Thinking outside of the box

 Just back from the clubhouse where an invitation competition of "5-a-teams" was being played. No, I was not playing but I spend a lot of time watching games and evaluating the potential of new bowlers. Sometimes a simple mis-understanding of a regular action can cause one to "Think outside of the Box"

As my 2023 bowls season draws to a close I guess I am back to blog writing a bit.

The first sets of games had just been completed and the 2nd set of games were to start. But, unlike the first games which start after a  "Trial Ends"  now with the new greens were assigned to all six teams there was no Trial-ends. The skips of the green just in front me  (number 1, an end-green) was questioning the previous team's skip on the green and their experience. With not much time for much information; I heard the skip  said "The ditch size is extremely wide and if you miss your line or the jack is moved toward the ditch; then  all your bowls will finish out of bounds".

As I listen to the skip talking to his lead as he prepared to start on this green; he was telling her (Kim) that she would have to take "Line, like on the corner where both ditches met. His thought was on her first bowl and how to play it, but  Kim, was a lead I had not seen before; was only thinking about to throw the  jack. As often happens; the skip was explaining the greens and needing a  "head ditch Line" while the  lead was thinking that the skip instruction were her instructions for rolling the jack.

I laster learned Kim was a first year bowler, and that as such  she was confusion. She was thinking of the Jack which she was to throw. So she asked "You want me to throw the jack toward the out of bound marker ?" The skip replied "No, No, Up the centre-line". First thought I had was she was an experience lead and had often thrown a jack off-center to learn something of the green. I later learned that she did not understand what the skip was suggesting. However, the Skip also did not understand what she was suggesting. Her suggestion of off-center Jack throw, if used here would have given him a lot of important information about  that side of the green. 

 After many years experience I had learned that on the jack throw to watch the jack and read how the jack is affected by the green during the roll. And now after several years of bowls and major competition I know skips do ask "Study Information" from the leads.  Especially in "Bowls Fours" where no bowls can be wasted. With no trial-ends and the team now coming to this new green; her question was extremely interesting as if she had previously been instructed on this subject of "of-center Jack rolls".

Because of the absence of a Trial end in this 2nd set of play I thought that the skip's thoughts were "if the jack is throw "off-center" and the team players were  watching the jack roll;, we have some very good information.  Also, as I had just returned to Quebec after several summers playing away; I saw this suggestion by a Skip a change in game strategy and even some clubs doing " Lead developmen"t which was badly needed before. 

To not throw the jack up the center of the green but off-center was first introduced to me at a early 2000 Atlantic Bowls game where the Jack has caught the ridge of a depression in the green and change it line by 20 to 30 degrees.  If a lead is to roll the jack up the green without going out of bounds and closely watch the jack; the watching team members would see how that side of the green would draw the bowls off.  Of course, after the jack throw, the Skip would bring the jack back to centre line if it did not go out of bounds. 

 I had been instructed many years ago that is Bowls Fours the Lead and Second should study the green and the opponent players delivery habits to advise the Vice (for the skip) in helping develop a winning game play strategy. (Seeing an opponent with a weak Backhand  and forcing the oppponent player to play backhand may remove a few bowls from the head)

 Last friday, I watch a jack which was thrown up "Center Line" go right,  across the center line then after a few yards began to coming back across the center line and finished at least 6 inches of center. This type of jack reaction can mean a "finishing Bias" bowl would stop or "reverse-bias" Yes, here in Quebec we have some clubs with really difficult greens. Ofcourse, a bad center of the green will not affect the bias of your delivery (rolled bowl) unless the jack was moved extremely off-centre and now your delivery passes across this section of the green. (center-Line).

 Over the years I have often done a "off-centre Line" jack roll to collect this sort of information.

 Yes, this thinking "outside the Box" of a regular habit of throwing the jack up center-line, would given a lot of insight into what to expect as the team starts it first end.  Even if the jack had gone out-of-bounds, I, as a skip and coach; would have consider the knowledge more important than the lost  "First-Jack". 

Muscle Memory and The "Zen" Zone

This blog is a remake of a December 2016 blog with modifications for other sports like Petanque where the subconscious calculates distance.

The 2016 World Bowls (Christchurch New Zealand) now underway, as I start these two Blog on Muscle Memory. Part 2  texted and being edited but time for blog writing or editing during  the World Bowls is hard to find. After the games maybe, or in a few more weeks I will finish the Second part. I hope to have the blog mix the idea of  "Muscle Memory"  with the styles of Delivery of a couple of World Bowls Finalists.  You will find it interesting on how these great athletics, New Zealand Lead Angela Boyd and Wales lead Laura Daniels prepare their delivery before putting themself  into a "Zen Delivery"  Zone.

Now that I have finished watching the December 11^th Women`s Pairs Finals of World Bowls (Streaming); and being a Canadian, I can`t miss the Ryan Bester effort to capture the Singles Gold. Another great Bowls Video which one day maybe I will blog about. 

The photo to the left, which is a screen capture of the video from "ifilm NZ" on the "Vimeo Live Streaming"; shows the preparation of the greens after the evening rains and show the removal of over 6 to 8 inches of  water from the greens. (Note: January 31, 2023 - while editing this blog -  We must thank this New Zealand company for still having this 2016 World Bowls Video available today for readers to view.)

As a Coach of Bowls it is the Women’s Pairs Final between New Zealand and Wales which is of most instructive to bowlers and for me a coach; to blog. Watching the two very different style of delivery of these leads, I find the rare opportunity to show how each finalist have all the same aspects of a "Muscle Memory" delivery and in two different ways both athletics show their delivery as they move into a  proper "Zen Zone Delivery". In this Zen delivery they are in a void of thought as their subconscious mind uses memories of training to do a perfect delivery. (Like one brakes their car when a child runs into the street. An instinctive action with no thinking involved but performed by the subconscious mind to save a life.)

March 27 2024 "The Right Line" Podcast Episode 86, which is the official Australia Bowls podcast; has an interesting "In the Zone" comment from Dawn Hayman when discussing her team in the World Bowls Fours game against Scotland in 2023. She was asked about the influence of a Sport Psychologist in her game and she replied "It is super important (staying mentally strong), obviously all of us girls have had that sort of training. In the particular game we were down quite a lot but, you know, we stuck to our guns; and we were mentally "in the Zone", which I think it helped us over the line at the end. This week past Dawn dominated the New South Wales State Championship at Club Dubbo as she won four golds. (singles, pairs, mixed pairs (with hubby) and triples).We don't hear much about "in the Zone" but to be in the world top performers it is a part of the mental game.  And Lawn Bowls require a strong mental state for the performance needed to qualify and win at International Competitions. (Updated 04/01)

First, I hope that in no way does this blog get seen as a criticism of the delivery styles of  Angela Boyd or  Laura Daniels as both are great athletics and performed exceptional.  With the internet and "Live Streaming" our sport gets great coverage. But often non elite lawnbowlers who are  watching the game get an uneducated view of Bowls from comments made by announcers whom, like Sky Sports Presenter Jordan Vandermade can not be expected to know all the fine detail and hard work for an athletic during the development of their style of delivery. 

All night, I have been questioning if I should build a blog around these  two different styles as they clearly show an athletic`s development as they progress in prefection and are moving from Muscle Memory (conscious memory of Delivery) to being in the  Zone (subconscious control delivery). From the photo (left) we see both players at the point of "In the Zone" and neither is looking up the green.

Ofcourse, it is hard to suggest  to my blog readers to watch  a great World Bowls video of Women`s Pairs final for Gold; when  the announders jokes ( Jordan and Terry Scott) are about the multi swinging delivery of  New Zealand lead Angela Boyd. The comments seem to suggest Angela has a bad style of delivery; when in reality she would never have reached the Women`s Pair Final if her style was bad.

  I decided that my readers which are some of the best Lawnbowlers in the world are more educated then these announcers and the other blog readers who are still learning;  will clearly understand and value the subject matter of "Muscle Memory" performance when one is  "Being in the Zone". 

To better define the term "Pre-visualization" it should be better called "Visualization pre-performance" where distance is calculated by looking at the target (Jack or Cochon in Petanque) and after a few mental visualization of seeing the bowl (or petanque ball) going to the target; the subconscious mind always adjusting and using a memory of previous performance; has the distance and with an unconscious performance does what is wanted by the athletic. Briefly, pre performance visualization is seeing what is expected to happen and by visually seeing the memory of a previous shot going all the way  to the target, two or three time if necessary; the subconscious mind now knows that distance. This "Memory" give the athletic the  Bowl delivery weight needed to roll a bowl to the jack or in Petanque gives the player a memory of his distance that he must throw his takeout shot to hit the 3 1/2 inch ball directly.

We who have been "in the Zone" during performance, knows how it works and all we can do is overlook  opinions of others on the style of delivery. To me Angela Boyd is still developing her "Pre-visualization" as she starts with her arm swing (with a memory of previous weight) and eventually has a total mental "Pre-visualization". This same pre-delivery movement which is only a light bouncing of the Bowl  in the hand of Laura Daniels gives the athletic the "Pre-visualization" from memory to find the weight to roll to the jack. 

 Basketball coaches tell their  elite athletics to mentally practice their basket shooting when sitting on the bus.  Of course, you don`t see them doing their arm movement; because they are using their memory of previous shots they made and to see again their actions.  So I ask you to please understand that those doing televised comments can not know the minute detail about all the sports they cover or the hard work and coaching that goes into a  well seasoned  athletic. It is hard work to reach the level of World elite and even  harder to get that perfect "Bowl roll" to the jack, or that long Petanque takeout shot.

  I thank both Angela Boyd and Laura Daniels for allowing me to write about their styles. (I assume they will contact me if they object). I am sure that they understand that this is a unique opportunity to comparing two different delivery style, while helping me in teaching to our future lawn bowls  athletics  about how  to develop and use "Muscle Memory". How to slowly create their movement while moving into the "Zen  Zone". (Clearification note: This "Zen  Zone" is when after doing a movement over and over, the muscles have developed a memory of how to perform that action. At one point in a Bowls Delivery the conscious thought and instructions, we do to correct our errors; become to the muscles a transfer of control to the subconscious mind which knows how to perform the action. At this point the athletic is in a "Non thinking"  Zone as we experience an emptiness of thought for a partial second.)

Before writing about these two styles I must ask the reader to do a small physical exercise.  This is important as later in this blog, the memory of this exercise will be a major part of your mental study and movement of the mind (thought) from muscle memory to the zone.  If you do not do this 30 second exercise then it is better to stop reading now; because later you will not have any memory of the exercise to recall and collect from for your subconscious  mind. Of course, you can also read this blog a second time while then doing the exercise but knowing what to expect will not be the same teaching on the 2nd reading and of course the mood will change.

Exercise.  Look at a distance object, as you sit where you are and  are read this, (plse do this exercise). Much the same, as you would look up the green at the jack, Now pick some distance object to look at.(out the window or across the room)  Place your index finger at the side of your face under your eye. With the opposite eye closed, move the finger out from your eye toward the object until you are covering the object with your finger. Much as if you are pointing at the object.  Do this three times. (Yes, please do it even if it seems foolish) Thank you. You have now developed a mental memory of this action. (finger moving from eye to a distance object)

There is such a difference in the two styles of delivery of Angela Boyd and Laura Daniels but both have all the same aspects of mental (muscle) communication and muscle memory.  First, lets discuss New Zealand Angela Boyd's, with her 8 swings of preparation and the body movement of a light forward and back sway as she taps her foot. It is almost as if she is delivering the bowl and watching it go to the jack."Opps, not enough weight.. try again" she thinks.. until she feel she has reached her needed weight.

Watching the video closely, you see various aspects of this action. This is called the Pre-delivery routine and a part of every good lawn bowls Delivery. All players has some sort of action, the do to preparing themselves. Probably after her physcial swing of the bowl she is seeing in her mind the memory of another time when her bowl was going up the green. With each arm swing she is showing the subconscious mind the distance to the jack. How ? As you will see later; the mental memory of the complete movement (delivery of the Bowl to Jack) is very quick in your memory. More quick than the actual action. As you see the  memory of delivery to the jack; you are sort of showing the subconscious mind the distance. If your mental thought of the roll does not go all the way to the jack; then by doing it several times and pushing that thought to the correct distance; the subconscious re-adjusts that distance is all the way to the jack. Angela`s pre-visualization is done until finally she feels she has the distance and now does a final delivery with  the proper weight for that jack distance. She has lets the subconscious mind do the Muscle Memory and has places herself in the Zone of non-thought.

Of interest here, is a similar action in the French game of Petanque. In Petanque the player is allow to walk to the jack as can be seen on Youtube games; and of course when the player is walking,  the mind is feeling the distance. Some players  actually go half ways to the jack (or cochon) because half way is easlier to see the rest of the distance. No matter how you do it,  the subconscious mind needs to know the distance to the Jack and Angela`s swings and delay is giving the subconscious mind a feel for that distance.

 ** (See note below) Whether the stopping of toe tapping in the Petanque video (below "in the video") is actually the "tell" of  this Petanque player`s pre-visualization or the tell of the "wrist flick" of Angela`s final movement; we see them as they transfers their mental control from conscious to subconscious.  The athletic has now  move from their pre-visualization actions to the " Mental Void" or into " the Zen Zone". 

This is an important communication between the athletic`s intentions and  finally giving control to the subconscious mind. It is important to not be consciously telling the muscles what to do but letting "Muscle Memory" or the subconscious do the shot.

As we can see in the Petanque video of Mark Wildeboer where he stops his toe tapping (his tell of pre-visualizations )  in the video to his actual action of his takeout shot. At the time of his shooting he is in a "Void of thought" and we say he is  "In the Zen Zone".

One would ask if these first few delivery swings of Angela are to define her delivery weight, and maybe she is following the un-released bowl to the jack in an memory of a previous delivery. But her delay before starting her next swing is too quick for actually thought of following a bowl; so she is using her memory of the bowl rolling up the green. (When you do, at the end of this blog; the finger exercise  done above;  you realize the memory is faster than the actual event). 

 Later in these blogs I will show  the reader how to have the subconscious mind know and judge the distance with only the memory of the doing the distance mentually in the Pre-delivery routine.  What you see in the delivery of  Laura Daniels is her pre-visualization of memories done prior to her delivery and now all that is in her mind is one last pre-visualization.

 That is all the subconscious mind needs before her Muscle Memory and delivery happen as now the subconscious knows the distance and weight to reach the jack. This, transfer control to the subconscious seems obvious as we see in the final swing that  Angela's eyes are nolonger looking toward the jack as she has established the distance and is confidence of her delivery weight.

We notice that Angela Boyd has lowers her eyes, its her way of mentally remembering the distance; she will soon look up and see her bowl rolling up the green.  This same thing happens to Tigar Wood as he explains on youtube, ( Sports Psychology - Want to visualize like Tiger? - YouTube )  Tiger, the great golfer;  says "between beginning my swing and seeing the ball in flight up the fairway, I have no memory of what happen ". And if asked, Angela also has no memory from when she started her final delivery swing and then a microsecond later sees the bowl rolling up the green.

 This is an important part of our communication with the subconscious mind as it is just her and her memory of another time when the jack was at that same distance. This memory retreival  has helped her subconscous mind to know how to do the delivery right to the jack. 

 The rules of Silence when on the mat, which is in the rule book; are there because in any delivery, like Angela  who is now into her delivery void of thought (seen by her body movement as she sway forward and back) is  a control harmony which is her mind and body movement is the next swing. This is also part of the communication with the subconscious; as this  body movement is the final steps of her delivery. Even this small sway is sufficient  forward body movement to defines the small extra body movement to be either adding on or taking off the "delivery weight". It is also a constant movement to remind the body (subconscious) that there will be nothing changed.

Up to this point it is memory to remaind the mind and identifying how much weight was used last time at this distance and for the subconscious to remember from the previous delivery. (just performed minutes before or month earlier). At this point and just after the last practice swing and before the delivery Angela Boyd seems to do two  small wrist flick. WHY ?? as coach of others I believe this is her mental void entry moment. Often we need something else to think about which is not part of the delivery to not think about the delivery and enter the Zone.

In every delivery where a bowler enter the zone (zen zone where there is a complete absence of thought) there must be a pre-visualization of the delivery.

 I know that some people use a wrist flick to add on weight, but it is my opinion that this movement would be in the pre-delivery routine and not at this pre-visualization period of delivery.   So not only has angela told her body the amount of muscle movement that is needed for the delivery swing but also she has established that her pre-visualization is finished. The reason that this flick can not be pre-visualization is that at this movement it would confuse the subconscious mind  with another thought and the subconscious mind would apply something else as an instruction. 

Before looking at the rest of delivery of Angela Boyd let look at the style of Wales’s Laura Daniels  which seem to be a step to the mat and do a very quick  delivery.  But, be sure that all the same pre-delivery checks are done in the style of Laura Daniels; else her delivery would not be constant if she did not have a pre-visualization and a transfer of control to the subconscious as she entered her Void.

  First, the delivery swings off Laura Daniels is mental and not physically visable, With the small bounce of the bowl in her palm she mentally remembers and establishes the memory of the delivery swing and movement. It is interesting if such a trick would mean a different bounce of the bowl in the hand for a longer jack. (worth asking this of such an athletic)  You know this is a pre-visualization action like the arm swing of Angela and the mental thought of the a memory of previously having rolled to this distance  because her eyes are on the jack as the bowl is bounced. Like Angela, she is travelling her mind to the jack so the subconscious can establish the distance of the jack.

So both have done their pre-delivery routines and communicated to the mind the distance of the jack, and the amount of delivery weight and swing that is needed to arrive at the jack.  Also through practice of each their style, both have communicated to the mind their want and need to control the body movement.

At this point both  Laura and Angela have their mind ready to do the delivery  and transfer all thought to their subconscious for a "Zone Delivery"

Do you remember the exercise with the finger at the eye you did earlier in this blog.  Take a minute and close your eyes and remember that muscle memory of that movement. Can you see your finger Do you see your finger going from your eye toward the distance object you pointed at. This is data stored by the mind for use by the subconscious.  After a month or even a year of a repeated movement this data is what the subconscious uses when given total control of the delivery.

 This viewing of the memory is a previsualization of that movement you did earlier and it is the most important aspect of the subconscious`s transfer of thought from conscious thought (muscle movement and memory) to the subconscious mind. You only did your finger movement once.. imagine an action like delivery which has been done several hundred times. This is why in a absence of thought the mind using muscle memory  does the percise performance of the delivery.

Although Wales Laura Daniels’s delivery seems fast, she has taken a second  and has seen  a similar projection or previsualization of her bowl rolling to the jack; before she began her delivery.. It is fast in her style because it does not take more than a microsecond of time but in this short time when the mind is occupied with that previsualization thought,  you have given the subconscious mind control of your delivery.

In the void of thinking of the previsualization movement, like you seeing your finger going to the object that you were looking at: simularly the subconscious mind has performed all the pre-delivery  muscle memory preparation of the bowls delivery and now left uninterrupted (in a void) will do the delivery you wanted.

 (Yes Angela Boyd routine is more longer but one day soon Angela will reach the detail and quick delivery that Laura Daniels does. Both women did the same mental checklist)  Both bowl delivery was done while  their mind was occupied (previsualize or something else) and they only now see the bowl on route  to the jack ( they missed the memory of their delivery because they were in that Zen Zone or the void)   

Yes, You will know you have entered the zone because you will not remember doing your delivery. You will see your bowl several feet in front of you as it is rolling up the green. but don t expect it tomorrow... start as Angela does now and one day you will be a Laura Daniels.  Just it is very hard to go into the void.

It is very important that  you allowed your subconscious mind to do all the things you had checked and communicated that you want in the pre-delivery movements.  Whether this pre-delivery checklist  is a short like a double bounce of the bowl in hand like Laura Daniels or eight practice swings, with a body sway and toe tapping like Angela Boyd; all the information was presented to the subconscious mind and maybe Laura when stepping to the mat began her communication with the subconscious mind... so now on the mat with the delivery to do.. not else is needed.

Sorry as this blog may seen to indicate a attitude of "know it all" but I only wanting to explain this transfer of Muscle Memory of one’s delivery to the actual delivery movement;  I did not always see the Mental Void of mind (zone) entry in Angela Boyd’s  and Laura Daniels' style and know that even at this level of development various distractions caused the delivery to be "a conscious delivery" . The conscious delivery is a bowler's actual control of the delivery as to letting the subconscious do the delivery.

 Only you the bowler, or these athletics them self, know if you had a void when you gave control to the subconscious mind.  And many times you will be controlling your delivery in such fine detail that you know you did a "conscious" bowl  delivery.

If in your delivery, your void of mind is missing, try to think of the finger to object image which your visualized above. This completely different thought removes any conscious control of your delivery and does the transfer of control to the subconscious mind.  There is not difference in seeing your finger go to the object and seeing the bowl going to the jack.  And Laura Daniels show us how quick this thought can be completed with her style. So seek out your absence of delivery thought during the movement of delivery. Let your Muscle Memory and Zen do your delivery.

In my other sport "Petanque" during the throwing of a takeout shot, I find this thought is as quick as if I have closed my eyes.  so if you want to know how strong this Zone is??  Close your eyes during your delivery and see your result.  Yes closed eyes is a certain type of void as you are always occupied to see what is happening.. But it is more important to use the previsualization image and certainly not the closed eyes technique.  Although, in my club I have an athletic who has gone to several International Petanque World Competition and who`s style of delivery is such she is not looking at her target ball during her shooting. The close your eyes is only suggested to help you to know and realize the power of the  your subconscious mind when you are in the zone.

Thank you Laura Daniels and Angela Boyd for two so different styles, It was a great game to watch. I hope this blog has shown  the readers, the aspects of Muscle Memory and the Zone which lawn bowls delivery contains.( edit note Jan 30 2023 - As my series of Blogs on Subconscious communication progress now in 2023, I hope that the  athletic working on his development; will know their path to Zen performance)  Some readers of this blog will improve their delivery, others will like the streaming video commentator find it a big joke. The only joke is Angela got to the World Bowls Championship as the best in the world and early in her career. It is not what looks good  or even understood by the commentator; but Angela's multi-swings, says "What matter to me is  "Results" from a good delivery".

 And the propose of this blog is to help  see the two delivery  styles of Angela Boyd and Laura Daniels from the  video on Youtube  Live Streaming   2016 World Bowls Game  video.   and as I look now  (here in 2023 as I am editing) I see that this video is still available.

** Note added Jan 30 2023 - Previsualization as to Visualization A recent Petanque student replied when asked if he did Previsualization said " Yes, I  looked at where I wanted my Petanque takeout shot ball to hit the target ball". Previsualization is an action done before (pre) visualization. What this student was doing was visualizing his shot.  Previsualization is action done before as seen by Angela movement which is putting into memory a required result from the intended delivery result for the subconscious to know and perform.

Training the Subconscious Mind

Well, I back to Blog for 2023. After 4 years rest and  67,710 blog visits over these last 10 years my readers are still there. My Lawn Bowls blogs were written to show various Aspects of  Lawn Bowls. Now I will attempt to show how to development  Subconscious to Performance important aspects of  your sport.

The photo to the left show that in the fall of 2018 the blog readership was several individual access with each access doing several different blog searchs and reads. On the 25th in the 2018 Stats, the number of readers was less then the previous days, but several of the readers read several different Blogs. I believe that this sort of stats analysis indicate that the blog has a following of readers who still return. 

From the Audience in this 2018 Stats I see that almost all were from North America as the Summer Lawn Bowls season finished. Today, as 2023 starts the Lawn Bowls is in full swing in Australia and these "Down South" Stats  shows that todays monthly viewers `is down 400 . With only about 30 new blogs during the last four years, the total reads/access has stilled doubled from 32,000 to 67,710. There is still an interest even with Podcasts.

 As I start back to blogging, I will move away from specific Lawn Bowls Tricks and more into individual mental performance. The topic above in the 2018 post viewed were about various trick during delivery like Mat Walking.

If age permits me, (now 78) I hope to show the posssibility of training the subsconsious mind to improve its abilities. 

So where did these 60 view/reader attach to this blog. "Australia" which is now in the major part of it summer Bowls Season. As athletics prepare for the end of season quaifications and trials for International sports; I expect to find more of these "one user - large search"  reads. Since for some time this has been the blog scene and viewing.

 Like an athlete will train and improve his performance, I hope to show how by understanding how the mind performs it actions without conscious instruction (which some called  "Being in the Zone" or others called "by using "Muscle Memory"); I will  give a understand of development of distance measurement.  For Petanque or Lawn Bowls it is important to know the distance to the Jack. Ofcourse, I will also go back and update the earlier blogs on this subject (Muscle Memory part 1 -Dec 2016 and World Bowls women final) (part 2 - Feb 2019) (part 3 - May 2019).

In all sports, there are certain ideas that are common and recognized by coaches. For example: sports have been divided into two types "Open" and "Closed". An open sport is where you remain open to the surroundings and your play interacts with your team members while always remaining  "Open" to the actions of the opponent. A soccer player running  and watching the opponents movement. Always ready for passing ball when an opponent become too much danger.

"Closed" sports usually apply to the individual`s ability and performance based upon his personal and physical development and skills. In these sports rules are usually constructed to remove outside actions which may interfere.

Of course as you are a team player of as few as two or three members (doubles, triples or singles) you`re "Closed" to the actions of others by rules during your performance. (in both Lawn Bowls and Petanque rules indicate how others who are near the individual should act.

 But no sport is completely "Open" or "Closed" as competitions requires participation against a similar team. In such play, you and your performance is do your best as to your personal development and abilities.

Usually a game strategy of the team is more "open" to the weakness and strength of the opponents. A game like. Tennis is  more "open" as while watching an opponent`s movement you react by changing the shot type you made because of the opponents action. (them going left means stricking the tennis ball to their right)

In bowls the weakness may be delivery weakness (weak backhand) or in Petanque a weak delivery on a certain type of playing surface. These weakness are "Closed" because they are actions of collected data during the complete game and not at the actual time of the action.                        Who am I .. blogger ?? Coach ?? Who ??

As a Archery Coach for several years in the 1990s who became involved in the Traditional Archery and Bowhunting, Zen became a "Be the target" study.

With target at bowhunting competitions at distances of 20 to 50 meters, it was necesssary to evaluate the distance with a high degree accuracy. Having won two gold at the Canadian National Bowhunting Competition the personal development was to teach the subconscious mind to evaluate distance.

A arrow flies at a certain speed to the target and in Petanque, a french sport of Ball to a target the thrown "Takeout" shot also flies at a certain speed for each individual. If you were to take a video of such a shot and play it back the 2 or 3 seconds would seem long but by learning Visualization it is only a microsecond . 

The subconscious mind can measure the distance by your memory of the action but If I was to ask you after having made such a shot to remember the shot you would probably remember only the result. (hitting it). The subconscious mind needs to remember the flight of the arrow or the ball (Petanque) and after being taught it can know the actual distance from the duration of the thought with the known speed of the arrow or thrown ball.

In the next 4 or 5 blogs I will attempt to explain how you work to train your subconscious mind to measure distance. In archery such visualization may be 35 meters while in Petanque  it can be up to 10 meters. The same applies to Baseball and throwing the ball to the middle field from out field and knowing the distance.

Ten Years later - August 2

 When I started blogging in August of 2012, as a Lawn bowls coach I was interesting in helping new bowlers find answers to questions which I often heard from new players.

The blog.. "Team Head - Skip or No-Skip", my first blog was under a blog title of "Using the Head". As advice to leads on what to expect from their skips and also a warning about the instructions given by the team skip. 

This first blog said " In some clubs new members are taught to do as the skip instructs. Also, in some clubs in large bowling areas, a skip is approved after many years of Lawn Bowls experience. Likewise, in the game of Bowls you will find good Skips and "Want-a-Be" skips. It is not because you have skipped a teams to a game wins; that you are a good Skip." 

This advice is for the new player who is put in the lead position. Yes your skip is probably an great player with years of experience skipping  games, but most of these players are club-game skips. Lets look at how this difference from a "Competition Skip" and his attitude to the game and his team-mates.

First, because Club games are usually practice games and for the enjoyment of play; several clubs have rules which control what coaching is done during these games.  Sometime the only individual to correct a lead on his previous delivery is their regular coach.  In my Home Club the many coaches are told "No Coaching" during Evening Games" which was installed so the new member could have fun without continual advice from others.

This week, I was visiting a neighbouring club and bowled a few ends while waiting for a player to arrive to complete the number of players needed.  At one point I put my extended foot next to the opponent`s bowl and the skip on the mat (we were playing pairs) said "I don`t need "Green".  I later explained to him when we measured for the 2nd point that that bowl (my foot was beside) was a measureable second and only different between our bowls was like an inch. In my communication in competition my skip would know I want it tapped back or drawn up to. (Or would have asked "Is that 2nd point ?"

Wnen picking a team member for a competition a "Good Skip will look for different qualities in his "Lead" and Second" or "Mate". The "Second" in "Fours" will be here consider as a "Second Lead". Remember the Team "Skip" will always be on the mat and his "Second" in the head as each end come to the final bowls for that end. 

His "Second" should have his confidence of "Reading the Head" and able to "Communicate with his Skip". Long conversations from "Head to Mat" should always be avoided but if more than one bowl has been displaced by the last delivered bowl; such change in the Head should be  told to the "Skip" on the mat.

 A "No Change" comment or signal is best even if nothing has changed. (A good "No Change" hand signal is the " Same or Equal Distance Signal" - two palms down extended in front and moved left and right parallel to the playing service). 

The "Second" should have had sufficent experience to be able to remember the bowls of their team and the opponent and able to do an "Up-Down" presentation if several bowls have changed or a runner has been thrown.  (A "Up-Down" communication starts with the bowl closest to the jack and defined as Your team bowl (hand moved up to the chest meaning "Ours") or the opponents bowl. (Hand moved away from the body and pointing "Down") Then likewise doing the next closest bowl and not afraid to indicate as a "Measure" if the opponent bowl and yours are so close to a measure that it can not be clearly decided. (The most common "Measure Signal" is an action like you are opening a measuring tape and measuring.)

The earlier blog said, "It is because the rest of the team wants to follow you onto the green and has choosen you as leader; you (should) Skip this game.... Respect is not something which rules of play cannot define.  If as a leader you inspire "Respectful Support" from your team mates; you are becoming a team leader and their Skip. "Self-respect usually generates team respect".

Here, I will tell a story about a Pairs game in which the opponent "Skip" and I had often "Disagreement" on what makes a "Good Skip" and as he was often telling how he played on the Scotland National Team.  As we walked to out game green and joking as were passing the umpire; I said to him. "You know that when you do your runner you are "Foot Faulting" if your foot leaves the mat before your bowl has landed on the green".

In the 2nd or 3rd end he did a "Heavy Runner" and as we started the next end of play the umpire came over and spoke to him saying that he had foot faulted and that was his "Warning".  During that end of play and the next two he complained to me about women umpires and the league should not use women umpires during money games.  Halfways through the game his lead took a minute to talk to me and asked "What is the matter with Steven" and indicated that it was difficult to know what he expected of him as "Lead".

The point here was "respect for his lead" and he would have forgotten the visit from the umpire and communicate more. Instead, the skip got into all kinds of things that were going wrong.. "How the club president had asked a sub to replace him" or "Some people are not considered as having knowledge of Bowls". In all the skip lack of "respect" for his lead and other players changed his whole game.

Also the earlier blog wrote,   "Use your head. Be wise.   Those playing with you are there because they enjoy the game and are doing their best.  A good and honest compliment when one is due, will build team spirit. Also, no matter how good you may be on draws or various types of shoots; you will make a mistake."

Again, the advice of the first blog was,

    ." Giving up a point after a hard fight is not easy; but to make a bad shot and give up several points.  Be graceful, admit your bad judgement or bad performance.  Yelling at players,  Placing Blame, Not expressing satification when a game is going bad but all the team are playing well. The sign will show a good Skip as " the Head of the Team" and also reveal when there is an Ass on the green."

Remember it is only a game... Enjoy it and Learn from it.. 

Bowls in NZ strong Wind (AMem)

Cleaned up Feb 2026

As the end of the 2021 Bowls Season comes to a close we find a lot of Lawn Bowls Streaming from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. And what better place than Wellington LBC for a blog on playing with windy conditions.

Last week, the New Zealand`s Wellington LBC finished it`s Angus Hotel Summer Series with the "Finals Weekend" live streaming (April 24/25). This weekend (May 8th) Bowls South Africa`s Men`s National Championship will be played (May 8- 16) with online streaming. 

 With all Northern Hemisphere Countries missing the 2020 Season due to the CoVid Pandemic and it is in doubt whether we will be even having a "2021 Season of Lawn Bowls" other than some club practices or these Youtube Lawn Bowls games streaming.

In my blogs I attempt to address various problems or aspects of Lawn Bowls which are often overlooked, the presence of wind can be a major concern for lawn bowlers who are Maritime countries. With Lawn Bowls in New Brunswick sometimes being unique to how the clubhouse is position on a windy day. Yes, sometimes with wind expected on the day of play, we will change the direction of play to allow for the clubhouse to shield the wind and give the best opportunity for a good game to participants.

 Someone once said to me "The bowls are heavy, no way the wind will move a bowl enough to effect the game or ability to do a good delivery". What is most important is not the weight of the bowl but the narrow running surface of a bowl. A mild gale will allow a bowl to find more "Bias" than we expect from that bowl under normal wind conditions.

End 1 - Jack roll

Wellington LBC members and other New Zealand lawn bowlers are no stranger to strong winds during Championships games.

From Youtube`s  Bowls Wellington Finals Day - Men's Pairs Final - 2021 - YouTube and screen capture stop action, we can see from the first Jack roll (photo left) that Lead Scott`s delivery (insert) is directly along the center Line but with the strong cross wind; the jack arrives a good 4 feet down wind. (No the jack does not have a bias)

A great video of playing with a strong wind, even to the point of waiting at the mat for the wind to ease up a bit before rolling the bowl. In a previous blog, where the wind was from back to front it was pointed out that not only does the wind effect the bowl but also affects the balance of the bowler during delivery.

   The previous two blogs discussed the "Percentage of Success" in strategy and decisions. We will see here and in this video that strategy changes as bowlers use the wind for the delivery and make decisions of shot type different from a normal lawn bowl game.

From the photo (right) one can see how the bowls get schattered by a crosswind, as even the best players fight the wind to find the proper line. Some players who have several bowls will choose a heavier bowl on windy days and even a tighter bias.

One will be surprise by how a player may even change their style of delivery to maintain balance in a "Crosswind". (as we see in the photo below) Watching Lawn bowls games streaming, we discover that a good skip will ask for a bias which bowls into the wind and uses the wind to finish the bias into the jack. 

So, with a "Strong CrossWind", we find one side of the rink being played in both directions. A "backhand" up the green and "forehand" back down. Unless a block has prevented that side of the green to be used. It is certain that the green speeds will affect how much the wind affects the bowl. Because the wind may seem to have more effect on the bowl during the bowl`s final moments when the bowl seems to never stops.

Game strategy become a "Heavy Bowl" Strategy because you want your bowl to have done it`s work before it begins to slow and is more affected by the wind. In the 3 photos (Below) we see the skip`s decision to bowl downwind of the head and attempt to raise his bowl to  shot. Luck is sometime important in Bowls, and even more on a windy day where many surprises may occur.

In the photo below, as the lead`s bowls of the first end were all bowled "Upwind" and be scatter around the head; the skip went to the mat and decided to bowl a "Downwind" to raise his frontal bowl to a position of shot. (Photo #1). In talking about luck and the wind, we see from Photo #2 that the bowl actually bounced of the intended bowl and hit the 2nd bowl creating two shots (Photo #3). Often you will see in Lawn Bowls a player give an apologetic comment after such lucky wicks.

 Why is this a good choice of bowl ?. First, the effect of a wind applies most to the bowl during it final stage of delivery. As the bowl slows and begins it bias so also the effect of the wind applies. This is a good shot because it need a heavy weight delivery which then removes a large part of the wind's effect on the bowl.  Without that extra weight the "Raise bowl" would never have happen. 

The black bowl in photo #3 is the opponent skip`s first bowl after the previous skip had raised his bowls. Noticing the label location on the black bowl we see that the delivery was up wind and a draw around the front bowl to the jack, but the bowl finished not only short but also quite far "downwind" because of the strong wind. 

This is a great video to learn how to play with a strong wind. Although many New Zealand games may show similar game conditions as part of Lawn Bowls Strategy.

February 2026 Stats. Blog published May 2, 2021 and 1140 Read/views with 4 Comments. 

Playing your "Success Percentage"

As we watch Professional Golf we often see the golfer with his small notebook checking his guided experience from previous games on the same golf course. Strange, that we seldom see a Lawn Bowler taking notes about the playing surface or his opponents.

No, I don t have a book of information about greens or my opponents but I do have a photographic memory. Many bowlers can remember the unique aspects of a green and even remember certain opponents. For example, now 15 years later I remember Claude as a "2 by 2" Skip. He could draw and be exactly on line by 2

 bowls width (one bowl error each side of jack) and his weight was always good or missed by "2 feet" (short or over). He never threw a runner although a "3 yard overdraw" was common when as skip he needed a "takeout".  The same for greens. I remember Green 7 had a "Swing" at 3/4 maximun length on the right side (from Clubhouse)

When you are watching a game; do you simply watch and wait to see what happens to the bowl that was just delivered?. Or are you  in the head of the player on the mat as he decides his shot. Myself as a spectator of a club game, I must use Binoculars and see the bowls in the head and analysis the best expected shot. Then I question if the bowler on the mat is attempting a "draw" or "over draw".  

To watch a good game, streaming or at the club; I must get into the game with each bowl delivery. The following Screenshots are capture from the "Australian 2020 Burleigh Heads Clubs Men`s Singles Final" which is till on Youtube. In the 2nd end of the above video a similar type of shot existed ( a wifi missed signal does not show the bowl delivery but you can see the white bowl was move to the right pass the jack) and the bowler, who tried a takeout (tapback a bowl combination) missed and almost gave up 3 shots.  For the above Screenshot , check the video above (9th or 10 end) and see the decision of the photo and the result of yellow (Crawford Linton of Burleigh Head LBC)

In the above photo we see a Red bowl which is "Danger" and four yellow bowl positions which will give a result or a "Successful Percentage" of 4 bowls. The draw of "1" or "2" or "3" will knock up for shot or knock out the shot bowl ("1" as a near miss of right). The "Red bowl is dangerous as the near miss of the white bowl will move it toward the jack and also move the jack for 3 shots of the opponent.  

Most players would see the best shot as a removal of the white bowl. But with a "4" bowl shot "Success" if you try the "takeout Shot" and you just missing the line (full yellow circle) or have a light kiss of the yellow to roll to 

the white; but with the danger of  a miss and moving the jack ("Red" explained above); the actual shot which should be tried is line #"1" or #"2" as a miss on the line means "no damage". Missing the line inside (on the right), changes nothing; and a miss on the outside (left) will remove the white bowl if you know you are a "Two Bowl Success" player.

Are you a "Two Bowl Success" player?  First thing about a decisions which you are making on a delivery shot is just how much a "Chance" do you have to making the shot. If you sometimes miss your delivery weight by "two feet" and your delivery line is sometimes off by "two bowls " at the head. You are a "Two Bowl Success  player" if your bowl can be either one bowl left and/or one bowl right of the tried shot. (one bowl away)

 Above, I suggested the best shot was choice "2" as you attempt to raise your bowl for shot because I am a "two bowl Success" player. (with a 80 percent success). Know your "success percentage" is best done by a practice where you are setting up a shot like in the photo and trying at least 10 bowl. 

The above screenshot photo shows a "Four Bowl Success" with a 2 foot overdraw. This decision to use the bowl #"2" shot; actually removes the danger of giving up 3 points with a bad delivery and leave you with an almost certain raise of one of the yellow bowls to become shot if  your weight is not too heavy. (two feet over). 

Sometimes a successful shot is considered as a "Lucky Shot" when discussed later in the clubhouse. Although you know your thoughts and the value of a "4 Bowl Success" decision; sometimes a "Lucky Shot" does occur.  The above "4 Bowl Success" photo has a "Lucky Shot" possibility. Yes, you would like to remove the white bowl but accept that such an attempt may result in failure and give away 3 points if the jack is moved as the white bowl is send toward the jack.  However, there is another way the white bowl can be removed but would never be tried because it is "1/2 bowl Success". If you were to aim a heavy bowl at the "white bowl" under the diagram number 1, and with the same backhand delivery it is possible to hit the edge of the yellow bowl "#1" and knock the white bowl to the left giving 2 shots as the "shot bowl" is removed (kicked to the left). There is a greater chance of failure than success on this shot and so a "1/2 Success" shot..  However, as a "Lucky Shot" you could miss your attempted "Bowl #2" decided shot attempt and just "Lucky" do such a nick or "near miss" on the far right yellow bowl and perform the suggested removal of the "Shot Bowl". Yes this is a "lucky Shot" as you must miss by at least 3 bowls width.

I remember a game in 2019 (last year I bowl because of Covid) InterClub Pairs and before the skips last (of 4 bowls) bowl was played. I had a bowl setup of a easy "Five Bowl Success" on the green which would result in burning the jack. As we had all the back bowls, such a "respot" of the jack meant that the opponent skip would have to draw to a "respotted" jack. He did but over played his bowl and with it in the ditch we collected 5 shots and the best 3rd game prize money.

The meaning of "5 Bowl Success" is that if I tried the shot I could miss 2 bowls on either side (left or right of the "Bowl" and still get the jack knocked out of play and respotted. As the opponent had 4 shots tight on the jack, a "frontal" runner into the bowls around the jack would not have "Move the jack" much. But, if I was to play a "wick" of the frontal bowls on the right of the head; I would throw the jack out to the left. The shot was successful as we collected 5 of the 8 bowls played. But most important was the shot was a "Five Bowl Success" with about 75 percent success. (If the runner bowl had hit square center on one of the bowls, it would have simply drive it straight back and not rebound toward the head and jack).  Shot was successful and put us into the money at the end of the day. The following week at another club I was approach by the opponent and her husband (a good skip); whom wanted to discuss the shot. There was a standing joke, as I often would explain my shot to the opponent skip when  I was going to play such a shot. (a rebound from frontal bowls 4 feet right of the jack) Think it is easlier to explain before the shot than attempt to explain later why it was not just a "Lucky shot". 

(This blog of 04/25/2010 was edited on Oct 8, 2022 to explain "Lucky Shots" possibility)

Percentage of Success on Bowl Delivery

 

As I update this blog in 2026, I am surprise that this video of the 2016 World Bowls Two Bowls Triples is still available.  Christchurch, New Zealand  welcomed world players and as the top two teams meet for the Gold Medal Game, the teams are given a 15 practice roll-ups. And the commentators are discuss the fact that Australia had not won this title since 1966.

The Australian team of  Barry Lester, Mark Casey, skipped by Aron Sherriff  will be meeting the English team of Jamie Walker, Andy Knapper  skipped by Robert Pexton after both teams having hard teams to beat to get here.

Sometimes, after a game, we hear during a skip discussion that he felt that there was a low possibility of making a  "Runner shot". I use this video her to explain both "Success Percentage" and "Failure Success" (although in overtime there is not need for Failure Success) Three aspects of a shot decision are in the mind of a skip as he evaluates his options.  His own success with this type of shot, the  "Percentage of Success" and the damage or consequence of missing the "Shot".

This Gold Medal game goes into a over-time as the 14 - 14 score shows how Australia set up a 'Catch Bowl' before attempting a takeout shot for the win. Using this game in this blog to show great decision making as Australian's  Skip Aron Sherriff of Australia goes to the mat to play his final bowl,

 At left we see the head of the overtime end of the 2016 World Bowls 2 bowl Triple Championship.  as the skips go to the mat and England is holding the winning point with a toucher within inches of the jack (This video is still on youtube).

We can see three possible deliveries for Aron. 1) A forehand "lightly over weight" draw to touch and remove the shot bowl or knock the jack back a few inches to Australia`s bowl (yellow) behind.  

However, England`s last bowl played by mate was to leave a block quite far up the green against this option.  2) A backhand draw to the jack with the danger of moving the jack to the English bowls rather than back to their own yellow bowl. (Aron during most of the play has been favoring his Forehand draw) and 3) A runner bowl to remove the England "Shot bowl". This shot would require a very fine cut (1/8 ot 1/4 cut on the shot bowl).

 This, the 3rd option, is the choice which Aron Sherriff decided to do and if succwssful, win or lose the game. As we see with the photo below, the bowl passes within a fraction of an inch for a miss and England wins the Gold.

 Here, I will explain what I meant by the term "Bowls percentage of Success" as I calculate the "Percentage of Success" The photo to the right is an example of a "1/8 Bowls" Touch for a Successful shot. Meaning, to pass the frontal bowls and hit the "Shot Bowl" allows for only 1/8" while a fontal 1/4" touch will roll the jack back to their bowl.. Remember that a fast runner does not have a lot of bias since bias applies when the bowl begins to slow. This shot can only be done with a perfect forehand overdraw. Yes, Aron has made many a "perfect shot", but in this shot his delivery is too heavy and the bowl stayed straight longer and missed contact.  I would say that the shot has a low Bowl "Percentage of Success" and only with a Forehand delivery. The percentage is increased as the delivery is slower ("over-weight") delivery.

Once, during a club championship final, I made a 1/8 bowl runner shot like this and my partner said to me "If you can make those Shots, you can make anything." However, my decision to try the shot was base not upon the "Success Percentage" but that the shot had a High level of  "Successful Miss" and of course was not my last end or bowl.  Let me explain the difference. 

As you know, sometimes, we must give up the point, if we do try a shot it is best to not be successful if that  "Miss" shot changes the head.. In the above example, by Aron Sherriff , his missed shot did not cause any damage to the head and if a bit off (1/4 bowl) it would have moved the jack back to his bowl.

Sometimes we are in the habit of thinking about previous games played with the same shot required. Because England still had a bowl to play, it is possible that Aron has thought of his shot as if there were still ends to play. I say this because of the weight of his shot and the " Percentage of Success" as beng Low. Pressure of the moment may have introduced the idea that with a "Miss" there is no danger of removal of the Australian bowl (yellow) which is second. This would be the skip's thought if there were still more ends to be played. (a thought which probably was done many times in Aron's Bowls career)

It is an opportunity to explain a High percentage of  "A successful Miss", a thought expected  in a game with more ends to play,  The miss here meant the lost of the game.  However, looking at the same "removal" of the "shot Bowl".  

Another important fact is that  many skips usually only throw with success one type of runner although I have seen a couple athletics throwing with equal success both handed Runners.  Maybe because  a "Forehand Runner" is easlier as a "Backhand Runner requires the bowler to be stepping away from the "Center Line" when throwing.(My opinion). Some great "Take-out Artists" like Ryan Bester has success on both hands.

The shot which Aron Sherriff tried was the "Forehand Runner" and as we see on the screenshot photo (left)  where his bowl is stopped; the runner (yellow) bowl passed very close to the shot bowl;  Aron just missed by an inch or so. A gutty shot for the Gold Medal of  the 2016 World Bowls. But the better players can and do make these hard and "impossible" shots.

This blog, which was started several months ago, and now being finished was important to finish as seldom do I get good examples of important information like Percentage of Success or Failure.  

I am late finishing this blog because I was here in Canada watching the  2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship Singles Final. Here in Canada, to watch 6pm game from Australia or New Zealand requires a early morning  3am viewing. Watching such great bowls game online is all that we Lawn Bowls addicts have with the CoVid shutdown of Canadian and Americian Lawn Bowls Clubs.

From March 15 to 19, 2021 we saw the 2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship streaming. was worth the early morning online. ( from March 15 to 19, 2021) Have not missed much of the Australian or New Zealand streaming this year, this 2020  Singles Final  was worth the early morning viewing.

In this game,  Corey Wedlock of Warilla  is trailing at 29 - 30 as he and Ben Twist of St Johns Park go to the mat for the final end of play.  Ben`s first bowl is a toucher and stops 5 or 6 inches in front  of the jack. Corey on his 2nd bowls decides that with the 29 - 30 score, and such nice bowls; the head  needs being opened a bit. His runner takes the toucher and jack to the ditch with a seperation of less than a foot.  (Game over as the toucher stayed with the jack). But I was impressed that Corey threw such a good "Backhand Runner".

The purpose of this blog is not to be an "ArmChair Critic" as often seem to be the reviews of good games. As anyone who has played singles know that a tough part of "Singles" is being alone on the green and at the end game there is a lot of pressure. Was this shot before the last bowl a sign of pressure ??. 

This was a great game,  played yesterday March 19, 2021; and can still be seen on NSW Bowls  . At one point Corey was behind 15 to 26 and came back to a 28 - 28 tie.  So, not to critize but show what is meant by "Bowls Success" or "Precentage of Success" I use this game to comment as in the final end of this game we see clearly the point of "Percentage of Success"as explained as to the number of bowls which the shot can be missed and still be quite an acceptable shot.

From the screenshot (right) we see Corey`s runner bowl (stopped) just prior to contact. It was a "Forehand Runner" which in this case has only one "Bowl of Success" as the contact with the 2nd bowl from this angle offer no level of success. The angle at which the forehand bow arrives in the head is from left to right. Greater "Success" is seen with a "Backhand Runner" which approaches the head right to left. 

On the "Backhand Runner" we see that there are three "Bowls (large) of Success" as even a narrow far right "hit" on the 2nd shot bowl will cause the head to be changed. When putting this in percentage I would say "has a 300 % of success". (No such option on Forehand)

We see that a runner on the backhand causes a difference approach and different results. Above, I mention that some players can only throw a forehand runner. In this case you must know your actual success at throwing the runner. A backhand runner is more difficult.

 

Even a backhand runner hitting the 2nd bowl square on will bounce a bit left and could move the shot bowl left and finally take shot. However, a runner is not the best decision here. 

Also, as Corey had last bowl; his decision of a runner could have been saved for the last bowl and the other bowls used to prepare for such a runner.  Very probably  the quick decision of Corey was more the Pressure of a really great game which all players feels at the final end-game.