Visualization As Creative and Instructive Part 2

 Level 3 - Mental Perfection

The difference between Conscious and Subconscious mind activities is about instruction to the muscles and instinctive muscle performance.. When we are learning the basis of Lawn Bowling, and developing the muscle movements we are instructing our muscles with conscious thoughts.

 However, many of our body actions during an average day are not Conscious actions but Instinctive actions. Beside these brain actions we have cognitive abilities which are a major part used in sports. Walking involves many instinctive actions as we keep our balance while lifting the foot and walking forward. Body functions like breathing and coughing or chocking reactions are instinctive.Yes, we can force a cough when asked by the doctor. 

Also Instinctive action are our "Danger Reaction", Like putting on the brakes of the car, that seem to happen before we realized the danger arrived; and there are many tricks our Mind performs to give us the information we need to survive. For example, we have heard of having extreme power in time of danger or need. In a Petanque training session I show my student that the mind collected a memory of a previous "Result Vision" and showed it as the Result of a previous good shot; because the eye which  in capturing images at 1/60 second was not able to show the actual result image of his Petanque shot.

In reading the very long blog of October 2024 called "Talking to the subconscious Mind 2/3) we see at the end of this blog  that  Alex, who was preparing for his International Competition in Europe go looking for his  petanque "cochon". It reads "The reason that Alex went off to the left to locate his "cochon" which he saw fly after his shot was that the subconscious had seen the take-out shot would had hit the "cochon" " The point of this section of the blog was that the subconscious had seen the shot hit a 2 inch target at 6 or 7 meters, and was able to see the precision of the hit being on the right side of the "cochon" and therefore used a memory of a previous actual hits  that Alex had in his "Muscle Memory" data.  The subconscious had shown Alex where his "cochon" had gone had it actually been there. I had tricked the mind by removing the "Cochon" when Alex was not looking. Imagine the problem if the mind had not shown something to Alex.

We also see photo from the 2016 World Bowls Pairs Finals where both leads bowlers ( Angela Boyd and Laura Daniel) each have different methods of "Distance Projection  or "Projection Visualization" and how  once their communication with the subconscious is finished and they have found the correct distance; they let "Muscle Memory" roll their bowl to the jack as they seem to look away and then quickly look back toward the jack after their bowl roll.

All athletics from Golf to Table Tennis have Muscle Memory performance because we eventually stop instructing the muscles what to do and allow the muscles which  now has an instinctive ability of how  to perform that action.

 When we stop thinking (conscious thought) and give control to the Subconscious mind; we often speak of being in a "void of thought" because the conscious mind was shut off as instructions by our "Muscle memory" was performs. In the above mention Blog we see reference to Tiger Wood and his experience with "Void of Thought"

Result Visualization was seeing the image of what the result of the performance would be if properly executed. A basketball player shooting at the hoop from a fair distance will do all his Pre-shot  thoughts but as his shot is executed he allows the subconscious mind to perform the shot. He may be standing still or changing his balance but he is not making any (conscious) correction. As mention, we see Angela Boyd and Laura Daniel in their Lawn Bowl competition use a Projection Visualization.    The same would be for the baseball player throwing to home plate to catch a runner going home; or a table tennis putting a slam shot.  Just happens because you thought to do it.  Or, you visualized it happening.

Like with your computer or Iphone where you have a collection of photo in memory, the athletic also has a collection of memories of previous successful performances. As you would choose the photo to be seen on the screen with a simple touch; we, the athletic, can also can choose the memory of previous deliveries to be remembered and use it to evaluate our jack distance before we do our bowl roll and "Muscle Memory" performance.

Projection Visualization is seeing a memory of a previous bowl roll to the jack and using it for your delivery. Why use this memory? First, Result Visualization is seeing the result of this memory and allowing it to happen. But the calculation of distance is difficult for our eyes. As an athletic perfects his delivery he began having a feeling for his distance which can vary by 10 meters (about 100 feet) in Lawn Bowls. (21 meter to 32 meters). The same learned performance as the Bowls athletic having stopped taking a point of reference,on the green or behind the jack, and simply now see his delivery line of the bowl's roll to the jack.

Projection Visualization is seeing the video action of a memory and watching it to the end. If it was a memory of a jack at 25 meters your view of that memory would stop at 25 meters and if you were to be playing a jack of 27 meters; it wouldn"t  feel right as you know it did not arrive. Yes, with practice you can feel the memory have ended and your action does not see the bowl as yet arriveing at the jack. Action then required by Conscious mind is to get another memory of a longer distance and do another "Projection visualization" in preparation for that bowl roll.

You have certqainly told someone about a car accident you had  or seen and in great detail you see the memoryl and explain in words what happen. In the same manner you can see the bowl roll of a memory up the green toward the jack and feel a feeling of not far enough because it is not the right memory. Remember the eye can not judge distance accurately because of false reference it receives. A big building or club house behind the jack makes it seem closer and an open field of 2nd bowling green behind the jack will make it seem farther. Projection of memory and feeling the wrong distance is a skilll developed with practice.

  He see if a bowl is blocking that roll and may even "Walk the mat" to get around it. To see how close you must pass that bowl is "Result Visualization" discussed in the previous blog. You see your bowl with a space between it and the block and after telling the Subconscious mind forgot about it. (If you were doing conscious adjustment you would go back to changing your line of delivery that little bit,)

In the same way, a basketball player may think about his common error of hitting the left of the rim of the basket because he is moving to his right as he shoots, the thought is only a "Result Visualization" of what to do or not to do.  The actual shot is done in a void of though which Tiger Wood says occur when he swings. "Between my back swing and seeing the ball in flight up the fairway, I have no idea or thought what happen" (Check out the Video on youtube of Tiger's Mental game)

Above, I tricked the Subconscious to reveal it's ability to retreive memories and present them as real "Result Visualization". Another blog of interest is the March 2025 blog of "Communication with the Subconscious 3/3" which shows "Tags" and "Tells" which are tools of showing the subconscious and how various athletics are communicating with the subconscious. 

Of interest is this blog and similar blogs which showed an high volume of reads immediately when posted.

Visualization As Creative and Instructive Part 1

Level 3 - Mental Development 

In asking Google "what is visualization in sports psychology" we get the following answer of " In sports psychology, visualization is a mental technique, also known as imagery or mental rehearsal, where athletes mentally rehearse a performance using all their senses to create a vivid and detailed mental picture of themselves succeeding."  Of course, AI collected this quote of information from PeakSports.com.  and the article on the Important of Visualization in Sports.

They continue to say "Athletes use visualiz -ation to improve confidence, sharpen skills, enhance focus, and prepare for high-pressure situations by programming their minds and bodies for success."  Because I write about Lawn Bowls which does not have the level of coaching of Swimming or other Olympic sports; my readers may find this level of Sport Phychology a far reach from our club house or the club coaching. But my blog was always intended to invite discussions between members and here is a topic of interest.

Interesting enough I was stunned when a first year bowler in a qualification game to be on the Provincial National team did an amazing draw to within inches of the jack while going around a frontal opponent's bowl at 8 inches.  I later talked to this individual and discover that he was an International Swimming Athletic and had simple brought his ability of Visualization to his new interest,  Lawn Bowls. (Yes he had been bowling less than a few month at my old Club when he did this shot)

In blogging about "Muscle Memory" and the Instinctive Abilities of allowing the Subconscious mind to take charge of the performance; I was puzzled how a sport like swimming could influence a Lawn Bowl Delivery. My first question is about Muscle Memory and as there are no similar Muscle Performance between the two sports; this feat of drawing his bowl around a frontal bowl with his first delivery seem impossible. But as we all learn in sports.  Nothing is impossible if you work hard and believe in your abilities.

Over the last few weeks while  in conversation with this new Lawn Bowler I discovered that he had simply "Visualized" his bowl and in Dropping into the "Muscle Memory Zone" (which he did not mention); he did what he wanted.  (By the way he and his Skip won that 5 day qualification competition and went of the  2025 Canadian National Competition and won Gold). And this is a great feat as our province never had the level of coaching or athletics which is found in those four or five Western provinces. It, of course, helped that his skip had been a member of a United Kingdom National team prior to coming to Canada, but at a National competition both players must perform to win.

Under the Association for Applied Sport Psychology we find a detail explanation of research into Visualization. Jennifer Cumming has been working for more than 20 years, and with 181 publications on her research; she is a leader in this field,  For the reader who has a further interest in this areal; I leave her work as another source of reading. I will attempt in two blogs, to join the dot in this area of Sport Psychology and how it applies to Lawn Bowls and  "Muscle Memory".      ( Now back to the blog)

How he achieved such a quick and unique switch to Lawn Bowls  involved his Visualization Mental Development from his years of International competition and training.

The above PeakSports.com article reads " Elite athletes utilize the power of guided imagery or visualization. Imagery has long been a part of elite sports and many Olympic athletes have mastered the skill with the help of Sport Psychologists and Mental Game Coaches.

Guided visualization or imagery for athletes is consciously controlling the images or directing an athletic script in your head. One example of guided imagery that you having unknowingly used is when your coach was teaching you a new skill. You created an image in your mind of how the skill should look or the successful execution of the skill."

So the athletic "Creating an inage of their expectation and Creating the proper instructions and direction to their Mental Development" and performance. In a previous blog I explained how in my Archery perfection I had developed such a strong mental image of doing my arrow shot to the 10 spot (target center); that I had actually experienced seeing myself at the shooting line from above. My memory of this event and visualization was so detailed that I experience an "out-of-body" image where I saw myself doing the shot from a remote location. To this day, I can even recall that memory of that shot being seen from above.

Visualization is not unique to Sports.  Another similar visualization is probably best called "Perfection Visualization" because the individual know what the result will be and works toward creating it. An artist in wood, stone or even furniture has an idea (view) of what the finish product will be and progress slowly toward that point of perfection.  However, unlike sports where the delivery or performance is completed and the athletic then waits for the result; the artist continues their action until they are satified with the result.

A photographer wanting to get that "Perfect Sunset" or the Painter wanting to get that "Perfect expression" or "feeling", must visualize the image they are to create. The photographer waits and waits as the sunset become more beautiful. However, his visualize image is his patience as he compares what he see with what he wants. If he was to wait too long as the sun sets, the maximum beauty of the moment will have passed. It is lost. (Of course, I did news photography when the camera was the 4x5 Graphic with a 4x5 inch sheet of film in a removeable film holder. Yes many years ago.  In the sunset image example, you were to miss that exact moment of perfection; you knew it was quits for  the day.)

 As a News Photographer in my youth I had some of those perfect shots. My wife, who is a professional painter often produce very unique painted images which create emotions in the viewer, but also she often scraps her work because as she added more and more paint to the image until she has also passes that "Point of Prefection".

In Lawn Bowls this "Result Visualization" can be simply seeing the image of your bowl in the head and believing in your ability to allow the "Muscle Memory" to create that performance. But what athletics develop through Visualization is more complete than a "Result Image" or vision. To maintain Focus which involves concentration and a discipline of thought is more about pushing distractions aside and only having the actual performance.

In "Result Visualization", I can see the Lawn Bowler projecting his view of the score as he decides his path to catching up in the score. (two points here, a long jack and two ends of 2 points). Much like a Soccer player seeing his path of running up the field as he goes  toward his goal making shot. I would assume a swimmer wanting to close a lead that the opponent beside him has gained, would see his advance location at each turn of his swim with the object or "Result Vision or Image"  being that of the opponent being behind him. Even if just a few strokes but still an image of winning.

Last Months Blog Stats with over 126,000 readers and the most popular blogs listed with their total views on that day and since created. With 3256 readers this month, which is half of July; it is because the bowl season is ending and readers starting their season of Bowls seak out blogs.

In the second part of this blog I will move into "Projection Visualization" where having a memory of the actual bowl rolling to the jack in another previous time you visualize you bowl from your memory.  Because it is hard to read distances to the Jack and to feel that distance, this image of memories projection is not the correct  distance you repeat theProjection useing memory until you have chosen the correct distance.

Our Lawn Bowls Fours - Little changed

 This Blog was written  10 years ago, in , August 2015, and now  I am adding to it and updated it for today, 2025. Yesterday I watched our Interprovincial Men's and Women"s competition between Quebec and Ontario (Governor General and Rose Bowl (women)); and following the original reposting of this blog, I will extend my opinions on the changes which did nor didnot happen over the last 10 years.

Original Blog -  Every club which  has works hard to promote Lawn Bowls has eventually developed an athletic whom made the Canadian National Team.

We are so proud of them as fellow club members, but if we have coached them a  bit it is an even greater satisfaction. If not, we wait, hopefully for that one day when they will ask us  to bowl with them, so we can learn from them.

 
      The last Canadian Nationals I watched, in 2011, a  young lawn bowls student of mine was playing at the Canadian Nationals on our Provincial Fours team. I was proud to have worked with him and even more proud of our team who started him as lead and developed his knowledge of how to be a member of the Provincial "Fours" .  He had gone many times to the Nationals on "fours", since that first time as a 18 year old junior, where he played with a club's National Team athletic.  As a new bowler, he was given the chance to play  and although he lacked experience, After his team won the provincial Roll-off and qualified he was excited to have gone to Western Canada for the Canadian Nationals.

     In Lawn bowls we make the Skip a "god" and let him play his game.  { I used a small "g"in "god" because many skips take too much  importance in being Boss and not enough in  their leadership role.  In the rest of this Blog I will attempt to show how a skip can delegate responsibility, especially in the Bowl's Game of "Fours"; and develop a great team and still play his greatest game.

    On the mat, where performance counts, we have to do our best and the skip is probably the most skilled bowler of the team. But strategy is also playing a great game "off-the mat" and most skips only analysis the Bowls game from the "Head"  A good skip develops his team with all team members having a part in the " Game strategy".

    On the front end, as we sometimes call the Lead and Second, (if given the responsibility by the Skip), these two players with their four bowls should  be working together, as they analysis the opponent front end. These two members of the team would be expected to provide the same controlling head as the "lead" in a Pairs competition would be expected to create. Some of the possible tasks assign are:
   -  Analysis the preference of the opponent and discuss with the 3rd, their views of the opponent's frontend skills and weakness.
   - Provide Bowl placement which may control the opponent's access while also offering that important counting shot that is point, or that  short blocks which is requested by the skip.
   -  Close the short or straight side of the green as requested by the 3rd ( given to the front end from the skip instruction) unless the opponent's weak fore hand is also  your teams preference to use that side of the green as it's draw side

A Canada Social Bowls (Usually Fours)

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  -  Move the mat (within a few feet) to give their team members the best Bowl's receiving area. This requires knowing your team member's delivery style and their  actual delivery's receiving area. (on center line, or along a side of  the mat, or even if a member is lefthanded). Looking at the delivery style in the photo (right) we see how the front foot placement and  bowler's weight distribution can easily create damage to the green and make for a hard to play "receiving Area" and offer a very bumply receiving area for the bowl. (Receiving Area is that area where the bowls is put to green during a delivery) 

 -  Know the opponent's most advantage  delivery hand (forehand or backhand)  which is the first bowldelivered and thus destroy their lead's confidence.

   -  Follow the Skips request as he attempts to balance the head with matching bowls and remember, if not asked, to leave one in the back or as a "Jack Catch Line" bowl if the opponent has a 'Toucher".
   -  Analysis the weakness of the opponent's "Front End"  and communicate it to the Third, permitting the skip and Mate to make  decisions and strategy changes.  (in Jack distance, gsme play and even watch and called faults)
   - Show the maximum sportsmanship and team spirit at all times.   Most important, save time on a time game by being quick with next end setup. Also remember that when the mate (3rd) comes to the mat to bowl that your team has possission and it is the best time to go to the head. Also allows an Skip's player exchange.

    The Back end of "Fours", which consists of both the Mate and Skip, should know the forces and weakness of all their team players.  Personnally, I believe the best Fours Team has a skip with unbelievable draw ability, with nerves of steel and a 3rd with good complex skills set. (Complex shots like tap-back, jack roll , blocks or even tight draws passes done regularly).

The 3rd, or Mate on a Fours Team is the moving team's communication and is responsible to keeps the team finely tuned.  He can be playing from either end the green, as he is with the "Lead End" in a 3x1 distribution or be in a 2x2 as the Skip and Mate are in the Head (helping the skip in strategy)/ Believe me, in the "fours", a 3rd makes or loses the game by his ability to keep the team working together as a team.  As the Skip stands alone in the head, he know his 3rd or Mate is working with the Front End, When the three players are all in the head as the skip bowls.  it is important to be one behind the other without any movement. 

A look at Team Spirit (Red Team) and
High 5's to Skip (winners)

The 3rd, should be insisting that the lead and second are in the head with the skip during his time on the mat and his delivery. A good 3rd will be asking the opinion and reason that the lead is making certain decisions of shots or bowls as their understanding of the Skips request for their draws.  If the 3rd is really busy in his act of communicating, the team will usually always win as a team.  There are a lot of facts that can be analysis and seen by all four players and these tasks done by the lead, 2nd or 3rd can although the skip some freedom. But in the end  the final decision in a good "fours" belongs to the skip who will use the gathered information.

    I remember in a national competition, the Second told the Third that on two previous occasions that the mat was short of the Mat line.  Third told the skip and two end away from the game end, the skip read the sign of the 2nd for a short mat and called the official on it.  The umpire gave the position of the mat to us, as a  illegal  delivered jack (strange call),  and our skip, redefined the jack distance and picked up an advantage.  (yes it was a physiological point, and not very sportmanlike, you say, but it teached the  2nd to know and  correct these sort of problem)
    Actions of the Third in helping the skip.
   -  Reading the head, seeing the balance of bowls,  knowing the weakness of opponents and balancing the  strength and weakness of each position.  Does the opponent lead (or second) out bowl the team's player ?
   -  Suggestion of Offensive or Defensive actions to build and win the game.
   -  Keep the three pats of gameplay together (first 4 ends to analysis, next 4 to build lead, and last four should be such perfection of play that it means a win.)  A third becomes a third because he now everything.
   -  Take of the shoulder of the skip the pressure of a great shot by decreasing the lost to one point.
   -  Communicating the wishes of the skip to the Lead/Second in a manner which keeps team harmony.
   -  Building support for the skip when that great shot did not happen.  Keeping the team spirit.high.
  
"Fours" are the most team spirit game I know and it can be a very strong game.  Four minds each respected for their ability to see and analysis aspects of the game which is best suited to their position.

Comments today - First photo from Internet (thanks to all players shown). Of the three photo, this is probably a local Quebec game photo and one would be thinking it is a Pairs or Triples game as we see only one skip in the head. Yesterday, the Ontario Fours arrived here in Quebec to play the interprovincial competition of Governor Generals and started their first game with a 2x2 division of players. (The skip and mate in the Head andLead and Second on the mat). Quebec has for many years, and yesterday was no different, always played three at the mat and the Skip alone in the head.  One Skip of a team I coach suggested it was too complex to think of  the 2x2 division. I even placed a question on the Ontario Bowls Chat Forum asking if over the past years the distribution of players had changed because of new rules.

This is what Lawn Bowls fours was in the early 21 century. Players all in white and bowls all black and 2x2 division. (count the men and there are only 8 on the two greens next to the women's game) Also, yesterday it was a rainy day and so the protective screens were down. However, since CoVid in 2020 the protective screens have always been used in Quebec.

Prior to 2020 and in most major competition; it  was  the Greens Keeper or Greens Committee of the Host Club with the refere's ear for the controlling decision to place a protective screen. If a player was doing debits on their delivery it was sure their Skip would be warned and with the next debit the protective screens would be brought out. It is time we all return to the pass and do our bowls on open greens. If you're good enough to qualify for the National team or playing Interprovincal Competition you should not be using Screens.

It is hard to lose but this photo shows a lack of good sportsmanship as the losing team are together  and winners over excited. I am sure minutes after this photo the teams came together for the end-game handshake.

The last fours which I played at the Interprovincial level, I was upset with our skip for his attitude. The total points was how the 2 game competition was decided and we were well ahead in our 2nd game and had also won our first game with a large win. My skip in "Showmanship" decided in the last end that instead of leaving the losers a 3 or 4 point head; that he would throw a runner. It was not necessary for the final win but more reflect on him and his ability.But this decision reflected on the whole team and even a attitude of our Provincal Sport. I never played with him again.

 Be proud to win but let the opponents lose with grace is a sportsman's way of playing Bowls. 

Lets looks at Yestereday's Governor General Game of Fours. Above I talk about the division of Players and when Ontario's Fours went to the green they had a 2x2 division while the Quebec's Fours had a 3x1 division with the skip alone in the head.  In sportsmanship and probably to save time which was wasted on the removal and placement of protective screens; the Ontario team changed to a 3x1 division of players.

Where the first game saw our Men's Team win by a big lead of points; the 2nd game saw our Men's Team fall apart. Above I talk about the work of the Mate or 3rd in keeping the team together; with the 3x1 disvision of players, the 3rd did not have the ability to re-organize or fix the broken team. The 2nd game was a bad lost in points and the Ontario team won with a total points difference of a couple points and competition and trophy.

There was no reason why the 3rd did not switch from the 3x1 division to the 2x2 and went to the Head with the skip during each new end of play and  Jack roll. If the two teams were broken (a 3x1 team and a 2x2 team) it only meant that the Mate or 3rd went to the mat when it was their turn to bowl.  It should be always considered that the skip can be helped by the 3rd in the head as he is receiving and centering the Jack. Even receiving the bowls of the front end if the 3rd had been working with them (in a 3x1 division) to improve a broken game play..

If the 3rd was communicating with the front end as to the discussion in the above reprinted blog; he had. with the skip been working  to build a good head for the strategy of the Skip or game pkay.  As the first ends progressed  he was able to be at the mat with the lead and 2nd player. If he was in the head with the skip he should have receive the bowls of the Front-end and allow the skip to take some time to relax.

 I believe a skip knowing his three team members and their ability should relax during these last four ends of play. Why ?? If when during the first half of the game the skip is deciding on each player's strength and weakness; then he is very busy with all three types of play of his team mates and their performance. As the last 4 ends of play arrive he should see this as a period of  assistance by the 3rd. With time to evaluate and plan a recovery Action or Defensive strategy if leading in points; he also has time for to Focus or Concentration.  I believe it is important that a Skip can take these few minutes in each end of play to relax.

Not to comment as to a critizism as the games were really good game and with a 12 ends of play and scores of 10-11 it means there were no big ends of points. But in Fours the game is a team playing as a single unit of 4 elements.

What is Your Mat Routines

 Theme - Level 3  (Active Competitive Bowler) Muscle Memory performance 

For the New Lawn bowler the 5 videos of the "Delivery Doctor" on YouTube.com  is a good start to breaking your Mat time into different actions. Dan's "Pre Stance" is an introduction to actions before going to the mat which I call  "Pre-Mat Routine". Likewise, in his last video "Follow through" we see a start of our performance analysis which I call a "Post-Mat" Routine.. 

Everyone has a "Pre-Mat" Routine and a "Post-Mat" Routine but as years of competitions change and improve our routines; we discover that less thinking on the mat and more before and after our performance leads to a proper "Muscle Memory." Performance

If our Mat time is  too short or too long we find that often we are busy in managing our mental interference of our delivery as "Muscle Memory" is or should be engaged. Where  the sport of Curling has a Delivery Cycle of  less than a minute before the next opponent take their turn at delivery; we in Lawn Bowls  probably find the two or three minutes as a problem is keeping our  focus. "Focus" is concentration and control of a mental discipline.

 With Lawn Bowls games of twelve ends of play it is a lot of time to remaining in "Focus", probably the hard part of Delivery Cycle (Pre,Delivery, Post) is finding time for a mental relaxation.  In curling the less than 5 second delivery (due to ice speed) and 25 second player's Delivery Cycle it is easy  for "Focus" or concentration; as with Bowls and the 15 seconds green speed after a delivery with a one minute or more of Mat Preparation and Delivery (Pre-Mat); and then after stepping away from the mat another minute or two of Game/Play evaluation (Post-Mat) our Focus is lost quickly. 

Total Focus is keeping it together and for a two hour game (and then  3 game in a competition); a player needs a Concentration break or "non-Focus" time. This relax non-focus time is possible between these two routines of Post-Mat and Pre-Mat. Organizing your thinking will prevent a player from losing commitment as they leave or returning to the Mat for their next delivery. Building these two routines (pre-Pre and Post-Mat) may take many years.

 In archery, my first sport of "Muscle Memory", the shooting time at the shooting line was well controlled and afterward we had a concentration break as we walked to the target to gather our arrows and mark our score. A  total Archery "focus cycle" with serious concentration is about two minutes (before start and after finish of shooting line) and easy to maintain as no one uses that time for 3 arrows. Also the game or 'Shooting umpires" watches the "shooting line silence" as well defined and controlled.

  Lawn Bowls. an outdoor sport with spectators has way more distractions and with the lacking  of that game control, as referees do their best with player's demands for more discipline or following of the rules to allow us to "Focus"

To the beginner or novice, the "Pre-Mat" routine might simply be to Pick up your bowl, wipe it clean and wait for the opponent to give up the mat. Then, when on the mat you do all the many delivery checks and taught actions of a " Good Delivery" until you finish with the bowl rolling up the green. In the same manner, the beginning bowler finds the "Post-Mat" routine as simple as watching the bowl roll up the green and their reaction to the communication of he skip before turning and leaving the mat. 

 After a few years of Bowls, the "Pre-mat" is a bit more  a check list of do's and don'ts the novice was taught to them on how to bowl and some  decisions of strategy.  (check the bowl bias,the method of holding the bowl and find your delivery line). Likewise, the  Post-Mat now looks more at what is called "Feed Back" and involved in the analysis of  certain things which happen in the delivery and even suggested actions which you think will fix it in your next delivery. Probably more a period to avoid negative attitude, such as to blame your self and  then lose your focus. Without a "focus" your game changes to what is more of a practice session. Go to the mat and deliver and watch.

What I will attempt to do in this Blog is to move more information into each of these two routines and remove the needless thinking that is done while on the mat and doing your delivery. Hopefully your delivery will be simply to develop a perfection of Line and weight and a committed focus. This short action only "Mat delivery Routine" will be committed to your "Muscle Memory" doing your delivery. As you move into a "Void of thought"  to activate your "Muscle Memory" to do the delivery.

The photo (right) of Matt Clark is  taken from his Youtube Teaching Videos where Matt as a Australian Bowls Certificated coach and does a Coaches Corner and Videos to help viewers to bowl a better game. The photo is used to show his Pre- Delivery stance, which we will develop with a short "mat delivery routine". At this wait time, while he explains something in his video, we cal also wait for our delivery. A organized "Delivery Cycle"  of nothing but the Delivery after having your line and letting the subconscious do a 'Muscle Memory delivery. A big step forward from that   "How to Bowl" mat routine check list which was your teaching when you learned to do your delivery. 

We see in the photo his hand on the Bowl arm which is probably the same movement control as some bowlers are seen having a hand on their knee ( for them it was for balance). His foot on  the center of the mat as we always want to stand the same on the mat. Each player is a bit different on their stance and for their own reason; and also his small step forward while waiting in preparation. You will in time have this sort of Pre-Delivery stance as you  become involved in your delivery and learn how to instruct your subconscious of changes and expectations.

If this was in a game play or competition, Matt would have the same stance as he is ready to roll his bowl. He has finished his Pre-Mat Routine which was his communication with the skip and his decisions. In this stance, as Matt while making his video now  has time to discuss his instruction for the videos  ( "Matts Jack and Balls") because he is in a non-focus period.  In a competition,  he begans his "Delivery Cycle" from this point or stance and will  allow his developed "Muscle Memory" because his only thought or commitment to the delivery. While maintaining a total concentration or focus. With such focus we will have confidence in all our action done by  "Muscle Memory"  which are being performed by the  Subconscious.

At this point in this blog, I should mention that  when I say "I do this" or "I do that" it is probably more what I  would be attempting to do or have  done in earlier days of play. Now at 80, and with fewer competitions; I find that to keep my focus and Routines together usually last only for the  first half of a game. By the end of a serious game, I realize that I am cutting corners and may even be going to the mat without a Pre-Mat action plan.  Yes, we have confidence in our "Muscle Memory" doing what we want and just have our goal of shot's result in mind. Without our "Pre-Mat" and having a plan of performance and analysis with things like a percentage of success; we revert back to our learning to bowl days where a "what if" attitude  allowed us to accept our poor performance.

Probably why many of us senior players are no longer competitive bowlers and  a three game competition we find so very demanding. I remember a couple of years ago doing a hard three game competition; that afterward I sat at the club"s green-side for over an hour as blood pressure returned to what is normal for me.  Eventually we begin to  avoid tournments of several days, although our love of the game draws us to them.  The biggest joy now become the seeing the potential  of these newer and younger players. We know that they are the future of the game and they will find the podium.

This biological machine which is our brain is always working or thinking and sometimes our thinking prevents us from performing an expected good delivery. Because when the conscious mind is giving instructions to our muscle, which is a distraction type  of thinking to  our "Muscle Memory" performance.  When moving into our delivery and the subconscious actions of "Muscle Memory" is to be activated; we must see thinking as the conscious mind telling the muscles what and how to do the action.

Yes, we often hear about "Muscle Memory" in sports and more in some sports than others. Opening a teaching video on Curling which is probably bowls on ice, and you will hear that  "Muscle Memory" is simple an instinctive performance which must be developed. Was surprise to have a competitive Curling friend say "Muscle Memory requires 775 hours of performance". Yes a lot of  practice and analysis by the subconscious mind is needed to teach our muscle movements. In our delivery, when we are on the mat, we must now let the subconscious mind perform these movements without interruptions. If the Conscious mind is involved with instructing the muscles actions, then  our "Muscle Memory" is not.

When we stand on the mat to do our delivery, all our thinking and analysis should have been finished and we are now in a relax and free to let our delivery be performed. If we have walked to the head and are making decisions on our next shot, this thinking is all done during the walk back. Any analysis or suggestion of changes to our delivery are done before we arrived at the mat. In the "now-to- perform" delivery you just visualize (if your visual) or think a word for the change to be done (if your vocal) and you continue toward  performing that perfect Delivery.  

Yes, it will happen. Want a foot more weight, don't think "A foot more distance with a wrist flick" just see where you want your bowl or think "There" or "More".  Throughout these blogs you will often see reference to Conscious Thinking being the mind using or instructing the muscles and "Muscle Memory" being a Subconscious actions  performing instinctive muscle movements. That is where an athletic's performance is beyond his practice as he is now letting the Subconscious do what it remembers.

However, "Muscle Memory" which requires us to shut down the Conscious mind is not easily. We can not say "turn off that biological computer". In our daily life with our home computer shutdown, everything goes blank. Well, now we also are now finding ourselves in a "void of Thought" as the delivery is performed and our brain (conscious) is shot down. We know this because when we exit that void as we see the bowl rolling up the green without rmemory of what just happen. We have performed an instinctive delivery. 

 I don't know if all athletics feel that  emptiness  of thought as they finish  their performance, but those who do often refer to this Zen-like absence of thought as being in the Zone. The great golfer,Tiger Wood in a Youtube video by Players2Kings.com (Link # 2 below) says that when he's hitting his golf ball; he does not remember anything between his back stroke and seeing his ball in flight toward the green.  He is referring to his "Void of Thought".in which "Muscle Memory" is performed his golf shot. . And Tiger in that same video says his mind is so active most of the time that he can visualize a thousand  possibilities. But he knows that he must close down the thinking  (conscious) mind to be great at what he does..

  For all the thinking in Lawn bowls we often hear or read about "Pre-Mat" routine or the Feedback or Performance Analysis; which are "Post-Mat" Actions. During our delivery as we stand on the mat, our only thought should be to relax and allow that "Void of Thought" happen.  "Muscle Memory" (and the subconscious) will  do that perfect performance when you start your delivery. 

Recently, a student asked me "How do I put that little extra distance on my bowl?". I knew she was looking for tips like a flick of the wrist, or a longer step; but my reply was only "Just think about it".  I have to realize that her club coach may have suggested one of the many tools in the "toolbox" of adjustments.  Yes, you will practice various modifications of your delivery as you learn your delivery, and see the results or for different raison; but these practices become part of your memory which the subconscious will use later in your performance and delivery.

 When you think that there is something  you need to do and make a decision to do it,  then you have already told your subconscious mind. However, if it is a new thing, then like all practice you must practice to let the subconscious mind to be instructed to use this new  muscle movements. Most of the times all you need to do for a good delivery is clear your mind of all thoughts and do your delivery. But on a new "Muscle Memory" action which is not yet a part of our instinctive performance;  you have to instruct the subconscious. And just see it or think it  will be enough thinking to get it done. Yes, believe me, it will happen if you have practice to "Short-communicate" your expection action  to be part of "Muscle Memory".

Several years past it was a practice of teaching a new bowler to Lawn Bowl with lessons that followed a sequence of severa; events or actions like how you grip the bowl, how you place yourself on the mat, verify your Bias and many others. From the club coaching the new bowler over the first few years often developed a delivery routine which they did every time they went to the mat. 

 Likewise, today many bowlers have their proper routine on the mat for seeing their line of delivery, doing their delivery weight and even how to evaluation  their performance. As we practiced our delivery and improved to the point of having a good delivery, we are always modifying and changing this delivery routine.

 We  were attempting to improve our accuracy and our performance; but  now we come to another step of self-improvement. To remove thought from our delivery routine as we development our Pre-Mat and Post-Mat routines as the place of this more detail thinking. The "Post-Mat" see and analysis what happen during our last delivery. These thoughts should no longer be on the mat but now their corrections actions are now our "Pre-Mat" decisions. All thinking and decisions  before we take possession of the mat for our "Muscle Memory" delivery.

The blog stats at right show that the season of Bowls are nearing an end and one day stat's surprise of over 500 views or visitors often happens. Why ?. Well with several major competitions happening at season's end, these online competitions are watched by players who then come to my blog searching new ideas to improve their Bowls Delivery and overall performance..

OK, now down to the meat of this blog. One could say there are five activities involved in the Lawn Bowl's performance (to and from) the mat.

1 - Delivering our bowl from the mat. 

2 - Watching the delivery ("Post-Mat") 

3 - "Pass Mat to Opponent" as we walk back

4 - Prepare for next delivery ("Pre-Mat"). 

5 - "Possestion of Mat" as we step to the mat 

 (If you need to relax or talk to your coach it is usually here between 3 and 4 unless you are busy watching opponent's delivery).

 So lets start from 1 -  Mat/Delivery Cycle is that we are on the mat and allowing our "Muscle Memory to do an Instinctive Delivery.  Since our understanding of our Delivery is the objective of these two routines we will start at the finish of our delivery, after which nothing we do will change that delivery and it is here our cycle of heavy thinking begins. 

As the bowl is released to the green, we began  the Post-Mat Routine which is our study of our delivery and  our analysis of our delivery. For the most accurate  information it should be within these few seconds of the bowl rolling of your hand as this is the most valueable information of your Post-Mat routine. 

 As you see the bowl begin to roll up the green you can fell all the errors of your delivery, whether it was movements,  a distractions,  our  balance or something else; now is the time to listen to your body, as at this moment, these seconds after the delivery everything is fresh in our mind and clear. 

Beside feeling your body, you are still in your delivery (post-delivery movements) and maybe things your extended arm, not pointing in the direction of your  delivery line , or your thoughts, that distraction, shows an error.  By looking now you not only see it but also remember it. Later when doing an analysis of your delivery in the Post-Mat these memories will help better understand your thinking.

Yes you are probably still looking up the green but now you must look down to the "Bowl Contact Point", or that location on the green where your bowl has made first contact. This change in thought stops you watching the bowl roll and begins collection information. On the green there may be a line of the previous roll. made by your previous bowls which allows to compare this roll to the previous. Has your bowl the same line  as you watch it roll up the grass and now you compare it to the previous roll and  delivery. 

At this point you mind is actively recording (memories) many things you see and feel. Without this change in thought you would be involved in a 12 second view of  your delivery instead of starting youra "Post-Mat" routine. You may even visualize the bowl as to where it should finished because of reference to the bowl lines on the green.

 These feelings will be part of the correction actions you will decide to do to improve your delivery when after the bowl stopping in the head you use the information in your "Pre-Mat" routine just prior to you returning to the mat for your next delivery.

From this watching the Bowl  roll up the green, you can compare it with previous similar data and creat  your "perfect delivery line". If it is good, you will actually visualize it having stopped in the head before it does and feel a judgement of success or  failure.

 But the image of  your bowl rolling up the green and your thought of where you feel the bowl will finish in the head is important to visualize and feel. 

 Instead of waiting the 13 seconds (slow Canadian Green's time) for your bowl to arrive and stop in the head,  your  use of this "Bowl Contact Point"  will allows you to better analysis that delivery 

The photo (right) is from a Youtube Lawn Bowls Drill by Matt Clark   which capture Matt putting  his bowl onto the green also shows that he is looking up the green which most of us do as we deliver our bowl. (Video Link #3)

However, at this point we can look down at where the bowl is laid to the green and begin our Post-Mat Routine and analysis as later you can think back to how you felt. Feelings are important for reading your focus or concentration and remembering your thoughts before knowing where the bowl arrived in the head. 

As you watch every second of your bowl,s roll, you will more easlier notice any changes in it roll caused by the surface or envirorment. You by now know  your bowl's Bias Curve and any changes now are clear to later analysis also the action of the skip (or 2 nd)  the bowl stopped in the Head. All this important data for the "Muscle Memory" because when you repeat that same delivery and match the memory to what you see; you will have a positive reaction to your performance..

  As you don't need the skip to suggest a line of delivery, this become a habit for the skip and even  doing a competition and a very good bowlers on the mat; the skip will continue to suggest the line of delivery. Now as your bowl rolls up the green you can see if your line and the skip's suggestion is the same.

 As you bowl approaches the head and passes the jack the skip will probably indicate it as "Jack High". and/or then indicate the final distance from the jack.

This information from the skip allows you to see  the weight of your delivery and where many players have already turned away, this is an error. Although the skip is expected to finish his communication when your bowl has stopped; often there is the use of understandable  hand signals that continue between you both. 

 When your bowl has stopped you should immediately turn and leave the mat even if the skip is still sending communication signals or talking as you give the control of the greens, mat and game to your opponent.

 Now begans the analysis and thinking that is so important in your "Post-Mat" routine. You may decide as you walk away from the mat to wait a bit before analysis and evaluation of your delivery, but everything is a fresh memory and as your focus is in master mode you are more likely to decide good results. If you wait until you start your Pre-mat before this analysis you may forgot to do it as you will next watch the opponent's delivery and roll. 

When in your Post-Mat thinking you analysis that last delivery do it is sequence starting with the information collected from the "Bowl Contact Point" feelings.It is easy to jump to the last image of your viewing of the delivery which is the skip in the head. The least important unless you are remembering the bowl in the head as to your arriving bowl. 

Do each section of information gathering , one by one and even review your bowl's rolling up the green. See and feel you thoughts at that time. If it was a perfect delivery and arrived where you wantedit, then let that excitement and joy of success also be a part of your "Post-Mat" analysis as it with strength your focus.

 Feedback and the positive vibs from those feelings of  a successful delivery are  "Focus" food, in that our emotions become part of every delivery if positive. If negative feelings are allow to become your analysis it will not lead to a better performance.

Most likely your bowl is not where you wanted it and now in the Post-Mat you are attempting to understand why. Feedback from your delivery will become decisions in your Pre-Mat Routine; but walk lightly on this analysis. Not all bad deliveries are your fault or an error in delivery. Don't be quick to change your delivery before looking for other reassons for that bowl happening when it did.  Maybe the green speed had changed due to a change in the enviroment. If you saw your bowl roll as a bad delivery try to understand why. There is time to learn at your next practice but know what you are doing wrong so as to practice it correctly.

For example, That small bounce of your bowl took some of the weight of delivery away fromyour bowl and where it would have arrived if it was a lower rolling type delivery. Or that wobble on the bowl is an error in your grip or a wrist twist error when you go to the mat think of that image so the "Muscle Memory' can modify your delivery. All these things are your thoughts now, but if you try  to correct them now and it is not necessary then when "Muscle Memory" is doing your delivery your conscious mind is in control and telling the muscles what to do. Do you want "Muscle memory" delivery or a Practice and testing delivery?.

While doing these analysis and thinking, don't be in too much of a hurry to move into the "Pre-Mat" routine by seeing the error and now thinking what you are going to do to fix it, When you have identified the cause you can allow your self to move on and to see everything else that bowl roll tells you. There will be time in a few minutes to decide what to do to fix that mistake. Yes Post-Mat and Pre-Mat thoughts overlap but Feedback is thing about what you saw. And it is not the action of picking up your bowl and showing yourself how you probably gripped the bowl wrong. Finish your analysis and be Positive about what you saw and what you want to do to correct it.

I use my "Picking up the Bowl" for the next delivery, as my change from "Post-Mat" to "Pre-Mat" and often I take a deep breath and relax a few minutes. Then I go over the "Post-Mat" information and apply it to my views of why and how to correct something I have seem. If you have  a long delay as you wait for the opponent to finish their delivery; and you don't want to start your "Pre-Mat", then you work on your "Focus" with relaxation or positive thinking. 

Yes, there are those bad delivery but you must go to the mat with a fresh Positive thought of doing a good delivery and  somethimes to not do your "Pre-Mat" correction will have a better results then be too quick to do a Pre-Mat" more than the physical actions and checks. To redo the same  performance and delivery may be the best analysis as some time we don't have all the information and the 2nd time give a clear view of what happen..

After a small break in thinking for water or a friendly word you should be now with bowl in hand and beginning you "Pre-Mat" routine. The "Pre-Mat" routine was started by individual who did not want to be on the mat doing all the things they were taught for a perfect delivery. So now before going to the mat you check your bias, and apply all the thoughts of corrections from your feedback and Post-Mat analysis. If you made a mistake then correct it. But if you think "this would be better" then a change may not be the best decision. Remember it and wait until you return to this direction of play in 2 ends and maybe the placement of the mat will be the solution to the problem. (like a bad ridge which stole your bias)

"Taking possession of the mat is your connection with your skip as he is also taking possession of the head. Step onto the mat and wait for your skip because when you are on the mat, it defines that your team now has possession of the green and the rules of Lawn Bowls about possession of the Green, Mat, and Head apply.

 If your skip is not in the head then take time to do other things like checking the mat is on center line or the protective screen (if being used) is not badly placed. Most important is from this point until your bowl has been delivered and stop rolling at the jack; your expecting of your opponent a sportman like respect of the rules.. 

At this point your skip may be communicating to you what they want for your delivery.It should be short and best if not verbal. You and him have 2 minutes for this communication and your Bowl to be delivered and stop. Actually it is a lot of time but also some skips  spend  too much with  instructions and can waste the time. If necessary you can go to the head if the condition of play allow it, but often a walk to the head breaks your focus and Mat routine cycle.

As your skip finishes his instruction you should feel free to suggest your opinion as it is a team discussion but in the end it is the skip's decision. Now you step from the mat two steps back and begin to finish your Pre-Mat Routine.  You may have earlier decided to check certain problems with your delivery, like a bad grip of your bowl, and now is when you are going to check that you make those changes. In your Pre-Mat routine you are going to do everything from verify bias or proper grip and even proper attitude as you prepare to return to the mat. If the skip's instruction was to change delivery from "Forehand" to "Backhand"; if you think about a frequently made errors with that change of delivery;  your subconscious will remember to watch not to make that mistake this time. 

Why step back from the mat ?. When you are on the mat and your delivery in progress you skip and opponents in the head should not be moving or causing any visual or verbal distractions.  When you return to the mat you should expect such conditions and if something happens as a distraction then step of the mat and after a few seconds taken to re-compose you return to the mat .  Your skip will see there is a distraction and it is his task to see that the distraction is addressed if it is an infraction of the rules.

Your stepping back from the mat allow you to identify you are preparing for your delivery (Pre-Mat actions and thoughts). As a bowler  on the mat in a serious game, you expect the rules about procession of the rink (mat) to be applied and respected.  Off the mat you are doing all the actions of preparing for your delivery and remembering the previous delivery and it's mistakes. If the opponent needs to reposition them self to be invisible (behind the skip) now is their time. Especially if flies are the problem and they are waving their harms chasing a fly.

Eventually all these actions in your "Pre-Mat will become part of your "Muscle Memory"; but you decision on "Post-Mat" analysis should be remembered and what  you decided to do be the intention of this delivery.When you step to the mat for your delivery, the subconscious mind (Muscle Memory) requires total control and a  brief instructions or images of how to fix that bad delivery is all it needs. 

If your "Pre-Mat" Routine is consistanly performed you won't have to think an instruction while on the mat because the "Pre-Mat" and Delivery are seen by the subconscious as one action with a 2 step of  action with seperate objectives. It does not need anything more than a visual thought for the subconscious to know your change in delivery.

When you return to the mat you are just going to find your body placement for the right Line of delivery and do a couple of pendulum swing movement and do your delivery. If your thought of  corrections are during this time of Delivery then your mind will allow your conscious mind to instruct your muscles and "Muscle Memory" or that instinctive delivery will not happen. 

Myself, my Delivery routine is a bit more complex because of communication I have developed  with my Subconscious which are remainders. For example, on certain jack distances, especially long ones near the back Ditch;  I am often instructing the subconscious of errors made because of our mind in reading distance to the jack. (A club house at green side behind the jack will make the jack be evaluated closer or people at the clubhouse create a distraction which may require more "Focus" during my delivery.)

 I often suggest to bowlers who have finished their "Pre-Mat" with thoughts of decisions or correction to just use a short sentence thought to the subconscious while on the mat.  But not too long a though becomes such thoughts become  "Conscious" instruction to the muscles on how to do the correction. When the subconscious returns control to the Conscious, you are no longer in the Zone.

 At this time on the mat you should allow yourself  to relax and go into a place of calm. The absence of thought or empty "Void of thought" is because the Conscious mind has passesd control to the subconscious to allow an instinctive  delivery performance.

In understand how the subconscious mind take control of our muscles we must realize that we don't tell the lungs to breath or the muscles of the legs to balance our body. The subconscious does many thing during our sport performance and at a later point we have to learn to turn off the Subconscious which is doing something instinctive. 

As Example, if during the "Post-Mat" Bowl Contact Point analysis (as explained above) you felt a lost of balance; you canbe sure the subconscious was doing "Muscle Memory" actions to prevent you from falling. But this feeling of lack of Balance also affected your delivery and the subconsicous actually was causing interference with our performance. 

Another example is hearing a sound and turning to see what was said. As we turn our mind to think of that sound, our body has also started to turn. Result.  A bad delivery or off-line delivery. In this instant the solutiion is to develop a better concentration or "Focus" and be able to remove hearing the sound at that point. If not you should develop the ability to back off the mat and restart your Delivery.

 When we come to the mat to do our delivery, we just let our body do it instinctively. (by itself  without instructions or corrections) because that is the job at the subconscious. Most important,  if you want "Muscle Memory" to do your delivery instinctively,  then during your personal development of Pre-Mat and Post-Mat routines you work to not allow the subconscious to transfer control to the conscious mind by thinking too much. Only a word or image is subconscious communication.

Video References

Link #1 - "Matts Jack and Balls"

www, youtube.com/watch?v=5BjLdDL75Yw

Link #2 -  Tiger Woods Mental Focus - Words of wisdom & Advice

   www. youtube.com/watch?v=T1mSMDoVqcg

Link #3 - Lawn Bowls Drills - Develop Your Consistency Tips - YouTube

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BjLdDL75Yw