip in Pairs and Third and Skip in fours) complete the attack (offensive) or Protection (Defensive). If the Skip is a "I'm the BOSS" type there is little but follow his requests.
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Photo shows Fours (1st and 2nds in head) with 16 bowls rolled. Strategy seems to be jack lenghth as the score card shows a gain of 4 points (to 7) Good game before that. 3points in 1st end then come back for 4-3 score. What made this run away in points.?? Even distribution does not suggest jack movement although if the skip and mate drew the three tight bowls oftheir 4 bowls they are quite the draw bowlesr.
However, if the two players of "Pairs" or four players of "Fours" are to work as a team they must each carry their share of the Load. "What Load ?" The heavy load of preparing a good head for the Skip to come to the mat and develop or defend; and execution the final "Coupe de Grace" as final bowls are rolled and points collected. (or not collected by the opponents)
Strategy is often defined as " a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time" and "the skill of making or carrying out plans to achieve a goal" First, the plan is important. So many game go on without a plan. When we step to the mat we have a Pre-delivery Routine, a prepared and perfected delivery and a Post-Delivery Analysis. What wrong with the head being likewise prepared.
Pre-Head Building is a decision on the way the team will work together and probably discussed when the team is being build. Choosing the lead in Pairs or the 1st and 2nd in Fours is such a discussion. If we see the game of "fours" as two people playing the four bowls of the Lead in Pairs, we can also assume they will discuss their abilities to build the head and stop the opponent from getting a good head. One player may be more offensive than the other and able to do a heavy takeout or tap-back. Both should be able to draw to the desired spot. Note I did not say "jack" because building the head is not just bowls on the jack.
Given the responsibility to the "lead" of controlling the opponents and their ability to build a head is a decision made by the skip. A good team will delegate responsibility and I will assume that the skip has given this responsibility to the lead, or in Bowls Fours the 1st and 2nd of that team.
Study your opponents and know their strength and weakness. The jack is always at their weakness of draw distance. If a strength is not to be bothered with a "in-the-eye block" then closer blocks must be executed. Does the players have equal ability on Forehand and Backhand deliveries ? What is the force balance of Leads (opponent and yours) and Skips ? if the opponent is a strong "Runner" making skip then build the back and work at a balance head.
Study the Greens and Weather Conditions. Can your team or the opponent handle both sides of the alley ? General rule is to take control of the clean and/or narrow side. Your bowl controlling that approach may be affected by the swing bias of the opponent bowls. Or maybe the skip draws around your front (controlling) bowl.
Weather is just as important. Going up the green into a wind will change the players Natural distance as will the wind-in-the-back bowls. Dew will lift of the early morning green and when it does start it will be fast changing of the speed. Rain or wet green will add slowness to your green. All this is important because if you don t analysis it and try to put a jack bowl or a block bowl it will be something or somewhere else. Your skip has not time to do this.. he should expect you to show him. and definitely tell him as you go up the green.
Building a good head is ABC Advantage, Back/balance and Cover. All three equally important. Advantage is not just having the point or two but also controlling the best approach to the jack. It can be an advantage to have a Catch Bowl where the "Toucher" bowl will send the jack. Back/Balance goes with two principles... Balance your head by matching the opponent bowls. and Back isto be protected against a jack roll. But most important the saying :"If you're down (in points) be Up" (in the back of the head) because the best development for points is bowls behind the jack.
First Bowl in the Triangle of the Jack counting for point until the skips come to the mat. Second bowl Control the opponents bowls if first bowl is a tight shot. However, if you're down in points use the 1st bowl to control the opponent. The 2nd might be too late as it does no good to be out-bowled by the opponent's draw on the 1st bowl to the jack and then fight to get that point back.
Some skips will saythat of the first 4 bowls use 2 defensive and 2 offensive, and that is why the 2 different players in the Four is so interesting. One fours player can be a good offensive player and draw tight while the other fours player can be defensive and maie changes to the head or create a controlling bowl.
DO NOT expect that 1st bowl is a trial bowl and 2nd will be better or 3rd will be better than 2nd. Every bowl counts and the worst thing to hear a opponent skip say to their lead is "Free Bowl" meaning the last opponent's bowl changed nothing you are free to do what you feel is most important.
When the skip comes to the mat they should have at least the point and a good balance head with expectation that the opponent skip can do nothing but draw tight. I, as skip enjoy out-bowling my opponent skip with tap-back or guards (blocks) as they waste their bowls.
Always as lead know that if your bowls are in the final count at the end of play you have done your proper job. Anyone can be shot at 2 feet only to find the skip draw a tighter shot. (like the photo above where it appears the three tight bowls may have been a skip)
Oh yes.. "C" for Cover or close Score in the ABCs is "Don t be caught with your pants down.. Cover your Ass or your Skips") Sometimes we are so occupied that we get a surprise of 4 or 6 points. Once at a major competition I said to my lead "Put one over here ... the jack is going there" the opponents tried to move the jack off the toucher point and were left at 11 o'clock when I hit the toucher from the opposite side and moved the jack 3 feet to collected 7 points. Another good rule...|Don't listen to the opponent...maybe there is not that much truth in what they say." Or maybe there is ???
STATS Study.
Sometime we wish we could have more detail Statistics of the Readers.
In today's Stats study I see three days of readers reading 21 blogs. I get a small list of most read blogs but for three individuals to read only 21 (not 19 or 22) on 3 different days means something was passed to others of the blog readers group. I am happy to see new countries like the USSR and know I am doing something to promote bowls in countries not active on the world scene.Usually the common reading countries are the English (british Colonies) Countries like USA Australia, South Africia etc.
Given the responsibility to the "lead" of controlling the opponents and their ability to build a head is a decision made by the skip. A good team will delegate responsibility and I will assume that the skip has given this responsibility to the lead, or in Bowls Fours the 1st and 2nd of that team.
Study your opponents and know their strength and weakness. The jack is always at their weakness of draw distance. If a strength is not to be bothered with a "in-the-eye block" then closer blocks must be executed. Does the players have equal ability on Forehand and Backhand deliveries ? What is the force balance of Leads (opponent and yours) and Skips ? if the opponent is a strong "Runner" making skip then build the back and work at a balance head.
Study the Greens and Weather Conditions. Can your team or the opponent handle both sides of the alley ? General rule is to take control of the clean and/or narrow side. Your bowl controlling that approach may be affected by the swing bias of the opponent bowls. Or maybe the skip draws around your front (controlling) bowl.
Weather is just as important. Going up the green into a wind will change the players Natural distance as will the wind-in-the-back bowls. Dew will lift of the early morning green and when it does start it will be fast changing of the speed. Rain or wet green will add slowness to your green. All this is important because if you don t analysis it and try to put a jack bowl or a block bowl it will be something or somewhere else. Your skip has not time to do this.. he should expect you to show him. and definitely tell him as you go up the green.
Building a good head is ABC Advantage, Back/balance and Cover. All three equally important. Advantage is not just having the point or two but also controlling the best approach to the jack. It can be an advantage to have a Catch Bowl where the "Toucher" bowl will send the jack. Back/Balance goes with two principles... Balance your head by matching the opponent bowls. and Back isto be protected against a jack roll. But most important the saying :"If you're down (in points) be Up" (in the back of the head) because the best development for points is bowls behind the jack.
First Bowl in the Triangle of the Jack counting for point until the skips come to the mat. Second bowl Control the opponents bowls if first bowl is a tight shot. However, if you're down in points use the 1st bowl to control the opponent. The 2nd might be too late as it does no good to be out-bowled by the opponent's draw on the 1st bowl to the jack and then fight to get that point back.
Some skips will saythat of the first 4 bowls use 2 defensive and 2 offensive, and that is why the 2 different players in the Four is so interesting. One fours player can be a good offensive player and draw tight while the other fours player can be defensive and maie changes to the head or create a controlling bowl.
DO NOT expect that 1st bowl is a trial bowl and 2nd will be better or 3rd will be better than 2nd. Every bowl counts and the worst thing to hear a opponent skip say to their lead is "Free Bowl" meaning the last opponent's bowl changed nothing you are free to do what you feel is most important.
When the skip comes to the mat they should have at least the point and a good balance head with expectation that the opponent skip can do nothing but draw tight. I, as skip enjoy out-bowling my opponent skip with tap-back or guards (blocks) as they waste their bowls.
Always as lead know that if your bowls are in the final count at the end of play you have done your proper job. Anyone can be shot at 2 feet only to find the skip draw a tighter shot. (like the photo above where it appears the three tight bowls may have been a skip)
Oh yes.. "C" for Cover or close Score in the ABCs is "Don t be caught with your pants down.. Cover your Ass or your Skips") Sometimes we are so occupied that we get a surprise of 4 or 6 points. Once at a major competition I said to my lead "Put one over here ... the jack is going there" the opponents tried to move the jack off the toucher point and were left at 11 o'clock when I hit the toucher from the opposite side and moved the jack 3 feet to collected 7 points. Another good rule...|Don't listen to the opponent...maybe there is not that much truth in what they say." Or maybe there is ???
STATS Study.
Sometime we wish we could have more detail Statistics of the Readers.
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| Strange Three days same 21 blogs ?? |
c
I have had the same experience at my blog, Greenbowler. Suddenly there has been someone or more from Russia checking all the articles.
ReplyDeleteI have had the same experience at my blog, Greenbowler. Suddenly there has been someone or more from Russia checking all the articles.
ReplyDeleteCould you expand your comments about controlling the head; particularly with regard to the statement that when down some skips want the first bowl to be controlling and only then go for the shot bowl. Is a controlling bowl short and blocking the preferred hand? If not what is it? I've been told that the lead in fours must never be short!
ReplyDeleteIf you refer to " Given the responsibility to the "lead" of controlling the opponents and their ability to build a head" I am suggesting the first bowls (like in chess) make the following moves or bowls. However, the skip has a lot to think about and the lead (Lead and second in fours) have time and experience to read opponents strength and weakness. Remember in the last 4 ends of play everyone will be at top form and bowl great... have a good lead to keep yourself to the finish line
Delete