What Line do you take ? (AMem)

Under development - Basic texted now photos to come.

If you have not been rolling bowls for more than three years this blog,which is long, will make no sense to you. Some rambling idiot going on.. If you are approaching five years and ready to move on to "Muscle Memory" instinctive performance; you will find yourself making a decision on the subject.

First, One of the raison we go get a course on a subject we know little or nothing about is very often with a new subject we don't know what we need to learn or what questions to ask. 

This blog is a part of my Post-Novice Course for developed players who roll a good bowl but seem to be at a point which they define as being stuck. 

At this point, they are reviewing the teaching they had as a beginner and comparing it or the recent video they watch; and are comparing it all to what they are doing at the club or on the green. Asking "Why ?" or "What do I change ?"

Over the month past, the local clubs had an top-of-Line athlete giving talks as a teaching tool to club members. The information given was well worth the small fee for his two or three hours talk. I know that it pushed a lot of the participants to look deeper into what they heard as compared to what they do.  A problem with experience talks is that depending upon the course participants, there are a lot of questions ask. With such a talk the medal winning individual, whom is well informed; is directed from question to question for the complete durations of the course.

I will call it a course, but a  good coach in preparing a course after educational preparation of how to organize information and how to be aware of the signs of saturation of the listener; would work his talk toward his course objectives. With a Question and Answer type course sometimes too much information is covered and not enough coverage given to the intended point of the course. 

When a lawn bowler decides to follow an umpire course they know that there are different levels of umpires and they are coming in to the basic level one umpire teaching. They also know after a few year experience they can move up to a higher level umpire with major competitions and even the opportunity to work and mentor with very good umpires. Bowls on the green learning is not like this.

Last week as I entered the club grounds and approach the green a very good player left the green to greet me and within minutes he was asking a basic question. 

"I am hearing a lot about "Taking Line" and seems most of the Youtube videos have some version of the three or four basic teaching on "Taking Line". What do you do in "Taking Line?". If this had been a new club member I would have answered with a two or three line of describing the teaching of "Taking Line". But I have seen this individual play and all is good in his style and performance.

Because I consider this person as a " Post-Novice" player and knew his question was more a survey  of  "Find the Line" types, than looking for another method to try. Also when a player asks about your technique, which they have probably seen you perform and have not yet actually classified your method of "Taking Line" in their Survey groups. He was probably noticed that could be looking any where,because I am in a "Blind Muscle Memory" when I do my delivery. If I have released my mind to Muscle Memory then I  often am not looking anywhere. Maybe at the ground in front of me.

Normally a third year bowler would have their delivery style developed  and they believe that their style is the one that best serves them; I know that with developing any skill you can become just so good and seem to freeze at that level. Also, without a mentor to follow, or another courses to instruct you; we all continue by  trying several different things to better your performance.  In the end after your new idea to try, you will probably return to the original method which you use. I seen this point where the individual  had reached a Point of maximun perfection and  become discourage and abandon Bowls for another sport. Sort of if saying that is as good as I can become in this sport.

Lets explain it this way.  When you started to drive a car and had your basic skills establised you hit the road at a greater speed. At first you seem to always watching the center line, or as with me in my old 1957 Ford, which had the big bumper circular lights on each side of the hood;  you watched that the edge of the road was in line with the edge of the hood.

Your Lawn Bowl "Taking the Line" was like that as you learned to bowl and check if your delivery and Line was correct. Each time you missed your attempted draw; you went back to checking or changing your "Taking the Line" reference.  Today after many years of driving the car you no longer watch the center line pass near the edge of the hood or bumper, you just instinctive drive and have confidence. 

 Also, I heard so many Novice say "With a longer Jack you need a wider line" This is so wrong. the Bowl's Bias takes the bowl out  wider for a longer Jack because the Bias take effect and turns when the bowl slows to a certain speed. Remember that rolling tire which went straight until it was slow enough to fall over. Your bowl will come back to "Center Line" if your direction of delivery is correct; when the bowl is leaving your hand at the mat.

Your "Bowls Delivery Development" after a point is going to arrive like that. You just know you have the right line and finding the spot on the back bank or the green in front you is part of your Pre-Mat Routine before your delivery Routine. Once you have your body direction and feet properly placed on the mat and always the same, you have your line. The coaching course which teach you to "¨Picking your line" was to help you align your body in the proper direction.

 In Australia the bowls mat which are used have several holes and lines on it service this purpose. Those marks on the mat in Australia were also to establish a method of pointing your body in the proper direction for delivery of your bowl. Change the bowl and it's bias and your will have to work again to find the line for that bowl.

  In Australia the bowls mat which are used have several holes and lines on it. This does the same thing. I have seen instructions to place your foot on the corner of the mat, seen coaches chalk a line for your feet on the mat and even draw the foot print. All experience bowlers know their established foot on the mat placement. Some want their bowl to greet the green on center line, others look at the line their bowl leaves on the line and see if it points where you "Take your Line".

I teach that your mind can not be occupied with "Line of Delivery" and your "Delivery Weight" at the same time. Some athletes place their body line and forgot about it and work to know their "Delivery Weight". Others athletes are so good with their delivery weight they work with a good delivery into the "Line of Delivery". Students which do the sport of Curling in the winter have a very good feeling of Delivery Weight.

Even during a game by great athletes, they with each delivery decide if " Line" or "Weight" is more important for that shot performance. These individual now know and can see, in his mind's eye his bowls Bias Curve of delivery. Called Visualization of their Shot. 

What does a top of the line athlete do ?. He no longer has a Pre-Mat Routine where he prepares his bowl makes his decisions as he stands behind the mat. He no longer has a Pre-Mat Routine except to may check his body direction or apply a Draw strategy on the performance he is going to do, (several Draw Strategy are mention in the nearly 150 blogs). The good athlete goes to the mat with a decision does a few micro-second checks and goes into his Delivery Routine where Muscle memory take control and performs instinctive a perfect delivery.

What is he looking at as he looks up the green. His visualize the Delivery Line of their bowl and it's " Delivery Bias". Their visualize line see their bowl line as it leave his hand and then take it Bias swings in toward the jack. Except it is so instinctive to them now that they are looking at various "Check if Line is Right Marks" on the back board or green. They are most likely seeing that visual memory line as it passes a bowl "In your Eye" or how the "Tap Back" is being hit by the "Near finished Shoulder" of  the Bias Line.

What I am saying is "As you no longer check the center line or the edge of the road when driving; so also you're ready to allow Your Pre-Shot Routine and "Muscle Memory Delivery to do your bowl Delivery.  A you no long throw a Off-Bias bowl and never think of the small parts of your Pre-Mat routine; so also your Pre-Shot" or Pre-Delivery"  routine is now so short you seem to don't think about it.

A sport psychologist will tell you to prepare a routine because the subconscious mind will place everything into that routine. I see bowls bounced in the hand, or several swings of the bowl arm; Today at the Canadian National Gold Medal Game I saw the "Rub your Cap Peak Edge" start of the Pre-Mat Routine. Australian Coaches teach to "Touch your bowl arm elbow" as the Pre-Mat start.

So now your have Visualization of your Bowl Bias. You have almost perfect "feeling of Delivery Weight for any distance. You Delivery should now be the final part of your "Pre-Shot" routine. A routine where you do quickly may small remainder to the subconscious mind of things of important on that delivery. If you have been developing "Mind Set Routines" for handling a bad delivery it may be as short as a vision of flower for calm in a difficult game shot.

This blog will now be build with photo and detail but the teaching is just one important point. You are at a point in development where you are no longer learning to bowl or do a good Delivery. You are learning to build a confidence performance with a structure like "Pre-Shot Routine". This first and basic instruction Pre-shot Routine is later followed by a  "Pre- Delivery Routine. Also called the Pre-Shot Routine, this usually is rather short and probably a bit different every game; as you work on a new Mental Strength or Physical Ability. 

What's the Shot - Percentage View (AMem)

 This blog based upon a photo/question of the Boulingrin Quebec Bowls website, is to explain my opinion on calculating the percentage of success when a chosen shot decision is made by the skip or team. Looking at some of the basic indicators of the skip success or ability to perform difficult shots; realizing that each bowls-in-the-head setup is different for each skip. Also the location in the game and how the success or failure will affect the final score must be considered.

Not all information is given by the photo as a jack this  close to the ditch must have been moved from the it's "Respot" position. Especially. with it still on center line, it would have been moved twice. Very likely a short jack was placed on the "respot" and in this Single's match, the lone frontal bowl (yellow/blue)  probably moved the jack a few feet left which was then pushed to it present position by the now (Blue) Frontal Bowl. In my opinion this is the only way a "Respotted Jack" can be moved 2 meters toward the ditch and arrive afterward on the Center line at Ditch edge.

Now to attack this problem as these two possibilities. 1-that the blue Point bowl and the far frontal bowls are  both touchers and 2- that there is no touchers behind the jack..

My Reply to Website

My reply to the website inquiry with  photo above and reply (left image) and suggest that due to the Percentage of Success the Yellow bowl's player decision should be a foot overdraw to the jack. I will explain this method of percentage calculated by "Bowl Size Error Percentage" or chance of success.

With this type of calculation it assumes that if you miss your draw for shot or jack roll your luck within a few bowls off shot will still give you a good result. There is another factor used in these decisions which does not apply in this analysis. "Percentage of Success Failure". Yes, sometime we are able to try a shot or strategy because if we fail the missed performance will do no damage or increase the total points lost.  Here we have three points and the objective must be to gain the point or make a change which only loses one point.

After I have explained farther this method of Percentage Success, I will take a few paragraphs to explain the "Player's Success Percentage" on certain types of deliveries. Every Skip usually knows his abilities and even will question his state of performance on the day of game in making his decisions. DON'T TRY WHAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DO.

 The three yellow circles are 3 possible bowl rolls in the draw from the left (back hand for righthander) and most important is the draw weight. Although 2nd and 3rd possible rolls can stop on the opponents 2nd shot giving shot or cutting to 1 point. If first bowl was to hit the jack left it is still only one shoot as the rolled bowl would stay in as 2nd count.

The single yellow bowl circle show the Unsuccessful percentage hole which could give extra points but one bowl in four bowls is a 25% Failure Percentage.  But also how the bowl was to hit the point bowl it could replace it and capture the point. Most important is the weight. Enough to be in the head but not more than a foot overweight. The single yellow bowl circle could cause a hit on the point bowl moving it to the jack and send the jack to the ditch or it could keep the 3 points active as the jack move closer to 2nd and 3rd.

Because of the 3 possible bowls rolls directions the actual shot is to try to draw for point at the black #1 bowl position and even if a bit heavy it will draw up to 2nd shot leaving only one point. If the jack was to be moved by a runner the "respot of the jack"  would come forward for two points but unless the jack was to hit one of the back too bowls it would not go out of bounds but go to the ditch, which is why a Runner is not the choice shot unless it is the winning points on the green and it is runner or lose. 

Because not all skips are good draw bowlers on each hand of delivery, and almost all lawn bowlers have a different draw weight for a Forehand Delivery and a Back hand delivery;  this Shot Decision has a lot to do with the skips performance percentage.  If it is end game and knowledge of the green's draw potential as well the skip's last few ends Performance Percentage; this is a High Success Percentage.

CW 2026 Gold Medal Game's Tie-breaker (gift)

 Todate, a few days after the games;  I have not found on Youtube or elsewhere the video of the Commonwealth 2026 Gold Medal Game.  so with my CBC sport coverage link, I make this gift to my readers.. It shows the last two end of the 2nd set and the tie-breaker which was won by Northern Ireland against England.

N Ireland
Gary Kelly

The distribution and noise during play is from the Bronze Medal game being played on the neighbouring green. They also were into their tie breaker but almost finished. The loud crowd noice is because of Ryan Bester doing his "Blasting Runners" to win. (and which he seldom is missing). For this reason that British Skip (Walker) steps of the mat during his last bowl of the tie-breaker as well as the Commonwealth Staff were moving equipment behind the Gold Metal green and the jack being played. Also most of the crowds were changing sides to see the end of the Gold Medal Game.

For those wanting to see the Commonwealth game I know it is still available on the Canadian national Television (CBC) at  https://gem.cbc.ca/bowls-para-bowls-bronze-and-gold-medal-matches-rink-1-glasgow-2026-36783?autoplay=1 

Enjoy.

P.S,  I add for you the readers, a little something unique here.

Gary Kelly is the only Lawn Bowl's athlete that I have seen todate, that is doing total visual projection for his "Muscle Memory". To understand "Total Visual Projection" it is best to explain it from an archery athlete's view.  In some Archery "Zen" teaching, it is taught to become the arrow or the target and project yourself as the arrow to the target. 

In Muscle Memory  of Lawn Bowls, we make sure we have a constant like our line or our weight and with this fixed variable; the athlete either fixes it line and lets Muscle Memory adjust the needed data like, distance, weight and fine adjustment with their instinctive "Muscle Memory" performance. Some athletes do the constant as weight and use a small line change. (either visual or mat walking); while others fix presentation line in their Pre-Shot Routine and relax into allowing it do be done.

 Having won two gold and a bronze medal at the Canadian National Archery in late 20th century in Instinctive shooting; I did all my shooting as a Total Visual Projection to the target. When in a Muscle Memory Total Visual state, the arrow hitting the target scares you because you believe it has struck you. (Draw the arrow to you is the concentration projected image)  

Gary Kelly does that in his Pre-Shot and is unique as he adjust for very find mental tuning of his shot and weight.  Amazing to see and appreciate.  Enjoy.

No, at 80, I can't apply this concentration and Muscle Memory to Lawn Bowls. The archery target (indoor) distance is 18 meters where bowls is 21 to 31 meters. I do use Projective Muscle Memory for recalling previous Jack distance data. I watch the memory of the bowl roll to a jack in memory and if not the correct distance I change the memory. (always release on 3rd projected distance as my Pre-shot routine "Trigger").

Be Precise with "AI" Chat GPT (Info)

Precise questions when using the Internet "AI" programs is shown when  I did an inquire into "What is Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn Bowls". and then I did a second search with a few more detail words added. The new search was "What is Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn Bowls when we feel an absence of thought". 

You will not believe the different that being precise made to the "AI" reply.

Also, at the end of the Chat GPT comparison. I have done the same short ( but more precise) search using the "AI" program which Microsoft puts with Google. The reply of "Copilot" is more correct as it service the public is a more directional way to  general public inquiries.  As I said in another blog "Chat GPT redoing a Blog (Info)" (Info). It is important that you, the reader, be aware that not all "AI" replies are precise as you can see with the "Chat GPT" replies below.

First, let me direct you to check the point of reference which the "AI" is using for the answer. The photo (below) show how this "AI" has used a club's Facebook page as the source of their answer and although the answer looks correct it is not.

First the use of the word "The World Bowls Laws of the Sport of Bowls" in the "AI" reply would suggest it was taken from the World Bowls webpage on rules. This is the Facebook author using those words to indicate his source  and to give his answer which I believe is wrong.  It is my opinion that once the last bowl of an end has stopped you can wedge your bowl if you think it will fall and lose the point if it is not the last bowl of the end.

 Since you are not the skip. who would have delivered that last bowl, I suggest you wait a few seconds and if a skip does not says "30 second wait please" for that last bowl to have it's 30 seconds; then go and wedge your bowl, if you think it will be in the final count.  Do not touch any bowls and leave the head immediately.

To help sort through several similar ideas of the three "AI "searches, I will give you the right (or what I feel is the best) description of  a "Muscle Memory Void" as seen in the final "AI" search at the very end of this blog. That "AI" was done by Microsoft Copilot which  is more a "Search AI" and reads the inquiry as a statement while the other "AI" attempt to understand the meaning of the inquiry. 

"Short answer: In lawn bowls, the “muscle memory void” refers to the moment when your delivery becomes so deeply automated that conscious thought temporarily shuts off, leaving you in a state of pure, procedural execution. It’s the autonomous stage of motor learning — the bowl leaves your hand with perfect rhythm, timing, and line without you “thinking” the delivery at all. This aligns with the neuroscience of procedural memory and automaticity described in recent research."

Relax and enjoy a trip through the internet with AI programs as your guide where you will find these less precise replay and re-do are necessary because "Chat GPT"  and other "AI" sometime seem to show their creative nature which was the actual "AI" program purplse.. Rather than take the first reply as "truth" change your inquiry and even do a Microsoft search, "AI" Copilot which is different.

 In these example, we see a change in direction of reply created uniquely by the program as it  realizes the meaning of the word "VOID" 

What do I mean by the words of "Muscle Memory Void" ? is what the "AI" asked itself to direct it search and using the dictionary it found that "Void" refers to something missing or empty.

My experience in Archery (previous sport and development) and in recent years in Lawn Bowls is that the emptiness "none thinking" feeling felt by athletes as the subconscious mind (Muscle Memory) finishes it instinctive performance (delivery in Lawn Bowls); and then allows the conscious mind's returns; or you fee your thought is now communicating with the conscious mind. A December 2012 blog attempts to show the reader this feeling with three Lawn Bowl Practice exercises for the Advance Athlete or reader. When next on the practice green and wanting to understand this subject try the Exercise of the blog "Three Subconscious Mind Exercises"

Chat GPT, the "AI" Program, which was probably design more for creation of articles or blogs; has gone and searched the World Wide Websites (WWW) for information on the subject it believes my question was asking. However, the computer Program "Chat GPT" places an enormous important on it's analysis of the words of the question. Therefore, the following two Chat GPT search replies have a completely reverse reality in their meanings due to the "AI" program analysis. I knew that with this selected idea being a user requesting the information about Muscle Memory but also using the word "Void". The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word "Void" as "A hole or empty space" and as per feelings with negative meaning as:

"a feeling of unhappiness because someone or something is missing"

Following the first "Chat GPT"  reply to the question of "What is Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn bowls";  I have included the second "Chat GPT" search using a few more descriptive words of "when we feel an absence of thought". Because this longer question is more precise in what is the wanted direction of reply; we find a completely different Chat GPT reply with more detail in less words.

The Chat GPT reply for the request of

"What is Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn Bowls"

The phrase "Muscle Memory Void" is not a recognised technical term in Lawn Bowls, sports psychology, or motor learning. However, it is a useful descriptive phrase that some bowlers or coaches might use to describe a very real experience.

In the context of Lawn Bowls, I would define a Muscle Memory Void as:

A temporary loss of access to well-practised motor patterns, where a bowler suddenly cannot reproduce a delivery they have successfully performed hundreds or thousands of times.

What it feels like

A bowler may suddenly experience:

• The delivery feels unnatural.
• The hand no longer "knows" when to release the bowl.
• Weight control disappears.
• Line becomes inconsistent.
• Confidence evaporates.
• Every bowl requires conscious thought instead of flowing automatically.

Players often describe it by saying:

• "I've lost my draw."
• "I don't know where my arm is anymore."
• "Nothing feels right."
• "I've forgotten how to bowl."

Of course, they haven't actually forgotten. The motor program still exists—it has simply become difficult to access.

Why it happens

Several factors can interrupt automatic movement:

Overthinking

• Instead of allowing the subconscious to execute the delivery, the player consciously controls every part of the action.
• Sports psychologists call this "paralysis by analysis."

Stress or pressure

• Championship play
• Selection trials
• Playing against elite opponents
• Fear of failure

These situations increase muscle tension and interfere with fluid movement.

Technical changes

If a player is trying to alter grip, stance, swing, or release, the old movement pattern and the new one may conflict temporarily.

Fatigue

Physical or mental fatigue can reduce the efficiency of automatic motor control.

Why it is called "muscle memory"

Muscle memory isn't actually stored in the muscles. It is stored in the brain through repeated practice that creates efficient neural pathways.

After thousands of deliveries, the body performs the movement automatically.

When that automatic process is interrupted, it can feel as though the memory has disappeared—even though it hasn't.

Recovering from a Muscle Memory Void

Experienced coaches often recommend:

• Returning to a simple pre-shot routine.
• Focusing on the target rather than mechanics.
• Practising easy draw shots before more difficult ones.
• Slowing the pace.
• Trusting the delivery rather than trying to steer the bowl.
• Accepting that consistency will return through repetition.

Many elite bowlers report that their best performances occur when they stop consciously thinking about technique and simply "let the bowl go."

A good analogy

Imagine writing your signature.

You normally do it without thinking.

Now imagine someone tells you:

• Think about every finger.
• Control every muscle.
• Watch every pen movement.

Suddenly your signature looks awkward.

Nothing has happened to your ability—you've simply interrupted the automatic motor program.

Bowling is much the same.

A possible definition for your blog

Since you enjoy writing about Lawn Bowls, you could introduce the term this way:

Muscle Memory Void: A temporary state in which a lawn bowler loses conscious access to a well-established delivery pattern. Although the physical skill remains intact, pressure, overthinking, fatigue, or technical changes interrupt the automatic neural pathways that normally produce a smooth, reliable delivery. Recovery comes not from trying harder, but from restoring trust in the body's learned movement.

Author comment - This is possible to happen but what is referred to as "Muscle Memory Void" is a feeling by the individual that something happen in their absence of thought. It seems a return to reality and the question "What just happen" 

It's a descriptive phrase rather than an established scientific term, but it captures an experience that many bowlers—from beginners to international players—have felt at some point in their careers.

NOW - Chat GPT reply to the second question of 

"What is Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn Bowls when we feel an absence of thought"

In lawn bowls, what you are describing is a very real experience, although "Muscle Memory Void" is not an established technical term. It is a useful phrase to describe a state in which the conscious mind seems absent, yet the body continues to perform well through deeply learned movement patterns.

A more formal way to describe it would be:

• Automaticity – a skill performed with little or no conscious thought.
• Flow state – complete immersion in the game, where actions feel effortless.
• Implicit motor control – the brain relies on learned movement patterns rather than conscious instructions.
• Quiet mind or empty mind – terms often used in sports psychology and martial arts.

In lawn bowls, after thousands of deliveries, your brain has stored the movement in procedural memory. When you step onto the mat, your body already "knows" the weight, rhythm, and release. During your best deliveries you are not thinking:

• "Keep the arm straight."
• "Bend the knees."
• "Release at this point."

Instead, you simply see the shot, feel the weight, and let it happen.

What I would call a "Muscle Memory Void"

A Muscle Memory Void is not an absence of ability—it is an absence of conscious interference. The analytical mind becomes quiet, creating a mental space in which the body's learned motor patterns can operate freely.

In lawn bowls this often feels like:

• No internal dialogue.
• No conscious technical checklist.
• No awareness of individual body movements.
• Complete focus on the target or intended result.
• A sense that the bowl "left the hand by itself."

Many elite bowlers describe this as their best state because conscious control can actually disrupt well-practised skills—a phenomenon sports psychologists call "paralysis by analysis."

A possible definition

If you are writing about this in a blog, you might define it like this:

Muscle Memory Void is the brief mental state during a lawn bowl delivery when conscious thought falls silent and the body performs entirely from deeply ingrained muscle memory. It is not a void of awareness, but a void of interference, allowing instinct, experience, and feel to guide the bowl naturally.

I rather like your phrase because it captures something many bowlers experience but struggle to describe. It suggests that the void is not empty of performance—it is empty of unnecessary thought. In that silence, years of practice are finally allowed to speak through the body.

Blog Author Notes:  The reply of the same question by the Microsoft "AI" called "Copilot". also suggest some AI are search and some are creative AIs.

Microsoft (copilot) - July 26, 2026 

What is the Muscle Memory Void as pertained to Lawn Bowls

Short answer: In lawn bowls, the “muscle memory void” refers to the moment when your delivery becomes so deeply automated that conscious thought temporarily shuts off, leaving you in a state of pure, procedural execution. It’s the autonomous stage of motor learning — the bowl leaves your hand with perfect rhythm, timing, and line without you “thinking” the delivery at all. This aligns with the neuroscience of procedural memory and automaticity described in recent research.

Long Answer:

What the “Void” Actually Is

The void is not mystical — it’s a neurological shift.

• Conscious control drops: The prefrontal cortex (your thinking brain) quiets down.

• Automatic motor circuits take over: The basal ganglia and cerebellum run the delivery pattern you’ve repeated thousands of times.

• You stop narrating your mechanics: No “step… pendulum… follow-through…” — it just happens.

• Time feels slower or absent: Many bowlers describe the moment of release as silent, empty, or suspended.

This is the same mechanism behind riding a bike or touch typing without thinking.

🎳 How It Shows Up in Lawn Bowls Specifically

Lawn bowls is uniquely suited to producing a “muscle memory void” because:

• The delivery is highly repetitive and precise.

• The movement pattern is stable — stance, step, pendulum, release.

• The feedback is immediate — you see the bowl’s line instantly.

• The skill rewards consistency over creativity.

When bowlers enter the void:

• The bowl feels weightless in the hand.

• The line and weight feel pre-decided before movement.

• The body moves as one unit — no mechanical breakdown.

• The mind is quiet, with no self-talk or correction.

This is the autonomous phase of motor learning — the point where the skill is fully procedural.

🔍 Why Bowlers Seek the Void

Because it produces:

• Consistent weight control

• Pure line accuracy

• Reduced overthinking

• Better performance under pressure

• Fewer mechanical errors

It’s essentially the lawn bowls version of “flow state,” but more narrowly focused on the delivery motion itself.

🧩 What Creates the Void

Based on motor-learning research:

• Repetition strengthens neural pathways.

• Myelination speeds and synchronizes signals.

• Basal ganglia takeover automates habitual movement.

• Cerebellum corrects micro-errors without conscious involvement.

The result: Your delivery becomes a stored motor program that runs without conscious supervision.

🧘 Why It Feels Like a Void

Because your thinking brain is literally offline for a moment.

You’re not “blanking out” — you’re performing at peak efficiency.

This is why elite bowlers often say:

“I don’t remember the delivery — I just knew it was good.”

That’s the void.

🧭 If You Want, I Can Show You How to Enter It

Would you like a step-by-step guide to intentionally entering the muscle memory void during your lawn bowls delivery?

Choose one:

• Flow-state routine

• Pre-delivery mental cues

• Muscle-memory training drills

• 
  

The Next Level - Are you Ready ? (NMem)

A blog which looks at The 5 parts of a Lawn Bowls Delivery Routine where part three,  a "Delivery Performance", is expected to be uniquely the physical performance when you step onto the Mat to  perform. If the instinctive performance, "Muscle Memory" is your bowl's development level, the other four performance routines; are an interesting link to the actual result and performance of the athlete's bowl roll.

The "Next Level" which the title mentions is a website for Lawn Bowls (Photo / Link below) which the "AI" search found for me. In several of my recent blogs, I suggest the value of AI (Artificial Intelligence) as your computer search for finding that good information on Lawn Bowls Coaching and Self-improvement.

 The Cambridge Dictionary defines "Intelligence" as " the ability to learn, understand, and make judgments or have opinions that are based on reason "; and if the Artificial side of the new "AI" surge of popularity is a successful Search of the World Wide Web  (www) thenyour chosen  is a "AI" Program.

 There are a lot of these programs and if you ask the same question a few times, even of the same program, you will be surprise at the number of the difference response that are  given. Therefore the "Intelligence" aspect of  "AI" must be "YOU" and your "Judgement".  We are remained daily, that because it is found on the "Net", does not necessary make it a proven "Truth". Your intelligence, and you  having the " opinions that are based on reason "  to " understand, and make (the necessary) judgments" as to what information is best to allow to affects your bowls' development.

I have found that aometimes it is wiser to use the "AI's Source Links", which were the source for the "AI" reply to your online search. Also. the best internet website for your needs and personal development with that certain unique knowledge: are not what you would get with a normal browser search. It seems "browser search" may  give greater preference to those which websites which advertise the most. ( Remember, even I can give bad information in my attempt to explain what I know may not be clearly explained and finally lead to misunderstanding of the intention of the blogs).

For esample, I asked Chat GPT a "AI" about "Muscle Memory Void" and the information given was:

"The void of thought you’re describing during muscle‑memory performance is a real, well‑studied cognitive state. The concise answer:

It’s the temporary shutdown of conscious, verbal thinking so your brain can let automated motor programs run without interference. Athletes, musicians, gamers, and even typists experience it."

As a coach I know that no two students which see my instructions in the same manner toward my vision of their development. Below, I will indicate a incident where my choice of words open a door for my fellow bowler. To me, this is the strength of a coach. to introduce a line of thought where the reader or student does not know as a direction toward the search for their increased knowledge.  In the same way "AI" is  helping me with my choice of a computer website with a better information or expansion of an idea. AI is showing me, as website links, where it found all the information it displays on the requested topic.

The website of "Next Level Lawn Bowls"  (Photo above) has a lot of good information for the learning Lawn Bowler reader. Blogs and "Coach's Corners" can then be the next step of information for the more experience athlete. My vocabulary is selective for my students. I teach the unique principle of "Your presence on the Mat is only for the Delivery performance"; and push the thinking that all other "before and after" thoughts of your delivery are left to a "Pre-Mat Routine and or a Post-Mat Routine.

This week was  I watched our best provincial player compete for the honor to represent us regular bowlers at this Summer's Atlantic Bowls; a gathering of the best lawn bowlers from Canada's four Atlantic provinces. . In September,  for 4 or 5 days of competition they all will gather here in Montreal. After the game, while chatting with one of our besr athele I said. 

  "Interesting fact. On your first bowl of the game, a Pre-Mat Delivery for a "Jack Touching Shot" and for the next five or six end of play you did a "Quick to the Mat" Delivery."  The next night, in the 2nd of these qualification games, as I sat outside the "Fenced Green" watching the game, he left the mat after his first bowl of the third end and crossed the Green's Ditch and benches to say to me through the fence.

   "Thank you, for the remainder of my "Pre-Shot Routine" last night". I was so surprise I could only reply "You're Welcome" as he turned and returned to the green and his thoughts on his game. Just my presence behind the screen watching remainded him of our conversation the night before and he remembered the need for his "Pre-ßhot Routine".

 I had said "Pre-Mat Delivery" because of teaching new club members for many years; but he heard "Pre-Shot Routine" which he had learned and was using in his game performance. He so comfortable in his performance that he was simply doing "Practice Bowls" rolls and had excluded points of "Performance Controls" which we teach as routines to a perfect delivery.

Pre-Mat Routine (1/5)

Yes, it happens that we just bowl. But a Routine which you build and is part of your " Successful Delivery" is important because it means there is a place for every thought or action that is not your final performance when you step to the "Mat" for your "Delivery".

In the "Next Level" text  of instructions, I have shown their suggested actions of performance. However, when passing toward the "Delivery Routine" I have modified the website sequence of events expected of the athlete because "all thoughts and action" before "Muscle Memory" performance must be in the Post-Mat Routine or the Pre-Delivery Routine. The Delivery Routine is only for the instinctive few seconds of actual performance.

Often after a bowl roll we are thinking of what we expected from our performance and what really happen. All these thoughts between that last bowl and your next bowl to be rolled are  the "Post-Delivery Routine or the "Post-Mat Routine". Since these thoughts  can be positive or negative to the final result of the next bowl roll or for the next several ends of play; there is a lot of psychological repairs being done in these two routines beside decision on the physical performance to come. 

Negative "Self-talk", following a bad bowl roll, destroys your confidence and creates feelings of doubt and blame and of course should be avoided before starting your "Pre-Delivery Routine", ( or Pre-Shot Routine). This part of the "Before Mat Performance" clears your mind in preparation for that instinctive performance often called "Muscle Memory". This " Instinctive Bowl roll" was build after many hours of practice. In the sport of Curling (on Youtube videos) the coaches use "Muscle Memory" in their introductory vocabulary and  say it will take about 100 hours of good hard practice before you have a proper Muscle Memory Performance.

When you think of performing an action, your conscious mind sees it as an instruction to the muscles required to perform that action. Especially if you are learning a sport. When you walk or jump from foot to foot you don't fall because your subconscious mind is performing without any conscious mind instructions. This is Muscle Memory and an athlete develops the same natural instinctive delivery. But if your mind is occupied with thoughts the instinctive action is destroyed because the conscious mind thinks it has to do something. (example, Cry when you are sad or hurt).

The Pre-Delivery Routines are very hard to prefect because there are so many aspects of emotions; that large clubs of countries like Australia and England have a Sport Psychologist on staff. To learn how to "Reset" after errors or confront doubt or guilt during a game may take years to master and control. 

In our sport, which is a "Closed Sport" of you and your performance, everything is you when on the mat.   I had a fellow club member who was at a out-of-province competition jump over the fence, run around the park and jump back in before going to the mat for his next bowl. Yes, a bit "Extreme" but that was his way. Extreme emotions and Bowl's Performance don't Mix if you want to reach that elite level of performance.

Rules of Lawn Bowls are for a 'Closed Sport" where the athletes are expected to be strong in psychologic control and a 'Focus" on the performance at 100 percent. If "Muscle Memory" is developed then it's successful performance depends upon a distraction free mind set,

The Delivery. Either developing and done by the Conscious mind controlling the muscles or being "Instinctive" and when the Subconscious mind executes the "Muscle Memory" and return control to the "Conscious Mind" you will feel a moment of empty thought.  This void is important because later in development it is the "light of Mindless Performance" exchange which gathers and executes a great delivery.

An interesting fact. It is not a instinctive control of muscles but the collection of information and experiences such as in needed by the muscles to do the wanted performance. Last month, during a game I locked and tore my delivery muscles and being in a competition I changed my delivery to something I had never done. (a 180 side-step arm swing) I did not know what would happen but the shots were good because I had the knowledge of the green speed, the needed weight, the object distance and the subconscious made a perfect shot. (raised a bowl to the opponent's toucher (on the jack) and rolled the jack 4 or 5 inches for my points.

If you do not feel this "Void" of "Muscle Memory" there is a December 2012 blog of  "Three Subconscious Mind Exercises" which explain "Muscle Memory" and the feeling. It is a long blog but touches on several sports and explains "Muscle Memory Void" which happens when we  return the muscle control to the conscious mind. The blog has a 2014 comment  from a reader which reads.

"Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know "

I had to re-organize the order of "Next's List of actions", because "Muscle Memory" is the mind giving control to the subconscious mind for an instinctive performance, all your thinking must be finish and your word (or image) to Trigger control for the action to start is seen. Often this action is done as your backswing movement is finishing.  After Muscle Memory has finished, you will feel that you were not aware of your thoughts; and you see the bowl rolling up the green. This is a "Muscle Memory Void" feeling. Yes, a lot of players do a Muscle Memory delivery but never attempt to feel the "Void". 

That feeling is important because as you start your Post-Delivery Routine it is the confirmation that your delivery was correctly finished. If not finished because of a distraction or control of the mind's action was returned to the conscious mind. In a Youtube video, "Tiger Wood " tigers says "Between my swing starting and seeing the ball in flight up the fairway, I have no memory of what happen"

To understand more "Muscle Memory" two very detail blogs were done in April with reference to older blogs. The Cycle of  Performance, Golf, Bowls and Petanque 1/2 and The Cycle of  Performance, Golf, Bowls and Petanque 2/2 are still available and with heavy reader's visit.  These last two Routine of Delivery, the Post-Delivery (or Post-Shot) and Post-Mat are just all the things to think about as your bowl rolls up the green. After it stops and you step from the mat the information of these two routines are the data and decisions for your delivery and results. It will probably be the information you use to do your next bowl or even your next competition as this data remains in the mind and seldom forgotten. When next you make the same mistake the Subconscious will remind you of that game and your views of it.

The Post-Delivery Routine (or Post-shot) is important because as the bowl leaves your hands and is rolling you can feel all the mistakes you made. Your balance, a bad grip, a distraction, a thought; all are fresh in your mind. If you wait until the bowl stops you are 15 second too late to feel it.

The Post-Mat Routine is leaving the mat and the various thoughts as you analysis the delivery and bowl roll. You may make new decisions or be upset with yourself.

Between now, Post mat thinking after leaving the mat and returning to the Mat for the next bowl Delivery you must find method and time to "Reset". Reset is to regain your calm for the next bowl roll. If you have self-talk it is best to be positive and help you prepare. It  is here in this time while the opponent is doing their delivery that many game are lost.

If you can watch the opponent's bowl without it confusing your bowl roll data let the time be occupied with confirmation of what you learned. If there is a bad section of green check and see how it effects your opponent's bowl. If you have tricks like "Walking the Mat" or "Off-Bias Draw" maybe make a decision of how to fix what you saw happen to your bowl. If all is good, then let the joy fill your body as you wait for the opponent to finish and you can repeat the great bowl roll.

AI and DATA Centers Why ?? (Chat GPT of 2017 blogs)

 Rewritten by Chat GPT on July 16, 2026 with the old 2017  blog still on my blog site. Longest Continuous Game  by ABC News on January 6, 2017

 At this time throughout the United States, where the building of   "Data centers" is being refused by local governments because of the large amount of electricity and water usage (cooling) needed; one would wonder why storage of  10 years old blog and ,  the original newpaper text is important for storage and is still available online.

 Stored in some Data Center, probably in Australia; after 10 years is the ABC News article titled. Lawn bowler attempts 73-hour game at Cloncurry Bowls Club after misreading world record  from which this blog was written.

Longest Continuous Game

A man in outback Queensland endured blistering sun and heavy rain to set the world record for the longest continuous game of lawn bowls. The obvious question is: how do you extend a game of lawn bowls for that length of time?

Cloncurry Bowls Club manager Shayne Barwick began playing on Friday morning and continued for 73 hours, delivering his final bowl at 10:00 a.m. today in front of a cheering crowd of supporters.

The phrase "continuous game" raises an interesting question. What constituted the game, and what caused the delays between the rolling of the bowls? Under the Laws of the Sport, a game can consist of 18 ends. If an end is burned, it must be replayed, so I wanted to examine the possible calculations behind how such a record could be achieved.

I would suggest that the game was played as Pairs, with a skip capable of delivering a very accurate running bowl. It would be necessary to burn ends deliberately to prolong the game. Presumably, the opposing team would also have been playing pairs and would have needed a similarly skilled skip to achieve the same result.

Why was it only Shayne who officially broke the record? This would suggest that the other players were replaced by as many substitutes as the club could find during the attempt. I am not aware of any rule limiting the number of player substitutions in this type of record attempt.

With the record rules allowing a 10-minute break for every four hours of play, a 72-hour attempt would permit 180 minutes, or three hours, of breaks. That means the actual game had to involve approximately 69 hours of playing time.

Australian rules define delays during play quite clearly:

"Players shall play their bowl without delay and when players are changing position as part of the play of an end this change of position shall occur without delay." (Rule 55, Bowls Australia)

Next, consider the time taken for each bowl to roll and the effect of green speed. Fast greens in Australia typically produce a bowl roll of around 20 seconds or less. Even on a longer green of approximately 33 metres, the rolling time does not increase significantly because the bowl must simply be delivered with greater pace to reach the jack. Regardless of the length, the bowl still comes to rest after roughly 20 seconds.

The next question is: how long could the game realistically be stretched?

Suppose we allowed three minutes between each bowl being delivered. In an 18-end pairs game with 16 bowls per end, there would be 288 bowls. At three minutes per bowl, that equals 864 minutes, or 14.4 hours, to complete the game. Adding the three hours of permitted breaks gives a total maximum duration of approximately 17.4 hours.

However, the record lasted around 72 hours. That still leaves roughly 55 hours of additional playing time that must have been created somehow. The obvious mechanism would have been burned ends that had to be replayed.

Using the same assumptions, 16 bowls at three minutes each produce a 48-minute end. If we assume the end was burned before the final bowl—perhaps after the 13th or 14th bowl—the average wasted time per burned end would be about 40 minutes before the end had to be replayed.

If approximately 55 hours, or 3,300 minutes, of additional playing time had to be created, then more than 80 ends would have needed to be burned and restarted before the record could reach its final duration.

The calculations may not be exact, but they provide an interesting perspective on what may have been required to achieve such a remarkable record.

Regardless of the precise numbers, it was an impressive feat of endurance and an effective promotional event. Those involved reportedly raised around $20,000 toward the construction of a verandah over the club's disability access ramp.

Perhaps my calculations are incorrect, but however you analyse the attempt, it remains a remarkable achievement.

Blog of March 28, 2017 "New Bowls Season Attitude" which still exists at the 2017 list of blogs to be compared with this Chat GPT rewrite if you wish to compare the two. Eventually it will be erase. 

Unless you travel south (or north) of the equator for an off-season bowls tour, your Lawn Bowls season generally begins in the spring and finishes in late summer. In an earlier blog, "Catch Up Bowls," I featured a Canadian bowler, Clark, who travels to Portugal every year to enjoy winter bowls.

At the Vilamoura Lawn Bowling Club in Vilamoura, he is able to continue playing while Canada is covered in snow.

Some of us are fortunate enough to bowl year-round because indoor facilities are available. Others participate in similar sports during the off-season to maintain their fitness and keep their delivery sharp.

The Canadian sport of curling is often described as Lawn Bowls on ice because it uses many of the same delivery movements as a proper bowls delivery. The main difference is that the target—the house—is always located at the same distance, approximately the equivalent of a short jack of 21 metres. Personally, I play the French game of pétanque during the off-season, which presents its own unique challenges and requires different techniques.

As the opening day of the local Lawn Bowls season approaches, many of us begin searching the internet for articles, news, and results from major Lawn Bowls competitions around the world.

Today, while searching for the scores of the 2017 Blind Bowls Championship in South Africa—where I am proud to say that Daniel from our club will represent Canada 

I noticed that one of my earlier blogs, "Preparing for the New Season," published in May 2016, continues to attract a surprisingly large readership. That article described my experiences while attempting to rebuild my former Lawn Bowls club in New Brunswick and shared my thoughts on preparing for the 2017 season.

The daily readership statistics can vary dramatically, as the numbers below demonstrate. I certainly do not believe that Russia has suddenly discovered Lawn Bowls. More likely, there was simply a spike in online searches that directed readers to the blog.

The continued interest in that pre-season article explains why I decided to revisit the subject. Preparing for a new Lawn Bowls season involves much more than getting physically ready. It should also include reflecting on your attitude toward both your club and the sport itself.

My years as a coach are now behind me, but I have observed that after every club coaching clinic for new members there is often very little ongoing support for bowlers who wish to advance beyond the beginner level and compete locally, provincially, or nationally. For that reason, this year I plan to develop and promote a Friday Night Skills Evening to encourage members who want to improve their game in a supportive environment.

However, your preparation for the Lawn Bowls season should always involve more than physical practice. I would suggest that you also prepare a renewed attitude for the coming season.

Every club has members who simply pay their annual membership fee and participate only occasionally in club activities. Perhaps they feel that paying their dues gives them the right to enjoy the club whenever they choose. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Clubs depend on membership fees, and we must also recognize that not every member wants to develop their skills to compete at the local, provincial, or national level.

Over time, many of these "pay-to-play" members become primarily social members. We may only see them once or twice a year during major social events held at the club, but they remain valuable members of the organization.

Perhaps during the off-season your club organized social gatherings or activities specifically for these members. Now, as another Lawn Bowls season begins and new members arrive, those of us who have belonged to the club for many years should take time to evaluate our own involvement in both the sport and the continued development of our club.

(Update – March 30) - As the new season begins, I sometimes wonder whether I should continue blogging or perhaps slow down a little. Yesterday I published this blog, and today I noticed that 22 readers arrived after seeing my Twitter announcement. I suppose that means the blogs are appreciated after all.

Every one of those new members needs a mentor. I still remember my own first year at the club and how Jim and Mo made me feel genuinely welcome. They often sat on the clubhouse porch, sharing stories about the past and reminiscing about the many medals they had won over the years. No, I am not suggesting that everyone simply pull up a chair and tell old stories, but I do believe that every club loses members each year, and sometimes something as simple as your friendliness, encouragement, and support can make the difference between someone staying or deciding to leave.

Why did a member—or perhaps a group of members—leave the club? Did they raise concerns at the end of last season that were never addressed? Did they identify problems that ultimately influenced their decision to leave?

As membership numbers continue to decline in many clubs, these are important questions that deserve serious thought. Supporting your club means more than maintaining the greens or organizing tournaments. It also means reaching out to former members, listening to their concerns, and making a genuine effort to correct problems whenever possible.

Lawn Bowls has never attracted widespread public attention except in a few countries where the sport enjoys significant popularity, particularly Australia, Great Britain, and South Africa. In those countries, televised Lawn Bowls competitions are common, attracting large audiences and inspiring players to move from their living room couches onto the greens.

As you prepare for another Lawn Bowls season, ask yourself one important question:   "What am I going to do this year to help develop and secure the future of my club and the sport of Lawn Bowls?"

Comment - Where that blog question of "What we can do to save our clubs " was the same is 2017, I will do with Chat GPT the following two blogs of 2017. It will answer that question and I  will be added them shortly.  WHY ??  Because I want to show what was happening to clubs in the UK in 2017, and also the second blog whch is a success story of How the  Northern Ontario, Canada, the city of Muskako build a Lawn Bowling Club in conjunction with saving the  local Golf Club.