Cycle of Performance - Golf,Lawn Bowls and Petanque

   Under development April 11, 2026

Tiger Wood, golf's greatest athlete in his video "My Game, Episode 1, My Prctice  by Golf Digest,  says " "feeling and reality are not the same" and Tiger's coach says of Tiger's Preparation "He is very detail oriented in the preparation, a lot of "uma minuta" in his practice

at home" (Uma Minuta -Portuguese for draft document or business contract prepared before being signed) Used in English, it often may refers to detail preparation before the final event happens. 

If you were going for a job interview you would have three parts to your preparation. Pre-interview preparation, The interview, and the Post-Interview Waiting and Results.

Sports performance has the same preparation, and this blog will look at an athlete's preparation and his performance as to these three steps. Realizing that there is a different in Lawn Bowls and Petanque as to the distance of play to the target that the athlete has to do their performance; each sport has a different committed mental strain.

 Lawn bowlers rolls their bowl as much as 31 meters, while in Petanque play; the target (jack) is usually between 6 meters and 10 meters.(rules allow it to me moved by play up to 20 meters). Feelings are different for the athletes of these three sports. (Golf, Lawn Bowls, and Petanque) because of the length of time until the action is finished. Also, Sport Psyshology, which  attempts to help athletes with problems due to these feelings or emotions, must treat team sports like Soccer, Basketball differently than "Closed" sports like Bowls and Petanque and how performance  is affected by the time of their performance.

Where running sports with performance like Soccer and Basketball (Open to everything going on around the athlete) the closest sport to the continue play of running sports is Petanque. If an athlete of Soccer has an psychological error or damage (lack of confidence) the coach will give them bench time to re organize their feelings. In lawn bowls and Golf there is a waiting period between performance and the next performance which allows the athlete to do mental exercises to regain their lost confidence. In petanque with the one minute time to perform and if unsuccessful the athele must return and perform again; the burdon of a psychological incident may destroy the play of that athlete for several ends of play and even for the complete game.

Today, April 11, 2026,  The final stage of the most important golf tournament, The PGA Masters, was being played at Augusta National Golf Course (Augusta Georgia). Over the last 2 days 91 of the world's best players have played, as today,  Shane Lowry (Ireland) made his second Master's Hole in One,. The only player to have make two in the more than 90 years of tournaments. (Shane made his first Master's Hole in one  in 2016).

In Golf there are a lot of rules about distraction of the players. How does an athlete continue to play great at  their sport after such an exciting moment as a Hole in One. Or as in the Canadian Press victory photo of Shane Lowry's 6th tee excitement. The photo also show a sort of distraction, as a lady spectator in the background seems to have got too excited. (she probably was jumped in the air or  her boyfriend's hug  ended up showing too much of her). This photo is used to shows two emotions which destroy an athlete's confidence.  a "Game Success" Excitement and / or a Shocking distraction created by  a spectator. 

This blog will attempt to show how sport psychology applies mental exercises to helping  with an athlete feelings or emotions with mental exercises which could prevent feelings from destroying their performance. A mental training program which may be developed by a Sport Psychologist to help an athletes from the danger of letting their reality of excellent performance to be destroyed as they continue game play with their emotion baggage. 

This Tiger Wood's video discuss Tiger's Previsualization of his shot in his Pre-performance preparation, and his actual performance by using a 9 square grid of shot placement. (photo below).

Golf visualization of shot

The photo above, show excitement and distraction as two feelings which destroys an athlete's performance.

Until the golf ball completed it three bounces and dropped into the 6th hole cup there was probably a couple of minutes of waiting after his great golf swing and  performance, Shane in realizing that he had made a "Hole in One", shows his excitement (photo) and now has a long walk to the green.

 This walk and the long wait as his fellow players finish their game, will allow Shane time to recompose his emotions. Like most athletes after success, he will perform a Post-Performance Mental Recovery after which  his self-confidence and calm will return as it is needed for the remainder of his game. 

At this point, I will leave golf as my intention was to show the mental game of great players and the above photo of Tiger using a "9 square" Shot Planning grid. And of course, when a great athlete put out as series of videos we all can learn even if our sport is not golf. For example, Tiger explains how the depth of his tee into the ground allow him to make shots which are not physically produced. We all can find small things like balance, feet placement and others which allow us to do control performances.

This blog was decided upon because of a discussion with a great future Petanque athlete whom I know from his comments; that he see the mental displince during his play as not three parts but all in one process in performance. As I continue and insist that the reader in wanting to better and develop his "Muscle Memory", must make their Performance as simply  a "Thought Free" instinctive actions and only afterward do any analysis of their decisions of their Pre-Performance. Before they return for another performance, the athlete would have done an evaluation and study of their performance result and analysis of any Post-Performance collected information.

 Certainly it is here Stress, lack of confidence and fear of losing the game occurs. And it is between the end of the previous performance and the beginning of the next that any mental psychologic exercises are performed. The athlete if in top mental form will perform his physical performance perfect; but with minute to minute emotions or feelings he also will become burden and lose his confidence.

Any thought once into the pointing circle (Petanque) or on the mat (Lawn Bowls) must be before the trigger point of Muscle Memory and be a quick "non-instruction" thought, as any thought that is a muscle instruction will interrupt the "Muscle Memory". If as a developing player you are now starting to see the results of the long hours of practice, you next step should be to identify you "Subconscious Void" as you feel your conscious mind receiving control.

A year ago (March 2025) I did three blogs on "Communication with the subconscious Mind" which are intended for athletes with a well developed presentation of "Muscle Memory". A year earlier (sept 2024) there were three blogs on "Talking to the Subconscious Mind " and want to pass shot instructions to the subconscious mind before "Muscle Memory" is started. For the developing athlete there may be a need to identify the "Void" or "Zone" where total control of actions is done by the Subconscious mind or instinctive performance.

In Feburary 2023 a 2016 blog was redone to include Petanque teaching of being in the Zone. The blog "Muscle Memory and the Zen Zone" is a long blog but allows a developing athlete of Bowls or Petanque to better understand the Performance section of their Sport.  It is a long blog and the intension was to show the ¨Pre-Trigger" actions of both bowls and Petanque players. After feeling the distance with visualization, the players decided "now do it" the trigger phase and entered their Muscle Memory Zone and allowed the subconscious to do the performance.

First step for a learning athlete is to identify this feeling of the mind moving from Subconscious actions to Conscious thinking. Have you ever got out of bed last at night without lights on and walk down the hall feeling for the light switch until you find it. Or miss it because your feeling position on the wall was lower than the actual position of the switch.  Feeling you Zone is the same thing. once you know the feeling you can know you had completed your  Muscle Memory performance. After that point you are then feeling for that feeling and knowing you did not interrupt you instinctive actions.

Days ago we all watched as the NASA Artemis Flashdown after their amazing trip around the moon and back. In 2016 I blogged "Zone Awareness - A new frontier" which discuss the strength of our subconscious mind. Those who follow this blog closely would have seen in February 2026 a blog which explain the strength of the subconscious mind. In just 7 days it had 100 read/visits. 

It talked about strength I have developed with the inner mind like removing a headacke of a family member in Mexico (I live in Canada) which my wife, a native, has done all her life for friends and family. (this blog was reset to Draft after a month because of the comments I received and personal information.

For the Lawn bowls developing athlete who want to discover this Zone or Void there is a December 2012 blog "Three subconscious  Mind Exercises" and I will explain here in a paragraph or two such an exercise for Petanque players want to experience it.

To identify the feeling of the Subconscious control of your performance in Petanque I suggust the shooter attempt a "Jack Take-out" with the jack at about 7 to 8 meters. What is important is not the success of the attempt but to be attempting to feel the return of your thought after your performance from the Muscle Memory. You will feel your self thinking. (Yes, feel yourself having been thoughtless). Like the example of the wall light switch, you are feeling for this feeling and not interest in the success of the "Jack Take-out"

Stopped here.. 

In a long blog " In lawn bowls there is about 14 to 18 seconds (the speed of the green) after each delivery,before the athlete knows the result of his performance. Also a two minute delay as another player performs in sequence and before he return to do another delivery. After the remaining bowls have been played the athlete may have to wait for the opponent team to finish. Probably about 10 to 15 minutes.

 However,  in the game of Petanque, there is probably not a second between the finish performance of a thrown takeout shot and the athlete knowing his performance's success or failure. If successful the opponent will have two minutes to perform his Post-Performance and begin to play again. Ofcourse, the excitement or disappointment will  hits the Petanque athlete the same as the golf photo above. 

 But unlike Shane Lowey who now has a long walk up the fairway  to recompose his feelings and return to a mental state of maximun performance;the petanque athlete will be expected to play again within one minute if unsuccessful. And disappointment after doing a takeout shot is more difficult to conquat. Also, because the athlete know his ressult is immediate, very often we find that his toughts of knowing the result will interrupting his "Muscle Memory" performance  The conscious mind take control back with a thought of "was it successful? ", (This blog assumes you know and have developed a "Muscle Memory")

Google AI defines "Muscle Memory" as "Muscle memory is a form of procedural memory where the brain and nervous system consolidate motor tasks through repetition, allowing actions to become automatic, such as riding a bike or playing an instrument."  In simple term it is memory of practice of muscle movement which when started will be performed instinctive. Breathing, Braking your car, throwing a ball are done instinctive because it has become "Muscle Memory"

In several of my blogs on Muscle Memory I speak of the subconscious mind taking control and performing a memory of a routine. This routine starts with a Trigger or action and finishes with a feeling as the conscious mind regains control. Simply put Tiger Wood in the Youtube video "Tiger Woods Mental Focus" said about when he is in the "Peak Performance Zone" (muscle memory working instinctive) "I tend to have blackouts, I know I was there but I don't remember performing the golf shot" (2.2m/6.3 video) and " I remember preparing for the shot" but "I don't remember (anything) until I see the ball leave" (3.30m/6.3 m video) . Muscle memory is doing the swing and return his conscious thought when seeing the ball in flight out in front of him.

In the three part of performance, Preparation, Action, and Result, I will start with the Action Routine because after the Routine Trigger the total performance is instinctive and the other two part are preparation and evaluation. In discussion with an well developed athlete this week about his "Reset Routine" he said that "Performance has a lot of "Mental Discipline" which is true but must be always the same mental activities otherwise the performance will be interrupted and broken.

In Golf, the picking of the golf club, the analysis of the intended shot, the ball placement on the tee and even the placement of the tee and it height are all preparation routines. The performance is the swing and Strike force and after ward all thoughts are the Evaluation and Recovery routine.

In Lawn Bowls, the placement of the bowl in hand with bias and other effects of delivery (feet placement, balance, etc) are the preparation while the action is the delivery of the Lawn Bowl to the green. After release of the bowl as it rolls up the green everything following is Feedback and Correction.

In Petanque, the performance may have more mental actions incorporated with the action because the individual's learning has usually been self taught and the mental actions are more discipline of thoughts and feelings. However once the athlete is in the "shooting circle" and the trigger action initiated the action is total instinctive.  

Trigger action is something which is done by the athlete to begin the Muscle Memory action and can be the practice swings of the feet placement. In petanque, I have seen the foot smoothing the surface in the circle while in Bowls it is to me my foot placement pointing up the green.

Once the Trigger action is performed the Performance should be all the same movements. If practice swings are done they should always be the same number of swings before final action is performed. If a lawn Bowls athlete does one swing or three the mind will expect to do it delivery after the last swing. The raison for this consistance is if mental skills have been developed they will fit into the routine in the same place during the action.

As an example, the need to judge the distance for the performance may be a hand in front before the swing starts (Bowls and Petanque) or a visual place on the fairway (golf). In the same way if self-confidence is a feeling or thought it is also in it proper place and can be memory of a great performance or memory of a correction of delivery which builds confidence. In the Preparation Routine the decisions are made from information collected and reviewed in the Post performance.

In all three sports, when the athlete is in the stance position and the trigger action performed the mind stops thinking or instructing the muscles and the instinctive action is allowed to be performed. In Petanque, the athlete "Shoot" or "Point" thought. In Lawn Bowls the stepping action into delivery and in golf the full back swing  action. All the Muscle Action is in control start actions. 

As the country singer Chad Brownlee's song "Forever got to start somewhere" so also in sports Muscle Memory must always start at the same "Trigger Action"  If it is when you step into your shooting circle (petanque) or onto the Bowls Mat; it must always start there. If something interrupts you action then you leave the mat and return. In petanque the announcement of teams to playing surface area may be an interruption of your action. If you have not developed a "Rapid Reset" mental action and that game announcement is an interruption you stop your performance. After such interruptions the athlete returns to his start position and trigger action to initialize a new performance.

In Sport psychology several correction actions are suggested to athlete for mental problems of Stress, anxiety, fear or lost confidence and these emotional controls are processed in the Pre-Performance and evaluated in the Post-Performance. Although not a part of the Performance they can seem as part of it if the time span of the three sections of performance is extremely short like the few seconds of Petanque performance and seeing the result of the take-out shot.  

In Lawn Bowls the 14 or more seconds until the bowl stops it roll actually allow the learning athlete to develop actions and evaluate routines during that waiting time. Ex: where weather conditions like wind and rain can effect the bowls performance, the lawn bowl athlete may be evaluating how much wind or rain is involved as they wait for the bowl to stop rolling and show the result of the performance. I assume the golfer is likewise watch the conditions of weather as he ball is in flight.

Rain and Wind Bowls Play 2/2 (NMem)

Updated March 14,2026 

As mention in the first of these two blogs, the  similarity between condition of play for rain and for days of a strong wind address the same problems a Lawn Bowls athletic must work to overcome.  As often said in these blogs. There are three aspects of Lawn Bowls perfection. Delivery development ( Line, Weight and Bowls), Mental Development (Focus, Muscle Memory and Game strategy) and last  Condition of Play (what nature give us as a new day)

Condition of play involves the speed of the green, the equipment used (type of bowls) and the difficulty which the environment offers. All of these will influence the game as we develop our perfect delivery, choose the various type of bowls and equipment and build through practice an instinctive performance. But what we can not control is  the weather unless we decide to alway do indoor bowls. 

 We would all love to go to the club on a nice sunny day and roll bowls, but when a competition of major level of players is scheduled; we often find the conditions of play very demanding as we can not order the weather as we would like for that important game.

As  I would like to finish an important aspect of Bowls in the rain by bring forward a previous August 2012 blog and  for a bit discuss some problems or nightmare of Lawn Bowls in the Rain. Before Covid (2020 to 2022) most Canadian club executives and green keepers were concern for the large size debits made in the greens by new members learning to bowl, but in money competitions players bowled an open green.

2024 photo of Club practice

The blog  was written 6 years before the Covid, and at a time when we saw "Protective Screens"being only used in Club games for Coaching. But with COVID and clubs losing volunteer, their Green Committees in trying to keep clubs with playable greens, continued to use the screens during major money competition.

 Even today in some parts of Canada, (Here in Montreal Quebec) ; the "Protective screens are still used. In the blog we see a reference to "Lonnie" size debits and suggestion that during rain condition of play; one should be concern for their best delivery style.  (Lonnie is the name of the Canadian dollar coin because the image a Canadian bird, called a Loon, on the coin face and "Lonnie Size Debits" is still a expression hear at clubs and competitions).

Updated Blog of August 2012 "Rain and Green Debits" deeply editted.

The nightmare of Lawn Bowls in the Rain is not the wet clothes but the wet greens and the "Lonnie" size Debits.  
There are two basic debits types   Those caused by the dropping of the bowl at the front of the mat, and those caused by not bending low enough and thus having a long throwing bounce at about 3 feet from the mat..  Both cause damage to the green because the bowl is not rolling as it hits the green and then the surface of the green is use to begin the bowl's rolling movement.

   A good delivery will have a finger flick or the bowl will roll of the finger. This  type delivery will make the bowl roll before it  hits the green.  Otherwise, the soft wet green will be one debit for each bowl delivered. (With 100 rolls per team even 20% bad delivery mean 20 or 30 debits at both end of the rink)

 On rainy days, the player's thought is, "I am short because of the rain" so we throw the bowl (not roll it) harder and  hear someone say "oh a debit" and we think "Oh  that happens because of the wet green". 

And because we know why, we easily forget that last bowl and it debit, as others are rolled and new debits made. Immediately instruct your self of the  need for a smooth rolling delivery, and be concern for the green.  Remember, when you need to catch your balance after a heavy delivery and a  "long stride" delivery that the side of your footwear may causes quite ugly debits. 

Henselite #5

WHAT CAN YOU DO ??  

 First, if you have more than one set of bowls, use the smaller bowls as you will find  a better grip and delivery easier when your hands are wet. If you Bowls  have "grips" it may help you to grip better, but also it may cause bad debits when you have one of those off-bias rolls because of forcing your delivery. (Update added) The photo right is a #5 by Henselite from the 1960's and the bowl's grip is less than you will find today on 2025 bowls (end)   

Use a different type of Gripoo.. (there is a sticky wet weather type)  If Gloves are allowed... try those Kitchen rubber gloves with grip ridges.  Maybe even change your grip... The Claw grip requires your finger grip the bowl where cradle grip requires a  rolling bowl movement.

Second, Move the mat a lot. It does not need to be always at the same placement. When the mat stays at the 2 meter mark and end after end replaced to the same spot it can cause damage.  A lead, when laying down the mat, should look at the delivery area of the green where the bowls will be deposited.  Remember, you may have left handed team member.

 And Third, although, we do not want to tell an opponent that they have made a bad debit; we can still before rolling our bowl, walk forward and repair that last debit. (Just a light foot push back of that crescent moon shape grass rolled out) This will show the player their debit and eventually the repaired debits will recover.  Rather than close our eyes to opponents marking debits, if we repairs that last debit made by the opponent; it shows and tell them to be careful. 

  Strange, in Petanque, the french sport of throwing and rolling the metal balls to the jack, rules prevent a player from arranging the receiving area of their delivery but a players is allowed to fixing the last debit made. (The game is play in sand or gravel so the full moon indent is best fixed before your ball rolls over it).

 Interesting fact of Boccie, the Italian bowls game now being played in the 2012 London Paralympics games  this week.(August 2012) Players can have different hardness of balls in their six balls team group. Soft balls for hard to remove when hit and once at the jack and hard balls for those throwing shots which will be a slam takeouts. That year British boccia player David Smith took Gold I believe.

(End of 2012 Blog)..

Returning to Bowls and condition of play with Wind.  The last month blog  Analysis 2026 Australia Classic Singles (Info)  has a good video commentator about the choice of Bowls for windy conditions of play. The final is played by two of the best (World bowls Ranking ) players and Irish Gary Kelly as tech commentator is # 6 WB ranking. At the video 7-7 Gary explains why the choice of the narrow bias bowl by Corey Wedlock (# 2 ranking WB) is an advantage where there is such a heavy cross wind.

Bowls with wind behind mat

In the Atlantic International Challenge which happen last summer in Windsor Canada and brought together Scotland, England, United States and Canada we see a strong wind behind the mat and bowlers bowling into that wind. The photo right show the  bowls placement in the head when the wind was face on or east to west (see the flags behind the players) and the photo below show the bowls in the head when the wind was  west to east (behind the bowlers)  A  completely different collection of bowls in the head at these two back to back ends. The players found with the wind behind them that the bowls were blown off line more than the bowling heavier bowls (into the wind) which stopped quickly without much bias.

A May 2, 2021 blog titled "Bowls in New Zealand Wind (AMem) has a good insight into how the wind can change the bowl's bias. But as noted by the (AMem) classification this blog was intended for Advance players who have a good Muscle Memory and are still developing advance aspects of it  Some of my ideas are so badly expressed the an un experience bowler might see them in a manner as too much detail for a beginning lawn bowler.

Bowls with Wind behind Lawn Bowler's Mat

 From this point on this blog touches on more advance information as in the following paragraph I will discuss how the wind affect the bowl's bias. Discussing how a Bowl is today constructed and depending upon the curvature of the running surface, how the bowl's bias  will  defines the bowl's "finish" bending; is too detail for the beginning years of Lawn Bowls.

Another Lawn Bowls Blogger "The Greens Bowler" who as a retired scientist does a mathematical description of a Bowl's Bias with diagrams and mathematical equations. His blog objective is to explain why the bowl keeps the same bias as the mat is moved forward. The reason is your delivery weight. So if the mat moved up making a shorter jack, and therefore forces you to delivery with less weight; then the bias which starts to be performed at it normal Bias starting speed;  as the bowl is rolling slower it starts it bias sooner with the less weight and will perform the same as the longer distance.

However, this also explains what makes a bowl as a narrow bias. If the bowl has narrow running surface, like a car tire or a disk, when it become slow enough to begins to fall to its side, it will drop without rolling any farther. But because on either side of the running surface of the bowl there is another curved surface to catch the green and continue it to roll, the bowl does a "Finish" bend. How wide is this 2nd surface is what makes a bias narrow or wide. The closer this 2nd surface is to the running surface the bias will begin at a faster speed. And if the 2nd surface is wide it becomes an extension of the running surface and prevents the bowl from  falling and is a bowl with a narrow bias." As more material is build on the Bias side of the bowl it will begin it bias fall sooner and thus a wider bias curve.

 I once had an old set of "woods" which has such a wide bias and finish curve that it seem to hock like a walking cane handle. Actually place your bowl on a hardwood or tile floor with a very small movement and you will find it actually doing a complete circle before it fall to its side.

In the photo above, I have marked the bowls of the "Lead" (L), 2nd, and Skip and there is an interesting study of the photograph's bowls. The Skip's forehand delivery we see the bowl keeping its bias (and standing still) while the Skip's Backhand (near the Jack) has almost fallen over. (because of the wind and slow green 12.8 seconds). The same with the two bowls of the third (in the square box) the bowl have a different stopped standing bias because of the player's forehand/backhand  delivery.

Let now understand this as to how the wind affect the bowl during it's roll. A fellow bowler said to me "Don't tell me that with the weight of the bowl, the wind is going to push the bowl over and off line". No, the bowl is not pushed over. but on a narrow running surface it is pushed enough to actually go to the 2nd curve surface and that start of the bias will pull the bowl off it's delivery line. On a wide running surface or narrow bias the 1st and 2nd surfaces are almost as if only one running surface; (the bowl is like a car tire with the running surfaces together wide and flat like) and will roll straight until the last minute before falling.

 Like Clark, In the blog of the mathematical study (above link) the author, if he had continued his study he would have found that for each 2nd running surface of a lesser distance from the main running surface you would have a quicker change in the bowl's Bias. (start to change it's direction of roll).  If a wide bias bowl (narrow running surface) is pushed a bit by the wind its small main running surface shifts to the 2nd surface as the wind  push the bowl to start its Bias sooneer then with no wind .

 In the above photo there is a small cross wind although  the wind is basicly from behind, you see how the bowl has a completely different curve finish for each delivery hand.   You can almost tell if the bowls are wide or narrow bias by how the bowl stopped or fell over (came to rest on the slow green). Compare this to a strong cross wind like the  suggested viewing Video of the New Zealand game in a strong wind.  A lot to think about, maybe too detail. Certainly not the detail for a beginning lawn bowler and maybe even not a subject for an elite who simply thinks. "Play into the wind push with wide bias" to push the bowl back straight and "Play with the wind's assistance to increase the bias of the bowl."

Because we must change the "Delivery Line" to allow the wind to change the bowl's bias, (more or less) I have over the years developed a "Oof-bias Draw" delivery for the wind. Normally "Off-bias" grip on the bowl is used in "Runner" deliveries, but with practice you can take a lot of speed of a "Draw" Delivery.

 The advantage is that with the extra delivery speed needed on the "Off-Bias" Draw one finds that  the Bowl's Straight Line part of the Bias is extended beyond where the bias starts (its "Belly") and allows for getting around blocks or pass "Falls" in the Green. 

Interesting week of Stats on my blogs.  0ver 4000 read visit a week.

Stats of 2 week period March 2026

Update March 20, 2026  -  Of interest on World Bowls participation of Blog readers is this following Blog Stat of 2018. When Blogger started by Google it was concern to supply the blog creator the knowledge of what blogs were of interest and the country from where the visitor came.  Also in the graph of usage it does for each viewer an indication of how many blogs that visitor/reader visited during that visit.

End of March Stats

 (Finish Cleanup and Update. except to date the above blogs.. March 14/2026)

.

Blog Stats in April 2018 (good detail)

Rain and Wind - Bowls Play 1/2 (NMem)

This blog is a redo of starting to blog in August 2012, wanting to help on knowing how to judge the Green's speed in "Rainy" play condition.

The best of Canada and United States with windy conditions

I  It can be difficult to know what effect rain, whether heavy rain or light drizzle; has on our Delivery..  But there are tricks which used wisely will allow your first bowl as lead, to be on or near the jack. I have combined this blog with another on Windy conditions of play because if the video  of the last blog was watched; we see those Australian elite players doing many of the same things suggested in this blog. Wind and Rain conditions of play require the same delivery calculation and mental discipline.

First, if you are rolling  the jack to start the end of play, you have a sort of "Green Testing" opportunity. Certainly,  the skip's requested distance is your objective, your efforts and how they are affected by the rain or water on the green; can tell you a lot of how the speed of the green has changed.

Normally. as a lead with a good ability to roll to the skip's  foot, your "Jack roll" should not be modified for the conditions of the rain. Thinking of a heavier roll because it is in the rain, is a "Buzz kill", If you want to know the speed of a car you compare it to something going at a speed you know. Your own speed as it passes you. Likewise, rather than change the "Jack Roll" for the rain, do a normal effort to deliver it to the skip's foot. If the jack has stops 3 to 4 meters short this is a gauge of how much the conditions of play affect your roll. Not just your "Jack Roll" but also your "Bowl Roll".

First, your subconscious mind knows that the conditions of play will slow the "Jack roll" and when you attempted to roll to the skip's foot, it will instinctively made an adjustment. But this lost of distance which happens is the "Error of Subconscious correction" which occurs even after your subconscious mind has done a heavier "Jack Roll". 

BumBum, a friends pet

Unless all the spectators are in the clubhouse, there are others sharing the rain with you. Find things to relax your mind between your deliveries.  Do not rush your game because of the conditions of play which may only mean a lost in "Focus". Keep your mind on the game. Sometimes a thought of something funny like this photo will bring a bright focus into your delivery.

The 3 or 4 meters short of the jack that happen with the "Jack Roll", now allows you to make an adjustment of your Bowl Delivery. Very often we think of an addition and the Muscle Memory of the "Jack Roll" adds something more. Other than thinking where you want your bowl to finish, don't see these calculation as added delivery weight. (think "more weight" is a conscious thought which destroys Muscle Memory performance) The jack may not have lost it distance because of "green speed" but maybe a lost of speed due to other conditions. (wet hands, slippery footing or maybe just discomfort due to the rain).

 
  -  Learn by watching the jack roll each time, whether you are lead, second or mate, because the collective information will be used for all your bowls in this end of play.  Read the "Cock Tail" or standing spray of water behind the jack as it rolls. It will indicate areas of your green which have more water than other areas.

An Australian Finals

The higher spray of water behind the jack is because it is passing through deeper water. The photo (right) is from New Zealand Championship final and within 15 or 20 minutes players were on the green starting their morning game. Good drainage is a major part of a good construction of our playing greens.

The green speed may have changed by what you believe is your bowls "Rain Resistance". Because you have practice in these rain conditions and have build your knowledge of how certain rain conditions will change your "Bowls Speed", Of course your club's green conditions during your practice have given a value. My term for this calculation and measure is "Green Quarter" because I use a thought (image or word) to tell Muscle Memory my expected resistance that the rain causes to my bowl roll.

  If you have not rolled previously in the rain you may have to calculate that a wet green requires a certain distance increase in your delivery weight. However, if you have build a "Condition of Play" knowledge base, from information collected from a rainy day "Cock Tail" study: you can  now added to this knowledge your known "Water Resistance" distance increase. 

Pointe Claire LBC after downpour

The photo (right) is the water map of my club last year after a heavy rain fall. It is in my Log Book to remind me of where the green is high and low (now dark area or water soak green)

My calculation adjustment term of "Green Quarter"  is based upon the legal 10 meter distance that a jack can be played. (21m to 33m) Dividing the Hogline Jack to the Max Distance Jack into 4 areas of play. The 1st Quarter (hogline to 23 or 25 meters), Halfway. (26 meters). 3rd Quarter(28, 29 meters) and Full Length (from respot to the Ditch). Also, since we all have weak delivery distances, if you play a "redefined Jack" for a jack distance then add that too to your "over delivery" jack decision.. (redefined jack is playing a visual jack behind or in front of actual jack position because of a condition of play)

The idea of changing your "Jack Distance" is similar to the skip asking for a bowl 1 meter behind the jack. If you need 2 "Green Quarters" adjustment than you are bowling as if the skip is asking for a bowl 2 meters behind the jack. This mental calculation is a "Focus" point because you accept the ability to play to a requested position by the skip and as your accept the skip's knowledge you also accept your success or failure of delivery. When your adjustment of weight results in your bowl being on or near the jack; you accept your focus was not lost by questioning the reason for the extra delivery weight.

This stats photo shows how sudden a volume of readers might decide to search or seek out a type of blog information.

Blog Stats days later

Sometime, such volume occurs because at the beginning of a bowl's season a coach suggest a subject and discussion which send students to this blog.

Also sometimes it might be because of the use of a particular word. With Trump again in the news and countries like Russia searching the WWnet for that name; it will result in an increase in blog reader volume stats. Where my blogs are not short, to have over 2000 read/visit in a week may mean hours of bowls knowledge being distributed.

Also, as I have done here by insert photo and stats; sometimes the change of subject is a pause of reader attention and only relax the mind. (take a break). Such pause or break prepares readers to better understand the following text.

If you watch the video suggested in the previous blog on the  2026 Australian Classics Singles game; you will have seen several times Barrie Lester often waiting for the wind to decrease before playing. You can also pause yourself during an increase in the rain volume.  Often we take a pause in play to improve our clothing or get a drink. If you are in a pause it is important you do it by leaving the mat so as not  to affect our delivery or Pre-mat decisions. Standing on the mat drops us out of our "Focus" zone.  In doing a pause, if your Delivery routine had a decision making aspects, then it is necessary to restart your Delivery Routine from the "going to the Mat" step so everything involved, from "Focus" to the instinctive rolling of your bowl can be finished in one complete "Delivery" and you can get out of the rain.

 If you feel guilty doing a pause in your delivery, I suggest you look toward the officials as if to be asking "Are you going to pause the game". The reason for this pause is that prior to coming to the mat (Pre-Mat Routine) you did your calculations and now you are ready to do your delivery to that spot.  Your change in "Focus" by the distraction of the sudden down pour of rain; does not now need you to decide to make an adjustment in the middle of your delivery.

      Under rainy conditions, there are many things that will slow your bowl.  Many new bowlers think that these conditions of play problems  is a "Trail and Error" part of the game of Lawn Bowls.  (Roll the first bowl and see where it goes.. then adjust your delivery  to get closer with idea that by the third bowl you should be on the jack). 

 Can you afford to waste 2 bowls (or 3 in singles) to get one bowl close to the jack.  A  "Trial and Error" approach to your delivery is wrong and you are better to go work in the kitchen or be on the club's Social Committee than be in a Lawn Bowls Competition. Your bowls' "Rule one" is "Every bowl counts" and  your thinking is "My Post Delivery analysis where I am in preparation for the next bowl is where I do thinking and analysis. Like the "Skips Expectation", your expectation of your self and your delivery should be at a high standard.

  Other helpful hints.

  -  Know what effect your raingear has on your delivery. Do you hear the movement of your raingear during your bowl delivery. Does it restrict your movement, balance or even destroy your "Focus".

    - Watch and learn from your opponent. If he/she is has difficulty doing a good  roll to the jack, and their bowl is 3 meters short then you know to add 3 meters for  the jack when you bowl. (Of course, have they that "Trial and Error" attitude ?) If yes, then make no adjustment because the only bowl which matters is their last bowl.  Every bowl you roll matters and your focus and calculation are all good.

 -  Virgin Greens are worst with Rain. A "Virgin Green" is an area of play where no bowl has yet rolled. Often in the first few ends of play or when the jack has been moved away from center line. In rainy conditions your new "Line of Delivery" following a movement of the jack may require a delivery when you do not have the information on the amount of water at various parts of that green on your that line.

 On a "Moved Jack", where possible, change your hand of delivery (forehand/Backhand) so you roll using more of the center of your rink where you have  knowledge of the conditions of play. Remember that previous delivery line have had the water removed from the grass leaves (laid down like which happens with morning dew). If you took an approach line, you can after your opponent has wasted a bowl and shown  the conditions; expect a fruitful delivery. Your "Focus" after "Calculation" in the Pre-Mat Routine is of major important, as to a quick to the mat and bowl because of the disconfort of the rain.

  -  Bias is depend on the speed of the bowl... Faster roll gives less bias,  and be aware that the quick stop of your bowl in rain may mean your bowl has little or no final bend (finish). Your bowls will only swing in the last few meters when it has slowed to  a normal Bias speed.   Even with wide Bias bowls do a narrow line draw for those heavy delivery on rainy greens.

   -  Watch the water spray behind your bowls..  This "Cock tail" will indicate low green areas with more water and if you can avoid them. Decide on your "Point Radius" (how far from the jack and still be a point) which might allow you to change the delivery line or even the Delivery hand (forehand/backhand).

   - Roll the same bias each time.. using the previous line now showing in the wet green. By using the same delivery line your expectation of your delivery will offer more confidence and success.

   - Fast delivery bias (with a finish type bias) greens are found when  the jack is placed around where the mat was previously placed several times; the traffic of  the bowlers as they stood waiting their turn on the mat. (usually behind the mat) packs the green. If your bowl has a wide bias then this trick might mean a proper bias finish.

   -  Listen to your skip.. He may be adjusting for the weight ( by asking for a back bowl) or giving a narrow line (accepting the frontal bowl being a good block on a dangerous "Runner line").

Analysis 2026 Australia Classic Singles (Info)

It is rare that all my blogs and lawn bowls instructions can be grouped into one game's analysis but this happens (January 6,2026)

Players Photo

with the 2026 Australia Classics Singles between Barrie Lester and Corey Wedlock (# 2 World Bowls 2025 Rating). Beside great players, also we have commentators who know their bowls and  their Special Guest commentator Gary Kelly who is one of the world's best players. (#6 World bowls 2025 List)

The first part of a single's game after the trial ends and handshakes is the first bowls of end number one. A great example of how this first bowl is suggested to be played. We see on their first end that they both do a  "foot over weight delivery" with an attempt to do a "Jack Trail". 

 You probably have two questions at this comment. "Why ?" and "Why do I think that was their objective. Is it not better to put the bowl on the jack and pressure on the opponent. ". Yes, true. but a good "Jack Trail" will also have the bowl with the jack.

 First, a single's game is "You and Them" (all those you must play) and if it was just who is the best lawn bowler we can ask the members of the club. But even a beginning bowler who puts thought and planning into his game can win over the best bowler. To do this we must quickly evaluate our opponent and their strength as well as do our best performance. We will make mistakes but so will our opponent.

We learn the the green quickly and our opponent's playing weakness. Starting with the Trial Ends, your opponent has shown you their ability with a jack on centerline. Move the jack on the first end of play and see how your opponent handles that new condition of play. If your opponent cannot handle a moved jack, or "Open Jack"  weakness, an advantage which is best not used until the end game when you want to pick up points. 

Second, Corey is left handed and Barrie is right handed and as per the photo we see that each have chosen to play their backhand. From your "Club Coaching" sessions, we learned that "Backhand" is easier to precisely perform. When Barrie missed his jack and his "Behind the Jack" bowl had stop; we get our first lesson from the video. Why did he miss by so much his weight? The answer might be the wind, because he played "Up-wind" and with changing wind speeds it is possible your bowl is send to it Bias quickly. Maybe the player's intention and his is just learning the wind. 

 Corey probably would have likewise missed the jack except the wind kept his bowl out and on line for a Jack roll. Corey is using a narrow bias bowl which is ideal for windy conditions.

Aero Bias Chart

If neither player had touched the jack, they would both still have had a  good back bowls.  Sometimes a player will change his bowls for the condition of play as we see with Corey who is using a "Aero Dymanic" with a narrow bias probably has an advantage over Barrie who in using a wider "Aero Optima" which has a wider bias. 

This information was asked of the commentator by a viewer (in comments at end 5) because this is part of "Playing the Conditions" and some athletes do watch and learn from these videos. Later following the Mid-game interview where the players mention their different in their Bowl's bias; Gary, the guest commentator takes time to explaining the raison why a player would change their bowl for a windy condition of play. (End 11 with score 7-7)

The photo below shows the frist end play with before and after the jack trail. Photo #1 as Corey's Backhand bowl is about to trail the jack and photo #2 the final jack and bowls position afterwards. Also the photo is a good opportunity to show how to trail the jack by bowling to a "False Jack" but learning it also requires much practice. 

First Bowl of Singles

There are tricks for a toucher, or jack roll and the photo (right) show how these great lawn bowlers (Barrie Lester & Corey Wedlock) do such a shot. So often we see the first bowl of a Single's game played like Barrie's bowl was played here, and so we think "not a great shot". But if we take time to think what it was that the player was trying; we realize it was a hard shot and a good effort. The trick is to know the clock position for the over weight of the bowl being played for the jack Trail, False jack always between 1:30 and 2 or 11:30 and 10 depending on delivery weight. 

These clock number is for my Canadian greens of around 12 seconds meaning not much "Finish". For each reader going to the practice green, they have to find their clock hour for their club's green. Also as the days heat up and greens get faster your specific time for the weight of your delivery will change from month to month,  Practice will define for your % ratio and you will know your percentage of success for different jack distances. 

As your jack distance approaches one of your natural distances for a delivery; you may find a 30% success. (3 out of 10 tries). Success ratio should be defined as toucher or trail Jack. Actually I have seen a 5/10 ratio but practice and pressure of a game play is a lot more on "Focus" and "Stability". Remember, this is a skill and may be used only a few times per season of competitions. Bowls is still a Draw.

Because these players have and use a well developed  "Muscle Memory", they are not thinking of a heavy bowl for a jack roll, because this type if thinking becomes a conscious instruction to the muscles and interrupts the "Muscle Memory". We use a 'False Jack' to allow our Muscle Memory to performance without interruption because a 'false Jack' is like a 'block' simply a bowl placement without an instructive thought. As seen in the photo (above) which shows "False Jack" at 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock this trick allows your bowl's finish to move the jack, If you are bowling to a position, False Jack or Block, your  Muscle Memory just doing a delivery. 

By playing with a foot or two heavy we get a jack roll and if we play toward those "False Jack" the "Muscle Memory" adding weight asneeded for a toucher or jack roll. However, a different time (10:30) is needed for wind as a cross wind increases the roll to the jack after the bowl has passed the shoulder of the delivery.  (Play to a jack 10 inches heavy at those positions) I used the word "Trick" for this performmance because we have tricked our "Muscle Memory" into performing what they want, In any modified delivery if we don't want to interrupt 'Muscle Memory' by thinking  a muscle instruction to the conscious mind we must trick the subconscious mind like with false locations of where we want the bowl. This will even work with wind but you have to learn about wind on your bowl. A strong wind will stop your bowl from taking bias. Most changes in bowl direction are done in the shoulder and finish. The hardest adjustment for win is a 45degree as it has increase distance and swing. Practice and learn.

In viewing good Youtube game videos it is important to have good game announcers as with this Single game. The three game commenators are Peter Susovich, Sammy Atkinson and Gary Kelly, and they offer excellent detail evaluation of the players' abilities and performances. Gary Kelly who is from Ireland but living and playing Bowls in Australia has made the top 10 of the "2025 Male Player". In the over 5000 players listed, including the "2025 Female Player"  List, you will be surprise of whom from your country is listed. Hell, I played last summer a Club Single's game and my opponent is in the top 100. With Youtubes now catching most every countries competition you can now know and watch your best players on the internation scene.

In an earlier blog I said that there are three conditions which influences our Lawn Bowl performance. "Delivery" (Muscle Memory and Line) Mental Strength (Focus, Zen, and Knowledge) and Conditions of Play. This Single's game is a great teacher of "Condition of play" as we see by the photo (right) Corey Wedlock checking the wind with his bowl wipe towel prior to his delivery or maybe he is waiting for the wind to decrease in strength. Remember, a different level of wind, means a different line for that strength of wind. The video sound is bad because of the wind on the announcer's mike. 

 The photo (right) suggest a blog written in June 2019 about playing with wind. "Natural Distance Bowls and the Wind" suggest if you are going to study the effect of a windy day you should practice or study at your natural distance. Someone once said to me in a course that the bowls are so heavy that the wind will not affect them that much. This is not true but you should know how to check for the wind and play accordingly.

Blog on New Zealand Wind Play

A good blog and Video for seeing the effect of the wind on a Bowl is " "Bowls in NZ strong Wind" because the bowl just runs across the green. Written in May 2021 it looks at the Wellington Men's Pairs.

In the 9th end of play with Corey holding two, Barrie attempts to kill the end with his last bowl but missing he leaving Corey to draw for a third point to make the score 7-4. Gary Kelly as guest commentator and #6 in world Bowls Ranking is from Ireland but playing in Australia. His experience and knowledge (2nd part of Delivery) is from northern UK Lawn Bowls teaching and sharing what he was taught. Gary express how he expected Barrie to draw backhand and trail the jack to his bowls behind with his last bowl. His surprise as  to see Barrie goes heavy and speaks of his views of this decision.

Missed Takeout Shot

Sanny says. "One each to play" as Corey walks up the green behind his 3rd bowl which stops short and Sanny continues  "Bend's (nickname for Corey) hold two". Then like a professional announcer want the opinion of the guest  Sanny asks Gary Kelly  "What do you think he will play here?"

 Gary began to explain his opinion as Barry walks back to the mat for his last bowl of this end.  "I think he will play some sort of weight". "The hand will be similar" (backhand into wind). "Maybe a fraction more" (weight). "Yea, he will be trying to trail that jack. He's got two just waiting bout a yard pass". As they wait for the delivery Sanny is surprise of the heavy runner Barrie has just send down the green.

After Barry missed the take out or burning the end and a long silence after Sanny finished with "He's Miss, He's got nothing", Gary says "I don't blame him for that". Once again, these conditions. You know". He has obviously opp for what he believed was the easlier shot".

One of my blogs which talks about "Playing your Successful Percentage ", written in April 2021, looks at your shot choices. As Corey walks to the mat for his last bowl, Gary continues his comments. Gary  feels the important of explaining what just happen as he is aware of the viewers need for an explanation. Gary says:

"Just for our viewers at home. The textbook way, he probably would have played a yard (pass) to trailed the jack but in these conditions, once again, it all the "Percentage play". " It's what you play and trust". "So, what you can achieve". "Maybe not the maximum outcome, but (you try for) a positive outcome". "So Blost (nickname) opped for what he believed was the easier due to the wind".  "Taking the elements out of it, considering the wind"

Sanny also followed with "Couldn't agree more. With the bigger weight, you take the bigger weight, you take the variable of the wind and green out of it  a bit". "Compare to a yard-on shot", Gary - "The game is always about "Percentage Play". "In my mind, in my opinion" "You got to consider the conditions and what is a good shot and get a positive result there".

(Stats show viewer's interest in similar Blogs in past week.)

The Second part of the photo above, is the reaction of Barrie. His surprise to his missed "Takeout drive" and his disappointment is an important part of the game.  A good  performance at the mat requires "Focus", and his reaction is a release valve after such a shot. It is important because Barrie has to go back to the game with "A Total Focus".  Not thinking of regrets or disappointment.  Yes, he has a few minutes while the mat is placed and the jack is rolled, and centered, but to hold emotions is bad management, even if his visual reaction is not agreeable to the spectators.  Every athlete needs a method for the necessary outlet of emotions, without which he could pass 2 or 3 complete ends of bad play before recovery. 

Before one last subject... Measuring; I wish to say thank you to my readers. This blog is 8 pages (when printed) and quite a read of maybe an hour if you access also the other blogs mention.  However, looking at the stats of today, one week after posted; the  top 6 blogs are those 6 suggested or linked. Thank you.  To read is one thing, but to do the link to reference blog is another. 

Good discussion for a reader who will be playing their singles in a windy conditions and the need to take the time to consider the factors which give the best result.

Earlier they were playing minimum distance jacks which make takeout easier; but after several umpire measures in a single end of play they when to the longer jack. 

In a blog on "Measuring which bowl is Shot"  there are a lot of different methods and devices mention, even a Sonic Measure (before 1950s and Lasers).  This request for a measure in the 12th end shows a  "Measuring Extension" for the bowls' measure of over 3 feet distance from the jack and needed the use of calibers. Although the 4th point was refused, this end-to-end head and the heavy wind gave Corey  3 points and permitted a  catch up on points to a 6-7 score from 3-7.

Web Links suggested: 

 Game Video 2026 Australia Classic Feb 2026           www.youtube.com/watch?v=egXAOFniM5c

Blogs references :

Natural Distance and Wind Practices - June 2019             www.ishi-in-sn.blogspot.com/2019/06/natural-distance-usage.html

Bowls in New Zealand Strong Winds  May 2021                    www.ishi-in-sn.blogspot.com/2021/05/bowls-in-nz-strong-wind.html

2025 WBowls Men's Rating  www.worldbowlsseries.com/male-rankings.hrml

2025 WBowls Female's Rating www.worldbowlsseries.com/female-rankings.html

Present Blog activity - March 2026 - New Season of Bowls beginning in Canada in a few months so now doing a clean up of older blogs for new members coaching.

March 5, 2026 - Green's committee  Part 1.   Protecting your Greens as a member. Written October 2016. Updated