Pre-Mat Routine Video

First, any video on Bowls is good and promotes the sport or an aspect of lawn bowls performance.  However, sometimes we cross a video which on first view seems to be nothing, or offer very little of interest to a active lawn bowler.

. The Coaches's Den episode 5 by Australia Bowls  is  prepared by Steve Glasson, the Australian national Coach and as a coaching educational video  in a short series is probably prepared  for a beginning Lawn Bowls audience. My blogs attempt to suggest to  readers how they can improve their bowls ability, and I attempt to show subject which will make the reader think about how to improve their sport.

 This Video, at first glance appears as if  this is an introduction to a few great  Australia's Jackaroos stars, as  as  Steve Glasson explained the video as it  " is all about pre-shot routines" and "here are some Australian Super Stars showing how it is done". First star is  Aron Sherriff  doing his one bowl juggle from hand to hand, we wonder if the subject matter is worst the watching.

First, I often refer to this part of the Bowl's delivery as "Pre-Mat Routine" although here we hear it referred to as "Pre-shot Routine". The difference is whether you prepare all your mental (Visualization) and physical preparation (Bias, grip etc) before going to the Mat. Yes, you do most of the  shot preparation before your actual delivery or "Shot". Australian refer to "Shot" as all the actual performance of the delivery components that have given those final result. (including bowl's weight and line)

In the detail explanation of the seven Australian athletics we first overlook their nervousness and off-the-cuff comments and look at each individual delivery for what they offer us in their analysis of their own style.  For example,having just finished a blog (4 parts) on "Walking the Mat" (Episode 5 of Coaches den), we find Lisa  Phillips actually explaining a bit of her Post-Mat analysis of her just finished delivery as she plans to " Walk the mat"  in the next shot ( if needed) instead of changing the line.

Aron Sherriff - Bowls Central Coast website writes " At just 25 years of age Aron Sherriff rewrote the Bowls Central Coast record books when he became the first player ever to take out all four Zone Championship titles in the one year.  ie Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours. The “Grand Slam” is a unique achievement and in winning these four open titles he also became the most prolific winner of these Zone championship titles having captured an outstanding 19 titles 

First important fact.. as in the video he says "Once their bowl comes to rest, (the bowl of the just bowled player) I am already preparing myself",  Saying that the Pre-mat Routine is to prepare " yourself Mentally for the delivery. "Bowl in Hand, everything ok." "Know my line" " Point my feet" "Set my self" "Find my weight" and finally ... "Then just delivery the bowl"

Aron Sherriff checks bowl

 

 Remember a video is visual and auditive and we watch we are also incline to be distracted by the details as we listen.  But what did we miss on the visual ?.  Photo at right show his instinctive checking of his finger on the bowl and the verify the wanted bias. This habit, after many years is done so automatically tha he does not think to mention he is doing it in his  Pre-Mat Routine.

Secondly, His comment of "Set my self" "Find my weight" "Then just delivery the bowl" are all short remarks as he does them. They are for some new bowlers a very big job. The video is nice as one can see it is a distraction of his style and although to "getting his point of line"  (photo below) indicates what type of line he uses. (look up Point of Line) He even explains his self- analysis  of his line and weight.) His form  and style of delivery has the unique use of the left hand and fingers on Bowl (I believe this is a subconscious discipline of concentration). On a national Team and instructions of National Coaches is the development of "Mental Controls" and Disciplines. To be talking to the audiance as in a video means he is not in his zone of  "Mental Controls".  As part of leaving the Pre-Mat Routine is to go to the mat and "Get back into the Zone".

  So as you watch this video you must divide the actual pre-delivery and the distraction of the video on the individual bowler's style. You will see Aron do his pre-shot routine (two fingers of left hand on bowl) but we also see his distraction (raised hand to indicate his conversation) and then return to his self-discipline as he does his concentration on his delivery. Watch the face after the delivery for a reaction and you can be sure he is not extremely satisfied with the results... Making a video while bowling does not produce great bowls.

 If at this point of this blog you are reading and have not click on the link to the YouTube Video, please take time to watch the video. Or after reading the blog and watching the video go back and look closely at the fine points of the video.

Robbie Dobbins  won a gold medal in the fours at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane ( with Keith Poole, Bert Sharp and Don Sherman.

In a  2016 special edition of  the Australian "On the Greens"  he  wrote after the death of Keith Poole "Now there are only two of the original team left, Don Sherman and myself." and  "At this present time, I have been appointed the National Team assistant coach to Steve Glasson, where the two of us have once again teamed up to assist the Australian team in preparing for the World Bowls Championships to be held in Adelaide in November". 

Robbie has two important things mention in his Pre-mat routine.  "Wait until call" or instructed to Bowl: and Prepare "Bowl in hand" while his indication of Line is as to his "Reference Point". Interesting is he takes his reference point from 3 or 4 steps behind the mat and then to to the mat.  "From then on my whole concentration is what weight I want to use".

Again we see the left hand fingers to the delivery arm or hand.  Here in Canada we often see the hand on the knee during delivery. But even though the video is a distraction we see the concentration on line and weight which makes great athletics.

With the greatest of the Australia's Jackaroos stars Bowlers a lot can be found in this video if one looks closely. Look beyond the verbal explanation as these greats have habits of delivery which are not likely to be mention. Each clean their bowl, and each use a Post-Delivery Analysis but it is sometimes mixed in their detail.

We have only  looked at two athletics's contribution to this video and if you look at the career and  profile of any of these 6 individuals there are many years of bowls and medals. Some have special things to teach which can not be found in words, like Lynsey Clarke who being seven months pregnant took silver at the 2015 Australian Indoor Bowls Championships and still had a impressive positive attitude  about her performance (as told in the Gold Coast Bulletin.)
The purpose of this blog was to say "Don't look or listen to the obvious but look deeper and you will see small jewels of advice.

Matthew Flapper (and Aron in Background)

This photo capture of Matthew Flapper shows many things. First, no where in the video do we see the jack but I believe this photo of Matthew shows his long step as he deliver to a maximum distance jack.  Also, in the background is Aron Sherriff and his after delivery image certainly was not shown in his section of the above mention video.  I expect that after watching this video you as the viewer at a local competition will began to watch the Pre-mat and Pre-shot routines of the players.  Of course, you will also question your Pre-Mat routine and develop one if you realize that you do not put a lot of importance on it.

Also Matthew says "Feet are RIGHT on the mat" just before delivery.  I think he may have been concern about earlier calls on "Foot Faulting as we see by the photo at left. (very close to off the mat.)

  No... it is not Foot Faulting but the lesson is ... with a long jack and the extended step to increase body movement during delivery (which adds weight to the delivery)  you should be careful not to be too much near the front of the mat.
 .

Walking The Mat Intro 1/3 (NMem)

Cleanup done on March 19, 2026

When a new club member starts Lawn Bowls, we tell them about the important to always have the same feet position on the mat. We explain that changing their position on the mat will mean that their bowl will never be in the same position as the previous delivery

A video series of 12 Tiger Wood's Coaching by Golf Digest shows Tiger suggesting that the "Tee" depth be changed at "Tee off" depending upon the wanted flight height of the "Off-the-Tee" drive. (Video 2). This player's change in their starting performance is to gain an advantage by the golfer. In the same way, when the lawn bowler has a good delivery style, we suggest  that they apply their development toward "Walking the Mat". Where in golf, the athletic want to keep his golf ball down so also the lawn bowler may want to go around a "Block".

In the first years we should develop a  delivery which is consistance and then maybe work to understand  a few variations of where on the mat to stand for a different delivery result.  Although an experience lawn Bowler are not really worried about "Blocks",  in learning to "Walk the Mat" they will also learn how to simply move a bit on the mat will change the final placement of their bowl.

When a bowl has been placed in your line to the jack , often called a "Block";  there seems to be nothing to do but to change your delivery. (go from forehand to backhand or otherwise).  An experience athletic will tell you that "no Bowl is really a Block" because of  tricks which good Lawn Bowl athletics use.

Often called  "Walking the Mat"; the experience athletic will move left or right from their original  position, and there by do a different delivery.. Of course, One is required by the rules, to always having a foot on  (of over) the mat until the Bowl has been delivered and is rolling up the green.

 

Video of Mat Walking

First, one of the few YouTube video on "Using the Mat" is shown in the Coaches Den where Brett Wilkie, Australian Queensland Coach ;suggests it as a trick for use on a  Windy  green. This shows the movement of  the feet on the mat to allow for a different final bowl result.

The photo (left) is a screen capture of the video and shows Australian Jackaroos team  member, Barrie Lester; taking his normal stance on the mat.  Immediately afterward, in the video, we see him position himself a bit to the  left (photo below) as he "walks the mat"..

  We can also see the result of such a movement on the mat as his bowls (photo below) has a different final resting position.  This video is build by Australian Bowls for windy conditions but, here, I hope to shows that there is a lot more of an advantage for moving "around" on the mat. Also, it is important that a bowler who is "Walking the Mat" know from experience where his bowl will finish. Later in the blog, I will give an exercise to allow you to know from practice, where your bowls will finish.. Remember, any change that a player makes must be with an expectation of the known results. In a game there is no place for guess or "I think"

In all games of rolling, or throwing a ball or bowl to a target, there is the requirement that all players perform their delivery from the same position.  There are many games like Bowls (Petanque, Bocci, Curling) where as the play advances the previous bowls or Balls, stones; seem to block the delivery to the target. (Jack, Button, Cochon,etc). 

 These game have developed, over time with equipment and rules,  to allow the player to go around these  placed blocks.  Lawn Bowls now  have a bias or swing of several feet, Curling (the Canadian equivalent) has a stone which can by rotation and by sweeping be made to swing a couple of feet.  The French Game of Petanque with it delivery modifications allows the player to throw the ball through the air. If the Petanque ball can not be thrown over the block then it can be removed by a take-out shot.  The exception is Bocci (the Italian game of Bowls) where the players do not stand tn the same position but must always remain behind a "Fault Line" when doing their delivery.  Also, to go around a "Block", in the social of Bocci player can bounce their ball of the rinks wooden boundaries or wall.

  

However, even with the rules  developed  and modified to allow the delivery to get around a frontal bowl, the movement  on the mat (or in the petanque circle when playing French Bowls) has always been with certain limitations. The photo at the right is the movement of Brett Wilkie (above photo) as he moves to his far left.  The bowls final position can be seen  as they  have been delivered to the same distance apart as the step  "walking" on the mat.

The rules define the size of a traditional  “Mat” of lawn bowls , as ( Rule 7) “ is 600 mm long and 360 mm wide”. In Canada where we still often talk in the old imperial measurement, that is about  2 feet by 1.5 feet where the imperial foot is 304.8 mm. ( see note below) So in any size foot, there is plenty of space to move around the mat depending upon your normal delivery style. Delivery should always be done with the feet placement on the mat always the same for each delivery; unless you know and want to move from your normal strance position.

If (as photo below of Ryan Bester) your style places you close to one side of the mat, which many great players do so they place their bowl to the green on center line; then you have limited movement away from that tight mat edge stance.  The bowls bias out from it point of contact to the green and then as it slow down come back to the center line at the jack. Of course, you should be easily able to move 3 shoe sizes around the mat. (from side to side of the mat or front to back). Asked why would you move back? The only answer is to do the same delivery and have your bowl finish the length of the mat closer. (probably to follow a bowl which finished a mat length behind the jack)

  In Bowls as the speed of the green increase, the bowler`s line of delivery seen to require a wider stance; which means you are not now square on the mat and therefore you will find it harder to move much on the mat. (as per the  photo below of Matthew Ayres who has a acute angle of delivery on a Australian (fast) Green).

A reader wrote recently "The foot fault rule has been changed so that only a part of a foot needs to be on or above the mat. Could you comment on how this change might be affecting how we are using the mat.". In reply

Matthew Ayres on a fast green

 Yes, there is a lot of place for you to place your feet on the mat: as an individual  with an average size foot, (Most feet are  about  6 inches wide by a 12 inches (foot) long). However, when the greens get really fast and you change your delivery angle to almost 40 degrees, (photo of Matthew Ayres, Australia) the advantage of the new rule can be seen. (Note how important the "a part of the foot" on or over the mat; becomes as we respect the rule of Foot faulting).

As we turn ourself away from the Center Line for a wide stance and delivery Line; as often happens when a moved jack is moved off centre line to the side of the head; or necessary for fast greens;  we must be careful of "Walking the Mat". (When talking about faster greens we are making reference to the extremely wide final bias swing on the last few inches as your bowl stops).

Remember, the "Center Line" goes up the center of the green and passes through the jack which is at end start in the center of this line. The back and front edge of the mat runs left to right parallel along the "Mat Line" . (You can not turn your mat toward the jack or have it moved off the center line) 

 If you place yourself too tight to the edge of the mat and the rules of your country does not allow your "mat foot" to be off the mat ( because some countries accepted if over the mat); you are very likely to be called for "Foot Faulting"(foot is not correctly over the mat when your bowl touches the green). 

A close look (front/back) of Ryan Bester's delivery stance

From the 2016 Men's Singles Final Canada v New Zealand and a look at Canadian Bowler Ryan Bester, we can see that his style of delivery is rather tight to the left side of the mat. Front and Back view show his "Mat foot" properly placed and the far right photo show his bowl arm at the "Mat Center Line". 

 Game Rules state that “once the mat is placed”, at the beginning of play, Rule 20-A says “The mat shall not be moved”, and the center of the mat must be in a direct line with the Jack which is on the “Center Line”.  If the jack moves of  "Center Line" and the mat stays on "Center Line" you may find your style of delivery turning your body enough to create "Foot Faulting" problems.  When practicing your delivery from a tight foot-mat position; be sure to practice your delivery from the mat to a moved jack. In this way, if it happens;  your new delivery line will allows for your foot to be "over the mat". Photo right from Blog 2/2 shows how much a green can be damaged.

  "Walking the mat" is a tool intended to allow for fine adjustments when you know the previous line but you need a few inches (or centimeters) adjustment in order to arrive directly on the jack and/or to roll it. (as is explained in the example at the end of this blog) . However, each of us have our style of delivery. Depending upon your method of Line, your bowl will move left or right on it final position. Practice will help you to know but principle is: "If you are a Point Line bowler then the  bowl will move opposite to your movement. If you are using a Visual Line the your bowl will move the same direction as your movement".

 The experience from practice is important as you can move your feet a few inches but if Point Line method, you can not change the point of your line by a few inches. Do not think that you are going to slightly modified a new “line  of roll”. Simple know from practice that your a new  delivery line will give the result it does. As a beginners, you should not be moving around on the mat until you have a good and proper delivery. You can still practice to know left or right on the mat does what to the final bowl position. In time you will see it as a unique tool.

Example of Damage to green

 Another aspect of "Walking the Mat" is to correct your "Receiving Area" for your bowl. Sometimes when the mat is placed by the lead, at the beginning of the end, their absence of "checking the green" in front of the mat and  the "receiving Area" of the bowls is over looked.

The location where the bowl first makes contact with the green, called "Receiving Area" usually changes from player to player.  Often a bad delivery by a player has caused a poor "bowl receiving area"  or debits for you and your bowl.  If when you are about to roll your bowl and  find that your placing of the bowl to the green, arrives in a bad or damaged area of the green; you need to have a way to avoid that damaged green. Ok. Not in competitive games but all greens eventually get damaged due to club games.  We all would like to place the bowl just in front of the mat so it will cross immediate the center line. If you move on the mat, it is good to know what happens to your bowl if you must change your "Receiving area" because of your new position on the mat.  

So let us take an example of "Walking the mat"  We have a photo from the net with bowls all deliver from the left side. ( notice the standing direction of bowls) and I have modified the photo to show a skip doing a delivery from the other side. (Photo right)

As the skip rolls his bowl he finds he has passed the jack a few centimeters to the right of the jack and tapped back the black bowl (Photo 3). As he now sits on the black bowl and only has  the yellow bowl  in the count there is a  chance for a few points to be made. ( see photo 3 further below).

Standing at the mat he notices a signal from the mate, in the head who is holding up two hands with a finger of each hand only a few centimeters apart. He is showing how close he passed the jack. and saying that the skip has missed the jack by a few . If he can adjust that  few centimeters he will touch the jack.  As he does not want to roll the jack very much but a short distance roll of the jack would mean extra bowls in the count. With the same weight as the previous bowl,

photo 2

 the jack movement will add these back bowls to the count formaybe 4 points. You see in photo 3 that the red bowl has taken the place of the black bowl and is now behind the jack and you can imagine how close he came to the jack.  

  Yes if he has less weight on his delivery the finish of the bowl bias will move the jack. But taking weight of the next bowl will cause the finis of the bowl to be too soon and probably touch the frontal block (bowl line in Photo 2  above). To keep the same weight as the last bowl and the same delivery line this is a questionable shot. Is there another way?.

Yes, if he walks the mat to the right, (the same distance that the jack was missed) and keeps the same line of delivery, your bowl will pass the frontal block bowl tight and if the same weight will just touch the jack and move it away from the front yellow. If he has drawn to his last bowl he still has two. Because he has moved left it is possible that the bowl  will  touch the yellow on passing. But touch on the side will not advance the yellow bowl but push it right.

 

photo 3

This is not something to try in a game unless it has been practice  or developed during club games and the skip and mate know what can and might happen. They have worked to use "walk the mat" ( Photo 4) with the final bowl. An example of how a small change which has given a big gain.   A tool in the toolbox of skills and which maybe will only be used once a year, but which has been practiced and  both (skip and mate) know the results of such a movement on the mat.

photo 4

 ( Mat size mention above has an interesting  fact. The English inch is 25.4 mm and  a French inch is 27.07 mm. Since the  French word for inch is “pouce”  and also the same word  in french is used for “Thumb” we could  say that  the French has bigger thumbs them the English.)

(Update March 2026 - I noticed that a comment of this blog was not answered in 2016, so I will now take this cleanup time to answer it.)

Answer to Comment = In the blog Rain and Wind Bowls Play 2//2 where "Walking the mat" might be a solution for the windy condition of play and mention the blog of Green player (discussed the math of bowls); I explain here for the Advance players my understanding of the bias of a bowls construction as:

"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."