Preparing for a New Bowls Season

Seems like only Yesterday that you left the clubhouse from the end-of-season party. You remember how very good your style and draw was last year. With the winter months away from the greens, we certainly  know that we cannot now just step onto the green and be great again.  We'll have to get back into shape and there is a lot of factors which we should consider.

Physically, if you have not bowled all winter, your body, whether young or on in years, is not what it was as you walked off the green.  How you prepare yourself for the new season is as important as good equipment. So often I see club members going out on the day of club opening and roll bowls like throwing darts.  Wonder how close I will be ? Practise makes perfect... No  Good Practise and Preparation  will mean a quick return to being Perfect. For this season's bowls, it will be important that we quickly  get back to that great ability and perfection of last year.

We always have new expectation as we welcome in the new season. First, do we have a new set of bowls which we expect will make a great difference.  We want to quickly get started in studying how they performed as to the old set. Or did you decide at the end of the season last year that this year you will work more on your overdraw or tight draw to the jack. All these changes make us a better bowler this year.. If we can get back to that previous year's form.

Remember last year, you just stepped to the mat, delivered the bowl, and had a nice draw to the location you wanted. Here in Canada, some members  and their wife have spend the winter playing out of country. So they still have the natural feel of the bowl and that great delivery.  Although, maybe in Florida or elsewhere, they were playing on a different surface or quality of greens.

Maybe we did another sport as in Canada we find members go to alley bowling  or curling. Myself ,  each winter, played another sport similar to Bowls. The French Bowls game of Petanque.  Of course each sport uses a different  flow of muscles or demands of perfection.

First, we must put our mind and body back in the same form it was in at the end of season.  When we learn to bowl we followed a method of instruction which the coach supplied.  As a new bowler, one week we were learning to prepare our bowl and approach the mat.This in time developed into a Pre-mat routine.  Then the  next week, we were concern for the delivery and another week  for  getting the line.
  So as you go back to the green for the new year.. what is your routine ??   Step up to the mat and began to roll to the jack ??  Of course, everything will come back..  Do you really believe that ??

A University Track of Artificial Surface

My beginning of season starts off the green. 

At 72, I find my endurance and breathing lacking so I have been doing more walking as I know that a 12 end game has a lot of walking.  And although I will be quickly getting into the coming games of the season; I am preparing for the season with activities such as developing my Pre-mat routine  with a off-the-green practise.  Yes, not on the green just on the mat rolling somewhere where I can go through all the steps of preparation for delivery.
I have found an artificial surface used for Track and Field at the University and I work on  that to develop my routine.   When I first start, my balance and a good roll is important. Forehand and Backhand. And of course, start slowly, not a lot of rolls.   Also as I prepare, I keep a record and note the faults.  Falling into my bowl line. A outward reach delivery as to a lay-it-down.  With the fast surface I do not need much effort for the delivery and I can easily see my faults.

So first, I was getting back into the delivery routine.  Picking up the bowl in the non-bowling hand.  Doing the bowl-bias, hold, balance in palm preparation. Stepping to the mat, placing feet and line.  The slow delivery bend and arm swing. No, not releasing yet. Just the exercise of forward, down, delivery swing and back.  Why?? Because, you are teaching your mind of the movements you do.

Balance is important in your delivery.  If you don t have a place to roll bowls without a lot of effort you will not detect if in your delivery  you are losing your balance. Falling into your support (bend) knee; or falling into  your delivery line.   Because you are so involved in getting to the jack, getting that extra weight.  In reality you want to just be busy to practise your routine , from picking up the bowl to final delivery

Second, there is the need for exercises to get the body back  working with muscles which  have not been used for awhile.  Yes we know the muscles and the movements expected of them; but also we teach the brain to send a signal or thought and evaluate it as a great performance.


After the warm-up exercises of stretching and bending we want to do some heavy delivery.  I have discovered that this can be done in any field which has a small upward slope.  You are not doing a drive weight delivery.  But you know your natural force for the length of your greens and the speed of the club greens.  You want to make those delivery movement with that force.

Small upward hill for Delivery

By using a protection cover and a mat you can do your regular delivery force up the slope of the hill.  The bowl will not go far and the mat and protective cover will allow for the smooth laydown delivery.  Yes, you can do it on the green but then walk to the oppose end and get your bowls.  This slope delivery results in your bowls going only a short distance and you can do another round of deliveries.

When you were last year rolling your bowls your mind knew what you wanted to do and because it had been several months that you bowled, you body knew the delivery routine.  Now it is like driving the bicycle again after a long winter.  You will adapt quickly but most important will your mind take shortcuts from start to finish. It will be easy to roll good smooth bowls because you know what you do when you do your delivery; but this practice is to develop, remember, and perform the same as last year.


Now if you have bought new bowls or you are changing something this year; these changes must be worked into your previous routine and developed once you have reached your previous form.  One year, I had a sore ankle after the first week of bowls.  My level 3 coach said that I was not stepping into my line of delivery and therefore losing my balance and catching my weight shift with my extended front foot.  Turning my ankle a little each time.  This change in style took all summer to correct.  If you have anything that needs changing, let those weak or sore muscles get back to proper health and then  go about  to change your routine.

So for two weeks, I go to that artificial Track area... do a one half hour of preparation to bowl and practice my complete routine. Then, after that two weeks, I will roll the bowl out on the club greens.  Because of the artificial turf (like material) it does not require effort.  So I can work on balance, mind set, on knowing my roll and line and follow through and feedback. No I don 't have a jack or  even an area long enough for proper bowls practise; but my mind and body is getting back to the sharpness I feel is important for a good year.

Changes in Clubs and Membership

As most Northern climate Lawn Bowls Clubs are in their first month or weeks of club activities, there is an important to understand that our Clubs and Membership is changing.  But is it increasing or decreasing.  If like most Clubs you are into new member recruit-

ment then you are publishing in the local newspaper.
Do you help the newspaper by supplying a photo or two with bylines and even suggest a sort of news article ?

The following is the news reporting which goes with the news at right, it is well done and I list it here in the blog, as an attempt to suggest a good writing which will catches the reader's attentiion and extends an exciting  invitation to them to come out to your club for the next Open House. Remember, every spring a lot of sports lose members who want to try something different and interesting.

Remember, often News  journalist or article editors/writer are not knowledgeable inall  the sport and your supplied copy becomes a source of creating a great article.

by  Emanuel Sequeira - Penticton Western News

posted May 5, 2016 at 2:00 PM— 

Lynda Maxwell has driven past the Penticton Lawn bowling Club more than a few times and wondered about the sport.

“I have driven by a million times and it looks fun,” she said, praising the instruction of Stewart Bruce, who was helping herself and a couple other people learn to bowl.

“It’s a lot to absorb,” she added.

It’s also been even more fun than she expected and she had a positive feeling about becoming a member.

Members of the club put Maxwell and others who attended the open house through different stages. The first was measuring their hands for the proper bowl size. Bowls range from 00 to six in size. They are also instructed on the bias, learning to use an in or outturn of the bowls. There is also learning how to pick up the bowl, hold and deliver it. In other phases, people learn about mat placement and how to throw the jack (white ball). The point of lawn bowling  is to get the bowl as close to the jack as possible. As president Larry Bechard said, there is strategy involved.

The club attracted 20 people in the first hour of the event.

“This is a good turnout from previous years,” said Bechard, adding the sunny weather with a light breeze gave them excellent conditions.

After the newcomers went through the stages of learning, they played mini games with the members.

John Prier, a member of 14 years, said he loves everything about the game.

“The camaraderie, the act of bowling,” said Prier. “It’s a good sport. It’s easy to learn, but takes a lifetime to master.”

“It’s a social,” said Bechard.

The Penticton Lawn bowling Club season goes until the end of September and they have one large tournament on Sept. 23. Last year they had 25 teams and this year they hope to break 30. The club also holds smaller tournaments and have league play, as well as evening matches.

The club is located on 260 Brunswick Street, where it has been since 1929. The 80-year-old club has another open house on May 7 from 1 to 3 p.m.

It is clear from this writing that this journalist did not do a 5 minute stop at the club but actually tried the instructions.  It sort of suggest what sort of reporting can be achieved if you as a club executive take time to make the press welcome.

Also there is usually some sort of news of a club member which is worth reporting in the local paper as an introduction to the club's new season. An example in the Chronicle Herald of Halifax, N.S. about Cameron LeFresne, recently represented Canada at the world junior championship in Australia.

Next few Blogs subject  - Here in Canada, the year 2016  will be the year for promotion of Lawn Bowls to the handicap and  the Visual Impaired (VI), as  our  National Organization, (Bowls Canada Boulingrin)  commits itself to expanding membership of  Lawn Bowls Clubs.
Or maybe I should say "attempt to expand" as it is going to be tough changing members attitudes and opening doors. There are a lot of good reasons to look toward these individuals as long term club members.

At the last BCB meeting in preparation for 2016 it was  proposed (I am advised) that provincial (regional) organization study and develop Blind and even Handicap Lawn Bowls. Recent contact with my provincial (regional) organization tells me that they have delegated this promotion to an executive member.

The next Blog "Why VI and Handicap helps the Club" will suggest the important to all club members to embrace this new direction of membership as necessary for the survival and health of your Club.

Greens Maintenance Equipment

One of the weakness of Social Media is finding something a few days after it has been posted..  So here is May 5th Twitter and reference of Bowls Scotland Face Book page and photos.

There is a lot of good information through out the various sites maintained by the Bowls clubs and the Bowls Associations. It is just sometimes very hard to find. 
Yes you can go to a supplier but when a good collection of photos like this appear; I feel it is necessary to make them into a blog which can be located at anytime.

For those interested in greens maintenance there is another good blog about a Canadian Magazine "Turf & Recreation" which is free for the asking on club letterhead or through club e-mail request.
Now, one would say, "What interest does this have to Lawn Bowler ?"  The below Stat photo (Collected the day after publication)
was taken the day after the posting and show an increase in views beside the regular Bowl's teaching blogs. Yes, we are all interested... much as when the new year of automobiles arrive.

Thank You to Bowls Scotland Face Book for the Above Photos... Posted and copied May 5  2016