Under development with edit and photo or videos.
In the first part of this two part blog, I suggested that the next step is to abandon the use of a "Line of Aim" and build your Delivery routine to include "Pre-Shot" in your delivery. I am sure many readers were in a hurry to get to this blog and better understand a Pre-shot bowls' performance method. With the Internet and the nearly 200 blogs I have written, if there is a delay between the two parts of this blog, that delay will give you the reader time fo online research for your self on understanding the subconscious in sports. (maybe go deeper into the "third eye".  |
| Being different is like a lone tree |
In the first part I mention that the Delivery can be broken into five division and that most people use only three. Prepare their bowls for the next delivery (1.Pre- Mat) before going to the mat. doing the delivery (2.Delivery) and watching the bowl roll as per the performance (3.Post-Mat). The two missing actions of the five parts and needs to be inserted into the delivery Routine, are "Pre-shot" and "Post-shot" (or Post-Muscle Memory Delivery). These two thoughts structure are inserted before and after the "Delivery", and usually are a few seconds to five or six seconds. They are a structure of thoughts working with one's Muscle Memory. Myself, I consider them as short micro-second thoughts which communicate with the subconscious mind on expected actions and controls.
If "Muscle Memory" is a performance controlled by the "Subconscious" mind, these two actions are communications to and from the subconscious mind concerning the Delivery. The Post-Shot seems un-important but just after the Delivery is when your senses are most aware.  |
| Helpful earlier 2012 blogs |
Feeling the "Void" as your conscious mind begins your thinking, this means that your "Muscle Memory" (or Subconscious mind) was un-interrupted and it is the first Post-Shot feelings you should want to feel. Several other feelings associated with the Delivery can be felt in these few seconds but the ability to feel them is developed through much Muscle Memory practices. A practice of wanting to feel the actions and analysis the "Why". There were a few blog written in 2012 on the subconscious mind in sports and are here suggested for reading. You will notice the support blogs have similar visit/read stats, because with 200 blogs here; many visitors or readers don't go searching 15 years of blogs but follow the suggested links.
If you have developed Muscle Memory and have felt that emptiness of thought, the "Void"; you are aware of the door which opens to you. Your next stage of Lawn Bowls development toward Pre-Shot and Post Shot is to learn to communicate. The Muscle Memory communication which may take many years but eventually this communicate with show in your "Muscle Memory" delivery. ( below I suggest that the bowler's body language show their "Void" as the conscious mind returns).
Be patience. To communicate your expected results during the Pre-shot. (the "A" of "LAWN, my personal acronym); will take as much practice as your learned physical Delivery. But each time you make the short (micro-second) thought to the subconscious and see the result in your performance; your expectation increase for the next bowl roll.
In the first part of the blog I explained a teacher teaching kindergarden kids to multiply numbers and suggested a different method of showing them how to calculate the correct answer. The school system method of teaching multiplication is to have the student memorize the tables. The method of teaching a new student of Lawn bowls to deliver a bowl is to teach them to use a "Line of Aim".
It is good to develop the memory of young student with memorizing the multiplication tables but also it is important to show them how to calculate the answer if they forgot. The same applies with "Line of Aim" in teaching Bowls. Especially when in those first few years the new club member is using club bowls and changing size and bowls with different bias. But by the end of the second years most new club members have purchased bowls or are now using the same bowls year after year.
As you study more and more the subconscious mind and how mankind has survived because of the many body functions performed instinctive; you may be extremely surprise of having just scratch the surface of what the mind can do. I will give you an exercise here to show the impossible created because your Muscle Memory of Bowls interfered. Then at the very end of the blog. when I have finished, show you how the impossible is possible with an analysis of what has happen.
Of all the Lawn Bowls elite, the only one, in my opinion, whom I have seen using a large percentage of the Subconscious mind in his delivery is Gary Kelly (Northern Ireland). It appears that he, in his Pre-shot concentration, is allowing the subconscious to do a "Projective Distance" to the jack. Where most elite players, as in the videos of this blog will show great deliveries with good weight or knowing the distance to the jack; many are using various tricks. ( add on/take off, a " Repeated Movement" to find that Pre-Shot feeling).
But Gary Kelly, as he looks over his bowl toward the jack, it appears that he is allowing his subconscious to do a "Mental Measurement" of the jack's distance. This is unique and usually identified by a longer Pre-Shot on the first bowl where the athlete does a "Retrieval of a Memory", visional or feeling, and if not the correct distance; then they will re-evaluate with another memory. In the following bowl rolls, the subconscious knows the jack distance. A first bowl not wasted in distance judgement. Also, in the Retreval re-evaluation, always only three re-evaluate as like a physical practice so also a mental practice (Muscle Memory) there must be a routine.
Although this is similar to the arm-swing "Jack Distance Feeling" of Angela Boyd (mention later in this blog); it develops the subconscious quickly into an accurate feeling of jack distance. When the athlete feels the distance, wheather after several arm swings or immediately coming to the mat; you will often see a very quick "Pre-Shot" delivery. Check out a video of Gary's performance in the final of the 2026 Commonwealth Men's Pairs and attempt to understand his Pre-shot" thinking. This is a unique and very difficult style to develop.
In a previous blog about the subconscious I wrote about the third eye of consciousness and I explained how with the combined subconscious mind of myself and a card playing (internet) friend in New Jersey: I, being in Canada was able to remove her headache. A few days later when my daughter was in Mexico for the summer I also removed her headacke it over that distance. I had never done it for her and was surprise the actual pain she experienced as I felt it for the first time. (her mother who is Native always did it for her).
Strange as it is as I never get headaches so when three days after my daughter intervention I had a similar (bad) headache I texted her (still in Mexico) to ask did she still had that headache. Her reply was that she had been discussing my actions a few day before with her daughter (my granddaughter) who was now having one. With the conversation (Mother and daughter) finished Chloe had gone away and thinking of me (her grandfather); she had send it to me without knoing. When I knew it was her and she had a deep mental contact with me, I told her that I would removed it. ( I didn't ask and she didn't say as I only seen her twice since their return to Canada in the spring of 2026)
Ok, the exercise to understand the strength of the mind (Muscle Memory or subconscious mind). You might have seen this on TicToc, or some other internet video streaming (Facebook) but they don't explain the raison it happens. It show how the subconscious mind interfere with many of our daily actions and also show just how much during a delivery, we must always be aware of the interference. I call it "Hand on Wall Proof" exercise; and I will explain the cause of the problem at the end of the blog.
You will do as I suggest and after when you try to repeat the exercise you will not be able to touch the wall.. You may do it again and again but the subconscious mind will always stop you unless you change something.
. However, at the end of this blog I will explain what you have to do to repeat it.. It is your body and the subconscious mind not allowing you to repeat the action.
So standing in front of a wall at a distance that with outstretch arms you can put your hand on the wall with your palm and all fingers touching the wall. If you are right hand do this with the right arm extended parallel to the floor as you stand straight on your two feet facing the wall. Without moving your feet position, now remove your hand and bring it back to your face and join your other hand as if saying a prayer. Now taking your opposite hand and touch your elbow of the hand which was on the wall. Rub it as if you have a sore. Now extend out your hand and try to touch the wall. You can not.. maybe just a few inches stopping you. Why..???
If you have not moved your feet and are still standing straight you will find that as you intend your arm to touch the wall your hand does not reach the wall and you can not touch the wall. Yes, maybe you can bend your fingers and touch the wall but as your hand was flat on the wall you can not touch it the same. Why ?
Try it as many times as you wish but until you read the end of this blog and do one more action you will not be able to touch the wall after your "Wall, pray, elbow" action. In many mental distractions during sport performance the athlete must do a "Reset" and this exercise explains why.
This is the same for the children learning the multiplication table by memory or the lawn bowler doing a delivery with "Line of Aim". When you use a mental power you will depend upon that mental (subconscious) power until you have taught yourself (or your subconscious) to not apply that same interference. The school child in learning to multiply and having not remember the answer; must be able calculate the answer. Also the lawn bowl "Line of Aim" is a similar sort of crutch which you have put confidence in and will always be your easy way to doing that action. For this reason, many lawn bowl athletes still "Check their Line" but not as an "Aim" but a remainder that it is ok. Or your the body alignment in that direction is ok.
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| 2026 Canadian Mens' Pairs |
This blog with take you through two Youtube videos and study the athletes and their performance and see how they have calculated their delivery weight and line. You will see different countries teaching different methods of subconscious control or communication toward the "Pre-Shot" short delivery. Some of the players will have longer "Pre-Shot"deliveries, but a body language study will show their work on Line, Weight and Now of the "LaWN" (or "LaWn", (my acronym)).
Working on this blog... but try the Hand on wall exercise and be patience. as with the tree alone on the rock if you decide to develop your Pre-Shot, your removal of the "Line of Aim" will take time. The new method of delivery, when on the mat, which you will learn in using the subconscious mind takes time. In doing that wall exercise you were surprise when you could not touch the wall and in that same way you will be surprise when you have developed a "Pre-Shot"; and without a "Line of Aim" your bowl's Line, Weight and Now (deliver) results in your bowl going straight to the jack.
What is a three second delivery ?. I have used short videos of players ( Iphone screen capture from the Youtube video) from the 2026 Canadian Nationals Pairs. These two short videos of the Quebec's team of Ryan Craig and Mario Veilleux; shows how after giving up 5 points for a 11-6 score, they keep their cool and came back. The BC team of James MacGowen and Aaron Almeida; over the next six ends tried to keep their lead but Quebec came back to a final 16th end of play at 12-11.
The last end of play could have gone either way, James MacGowen had to throw a runner with his last bowl to save the game. His shot was good but the jack bounce toward Quebec's balls giving Quebec two points thus BC lost with 14-11 end of Game. The Video Shots (screen capture video below) show that both players have their shots decided and are quick to the mat and doing their delivery. The great delivery gave precision draws for points with each team's delivery. A "Pre-Shot" Delivery Performance gained with years of experience and mental control.
The first blog of these two explained the "Pre-Shot"; as the first video (here) shows the "Pre-Shot" as a few second delivery. Seen from the view point of an experience elite, their change from a "Line of Aim", show this change from the view point of a Post-Novice player. In the video we learn that Marco with only two year bowl's experience; probably had good advice and teaching from Ryan. His mental "Muscle Memory" performance was quick because of his skills from his previous sport. Check the body language of both teams and the mistakes, if any are and Why ??. Body Language shows during their delivery and "Post-Delivery".
These studies will help later when working on next years delivery, you will come back to this video with more understanding of this second blog. There are signs of subconscious communication from both players. Similar the BC Pairs team has each a Pre-Shot structure which can teach an athlete, new to this idea; a trick or two.
However, like when you were practicing the physical delivery you got a few good shots done; so also in developing and feeling the "Void" or "Zen Presence"; you will at first in practice only get a few good Post-Shot success. Feeling of the absence during delivery and return of conscious can also be seen in body and facial signs of awareness. If you find a good mentor to offer a plan of practice and good coaching you will be one of a few. Most of this path to success is "Focus" when needed and visual self-teaching from watching others.
Yes. even players of 10 years or more of rolling bowls, have not completely left the "Line of Aim". But as they begin their development to a "Muscle Memory Delivery", you will find them still using old physical habits. Therefore, when evaluating if a player is take a "Line of Aim" it is their body language which shows what parts of their previous style still exists. Some physical always stay in all athletes. As you are probably surprise to learn that Ryan's and his partner here, Marco Veilleux have only been working together for two years. At the end of the first summer, 2 years of bowl experience for Marco; they won the 2025 Canadian Men's Pairs Gold.
This Canadian Men's Pair video has a second point of Lawn Bowls delivery and performance to show an example of in that when the end of play with a 6-6 score was finished and the score was 11-6; a comment in the online chat of viewer said "Reset Guys", which of major importance. In the first part of the blog I gave a link to a Youtube group of short videos by Eli Straw which addresses the emotional stress players encounter. These videos by a sport psychologist are very valuable.
It is certain when in a National Championship game you take a lost of 5 points there is a lot of emotions that stir within the player. In this game both players collected the emotions and "ReSet" quickly. Ryan, having played with the elite of Ireland had the experience but Mario, an olympic swimmer, has some mental skills already developed. In "Closed" sports, where like in swimming there maybe hours or days between a bad performance and the next performance; the athlete's "Self-Talk", Coach support or just strength of emotion will allow for the time needed to "Reset" emotions. Here we see Marco's strength as he did a "Reset" of Mineset emotions in less then a few minutes.
In Lawn Bowls it was only minutes pass before the jack has been centered again and both Ryan and Mario were on the mat going into "Recovery Mode". I watched Ryan's body language and his elite abilities and actions carried Mario ahead in "Reset". Also watch the opponent and their body language as "Over confidence of the game win can break a team.
This, the opposite side of the emotion game, was where the opponent after a 5 points win became overconfidence. The announcer said a couple of ends of play latter that he saw in of a final win. Such overconfidence may result in a lot of "Focus" or "Reset" back to basic good performance. Certainly the character of the skip is of major important as the player's readjustment is build or destroyed by that response.
There are four regions of Lawn Bowl's Strength in my opinion. "Down Under",(Australia, New Zealand and South Africa), Northern Europe, North America and the newer and surprising "Western Culture". In the second video to be looked at and a bit studied with concern and toward "Muscle Memory Performance" and the "Pre-Shot" Delivery. The 2016 Women's pair Final of New Zealand and Wales in the 2016 World Bowls in Christchurch NZ.
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2016 World Bowls with Rain
and both teams have similar Pre-shot aids. |
Because I can not know what the players are thinking. my suggestion for various actions are my opinion of their communication with the subconscious mind or actions to influence their Muscle Memory.
Also there is another important aspect of this video and that is the influence the Sky Sport's announcer on the viewers opinion of the player's Performance. If as my reader/visitor. you have watched both suggested videos; you will see a different announcers' knowledge of Bowls, or lack of knowledge. One must understand that "Announcer" who do several different sport broadcast are less knowledgeable. As The announcer Terry Scott says "I was being foolish as usual" when talking about having mistaken by asking the players how they would play in 8 inches of water. In. North America Lawn Bowls coverage we attempts to find knowledgeable players to as as the video Announcer and interviewers.
The remainder of the blog with the next video will show some of the tricks which the two team members use to create their unity with the subconscious mind. Or maybe I should say tools to maintain an absence of conscious interference with Muscle Memory Performance.
An example, is Angela Boyd rocking and several swing preparation. I believe, her body language (not looking at the jack and self absorbed) indicates that she is seeking a calm to identify her readiness to "Trigger" the Muscle Memory. To understand the important of these several arm swings we can look at another sport.
Basketball. We have all seen the Basketball Foul Shot. Standing at the line and free to shoot when ready. Bounce, bounce, bounce. But this bounce is not part of the delivery throw toward the basket. So why the several bounces by the player going to do the "Foul shot". In the case of Angela Boyd her arm swing in the same movement as her final delivery. But the basketball players is just bouncing the ball which is a "Tell of Preparation Mentally". When ready the shot will be send to the basket.
A "tell" is an action by a person (card player or sport athlete) which shows a placement of the mind. Look at the basket ball bounce and the face and eyes of the shooter. Yes, a tell of his mind's action. With each bounce and the sound of the bounce he is visualizing the ball going from his hand to the basket. Even the sound of the bounce has become the sound of the ball hitting the rim or not. (I would think when he does not ear the bounce he is ready to throw his shot).
In this video Angela's "Tell" is her toes taps prior to Pre-shot. Like the bouncing ball it has no effect on the actual performance of the shot (delivery). But, be sure that it is to identify that moment when the conscious mind is no longer engaged, and "Muscle Memory" can be performed without interruption. In listing to the video announcer of Canadian bowls, which usually are elite athletes; you will hear comments that they know about what they are talking. From experience and knowing their mental preparation. A sport announcer who cover several sports can not know the mind of the athlete. There is a lack of knowledge and memory of the mental training that was required to reach the athlete's "elite level" competition. This can't be taught but has to be earned from experience and years of practice. (mental Practice)
In an earlier blog the "tag" was used by a club curler whom needed an instruction to the Muscle Memory to not do like in Curling and twist their wrist for a spin on the stone. Such an action as a "Tag" prior or during Muscle Memory does not change the performance because it is not an action causing effect on the delivery. Above Angela is using her toe-tapping and rocking forward for her distance identification. I would not be surprise that she feels the height of her heel off the mat as to the actual distance to the jack. All actions to remain Muscle Memory of a action coming and also a method to have the conscious mind blocked. By thinking of her toe-tapping (and her occassional locking down to her feet); I believe she may be keeping the conscious mind occupied with something physical.
We will see in this video a different in the New Zealand delivery (Muscle Memory) and the United Kingdom (Wales) type of delivery. I believe that Australian elite whom become coaches for National teams have used a "Projection Distance" for the Muscle Memory communication. The arm swing, as a false delivery movement; is the first step of an Muscle Memory feeling of distance. With the Walse skip Jess Sims it is more a visual identication of the jack distance. Maybe like 27meters and working with Natural distance or todays performance distance. The shot of this video is the final shot of three which Jess made. The first bowl passed heavy, the second was wide and this one was as she wanted it. Yes, a "Dead Draw" with just enough to remove the opponent's bowl and drop onto the jack. One good bowl is all that is needed as a good game happens.
After 25 years of Lawn Bowls, Ryan in the Men's video above, does not need to communicate to his Muscle Memory although I expect he does have some method while walking back to the mat. Myself I do the false Arm swings for my "Projected Distance and Memory visualization and was surprise to noticed Gary Kelly (Ireland) doing the same in his Gold Medal Commonwealth's Pairs game. In looking over his bowl at the jack; I believe he is doing a "Projected Distance" and Memory match without any false arm swings. Even Mario in his third year of Bowls playing, is now doing that "Look over the bowls" at the jack and isomg a false arm swing for his feeling of weight.
In "Projected Distance" an athlete recalls memories of previously seeing his bowl roll up the green to a jack distance. If that memory is not the memory for the presenrt jack distance, then the athlete repeats the swing with another memory until they visualize the memory of a longer roll. When having the correct feeling for the distance is found (the absence of looking to the jack would suggest) thenr theire thought then move from "W" of "LaWn" to the calm Delivcry done during a period of "Void" or am absence of conscious thought.
In this video below, because it is a video of her delivery at the beginning of the game; the announcers are making fun comments about Angela's foot tapping. The camera, looking there. does not understand that until Angela has reached the point of being satified with her "W"eight, she does not "Now" and release the thought of her trigger ("tag") and does her delivery to the jack.
As we see in the above video there is a difference in how Angela is tapping her feet from previous video. Her delivery is perfect which would indicate some of her Pre-Shot actions are too much thought and breaking the Muscle Memory. Maybe too long Pre-Shot actions. Sometime the arm movement (like Mario above) are only needed to unite physical and mental performance.
I have printed the Basketball AI reply to encourage you, the reader to seek out the same idea in other sports. As Lawn Bowls a "Closed" sport (you and your performance), you may find that athletes have similar mental performance in "Open" Sports (Open and aware of everyone else's in the game and their actions)
Two problems exist with Muscle Memory and a subconscious communication. First, one must prevent the swing from being a conscious thought; done by having a limit of repeated actions. (easy to end up with counting as distraction or other feeling) Secondly, when using a "tag" used to remember something like "a" or "A" (applied action, like staying just inside a ridge); it can be over-thought. In the suggested "LaWN" Pre-shot it is for a remainder of thought and not of any important of the order. Order of Weight and to remember an Action is not a thought (to do) but because once the information has been passed to the subconscious, then "Muscle memory" had the proper distance or other action memory. You just have to feel that you have given a microsecond thought as a remainder.
Second problem is the interference to Muscle Memory. Once the calm is such as the subconscious has control the "Now" Delivery; and then trigger happens without consciousness. If you think "N" or anything you break that absence of thought because it is an action and not a communication.
I believe Angela has a strong communication with the subconscious but also feel that she is willing to change the number of occurence (breaks her routine); which would result in the loses her "Void" (the performance in an absence of conscious thought). Seen with her Post-Shot body language. Coming out of the "Void" is always a surprise facial image in the start of the Post-Shot. (Video too often skip to the bowl roll).
As an athlete practice their subconscious communication, they will feel their calm and know of the absence of conscious thoughts. You don't need too instruct Muscle Memory because it feels that calm and know to do a "Muscle Memory Delivery". Very much like a car driver putting on the brakes for a moving child, but feels the child is not in danger and adjust to not break to fast and cause to spill the coffee.
Post-Shot is a few second immediately after the bowl is delivered. First feeling of Post-Shot is the "Void" of conscious mind returning to control. Before your bowl leaves the "Bias Line" first section (called "Line" because straight to what the novice is aiming at as he learns; you can check if it passed as you expected. Feelings are a big part of this few seconds because you will feel the muscles which are not performing as it would have with a perfect delivery.
Oh yes, the answer to the Wall Touching exercise. The subconscious mind does a lot of instinctive action for us. In this example the subconscious mind is working on to mainain balance as two arms are moved to one body side. It is just a wrist muscle adjustment and I don't think we would fall; but the mind feels (by the ears) a change and is adjusting so we don't fall. So to touch your elbow you changed the two side's balance and the subconscious turns your shoulder, which is farther from the wall.
What is important in this note is that the subconscious does not return the body to it position because this very slight twist of the hips. In lawn bowls many things like this happen and Muscle Memory is a performance from a starting point which is always the same. So if we hear a sound behind or to the side, survival instinctive is to know what it is. Even if you did not look to the left or behind; the action of listening to a sound is a conscious mind action. You want to turn (conscious action ) but you think you have control your movement.
Two things have happen, your Muscle Memory works in the void of the subconscious and these thoughts are conscious mind actions. Also like the wall touching exercise, Instinctive actions were done but not reset as before. Now your body and delivery is not at the same starting point. The only solution is "RESET". (A 3 "S" Action. "S"TOP. "S'TEP BACK of the mat, and "S"TART). A complere 'Redo your "LaWN" Pre-Shot. Eventually you will know that feeling of the Conscious mind presences or a thought being done; and you will know you must restart or do a "ReSet" before the "Now" trigger of your Muscle Memory.
The Visitor Stats here show over 2,000 increase in visitor/reader as the Australia and New Zealand (and South Africa) Lawn Bowls season has starts. Also showing some of the more visited blog this last week of October. Remember, to find a 10 year old blog means a long trip of scrolling or a suggestion by Club Members. (or suggested in a blog).
Thank you... enjoy..
Following a Lawn Bowls injury which tore my shoulder muscle, I am busy in recovery. At 81, it will take most of my winter if I want to bowl next year. (the incident happen dur to a hot day and during a delivery my becep brachii cramped and on continuing the delivery it pulled out and tore free the two muscles. Only an operation will repair it so changing delivery hand and style.
As I prepare this blog, my last on this topic; I take time to identify a Great Canadian Lawn Bowler who has passed this week and will be greatly missed. Our members always are looking to our older members for answers like I try to supply in these blogs. A club is only as good as the older members still sitting on the step and watching the new members.
Stephen Bezanson of the Halifax Wanderers Lawn Bowling club contributed much to the development of Lawn Bowls in this Eastern Province of Nova Scotia.
Although, I did not know him, I would have if I had continued my career in journalism, having worked in the New room of the Halifax Herald in the late 60s I would have known him. However, I can visualize his office and desk as sport editor was a few feet from my desk of Newsroom copyboy/runner.
Since my blog reaches worldwide, and many other Lawn bowls countries,. it is fitting to use this space as I prepare this text for what is probably important blog. This blog will show our new athletes the path to greatness which life time bowlers like Stephen have shown. I am sure there has been many Lawn Bowl athletes who owe their great style of delivery to athletes like Stephen Bezanson.
Thank you Stephen, for your contribution and time sharing your life with so many Canadians and local club members. The teaching and years of commitment which has developed your club and it's athletes, was rewarded by the many who were picked as part of the Canadian National Team and went forward in your footsteps
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