As I update this blog in 2026, I am surprise that this video of the 2016 World Bowls Two Bowls Triples is still available. Christchurch, New Zealand welcomed world players and as the top two teams meet for the Gold Medal Game, the teams are given a 15 practice roll-ups. And the commentators are discuss the fact that Australia had not won this title since 1966.
The Australian team of Barry Lester, Mark Casey, skipped by Aron Sherriff will be meeting the English team of Jamie Walker, Andy Knapper skipped by Robert Pexton after both teams having hard teams to beat to get here.Sometimes, after a game, we hear during a skip discussion that he felt that there was a low possibility of making a "Runner shot". I use this video her to explain both "Success Percentage" and "Failure Success" (although in overtime there is not need for Failure Success) Three aspects of a shot decision are in the mind of a skip as he evaluates his options. His own success with this type of shot, the "Percentage of Success" and the damage or consequence of missing the "Shot".
This Gold Medal game goes into a over-time as the 14 - 14 score shows how Australia set up a 'Catch Bowl' before attempting a takeout shot for the win. Using this game in this blog to show great decision making as Australian's Skip Aron Sherriff of Australia goes to the mat to play his final bowl,
At left we see the head of the overtime end of the 2016 World Bowls 2 bowl Triple Championship. as the skips go to the mat and England is holding the winning point with a toucher within inches of the jack (This video is still on youtube).We can see three possible deliveries for Aron. 1) A forehand "lightly over weight" draw to touch and remove the shot bowl or knock the jack back a few inches to Australia`s bowl (yellow) behind.
However, England`s last bowl played by mate was to leave a block quite far up the green against this option. 2) A backhand draw to the jack with the danger of moving the jack to the English bowls rather than back to their own yellow bowl. (Aron during most of the play has been favoring his Forehand draw) and 3) A runner bowl to remove the England "Shot bowl". This shot would require a very fine cut (1/8 ot 1/4 cut on the shot bowl).
This, the 3rd option, is the choice which Aron Sherriff decided to do and if succwssful, win or lose the game. As we see with the photo below, the bowl passes within a fraction of an inch for a miss and England wins the Gold.
Once, during a club championship final, I made a 1/8 bowl runner shot like this and my partner said to me "If you can make those Shots, you can make anything." However, my decision to try the shot was base not upon the "Success Percentage" but that the shot had a High level of "Successful Miss" and of course was not my last end or bowl. Let me explain the difference.
As you know, sometimes, we must give up the point, if we do try a shot it is best to not be successful if that "Miss" shot changes the head.. In the above example, by Aron Sherriff , his missed shot did not cause any damage to the head and if a bit off (1/4 bowl) it would have moved the jack back to his bowl.
Sometimes we are in the habit of thinking about previous games played with the same shot required. Because England still had a bowl to play, it is possible that Aron has thought of his shot as if there were still ends to play. I say this because of the weight of his shot and the " Percentage of Success" as beng Low. Pressure of the moment may have introduced the idea that with a "Miss" there is no danger of removal of the Australian bowl (yellow) which is second. This would be the skip's thought if there were still more ends to be played. (a thought which probably was done many times in Aron's Bowls career)
It is an opportunity to explain a High percentage of "A successful Miss", a thought expected in a game with more ends to play, The miss here meant the lost of the game. However, looking at the same "removal" of the "shot Bowl".
Another important fact is that many skips usually only throw with success one type of runner although I have seen a couple athletics throwing with equal success both handed Runners. Maybe because a "Forehand Runner" is easlier as a "Backhand Runner requires the bowler to be stepping away from the "Center Line" when throwing.(My opinion). Some great "Take-out Artists" like Ryan Bester has success on both hands.
The shot which Aron Sherriff tried was the "Forehand Runner" and as we see on the screenshot photo (left) where his bowl is stopped; the runner (yellow) bowl passed very close to the shot bowl; Aron just missed by an inch or so. A gutty shot for the Gold Medal of the 2016 World Bowls. But the better players can and do make these hard and "impossible" shots.
This blog, which was started several months ago, and now being finished was important to finish as seldom do I get good examples of important information like Percentage of Success or Failure.
I am late finishing this blog because I was here in Canada watching the 2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship Singles Final. Here in Canada, to watch 6pm game from Australia or New Zealand requires a early morning 3am viewing. Watching such great bowls game online is all that we Lawn Bowls addicts have with the CoVid shutdown of Canadian and Americian Lawn Bowls Clubs.
From March 15 to 19, 2021 we saw the 2020 Australian NSW Bowls Club Championship streaming. was worth the early morning online. ( from March 15 to 19, 2021) Have not missed much of the Australian or New Zealand streaming this year, this 2020 Singles Final was worth the early morning viewing.
In this game, Corey Wedlock of Warilla is trailing at 29 - 30 as he and Ben Twist of St Johns Park go to the mat for the final end of play. Ben`s first bowl is a toucher and stops 5 or 6 inches in front of the jack. Corey on his 2nd bowls decides that with the 29 - 30 score, and such nice bowls; the head needs being opened a bit. His runner takes the toucher and jack to the ditch with a seperation of less than a foot. (Game over as the toucher stayed with the jack). But I was impressed that Corey threw such a good "Backhand Runner".
The purpose of this blog is not to be an "ArmChair Critic" as often seem to be the reviews of good games. As anyone who has played singles know that a tough part of "Singles" is being alone on the green and at the end game there is a lot of pressure. Was this shot before the last bowl a sign of pressure ??.
This was a great game, played yesterday March 19, 2021; and can still be seen on NSW Bowls . At one point Corey was behind 15 to 26 and came back to a 28 - 28 tie. So, not to critize but show what is meant by "Bowls Success" or "Precentage of Success" I use this game to comment as in the final end of this game we see clearly the point of "Percentage of Success"as explained as to the number of bowls which the shot can be missed and still be quite an acceptable shot.
From the screenshot (right) we see Corey`s runner bowl (stopped) just prior to contact. It was a "Forehand Runner" which in this case has only one "Bowl of Success" as the contact with the 2nd bowl from this angle offer no level of success. The angle at which the forehand bow arrives in the head is from left to right. Greater "Success" is seen with a "Backhand Runner" which approaches the head right to left.
On the "Backhand Runner" we see that there are three "Bowls (large) of Success" as even a narrow far right "hit" on the 2nd shot bowl will cause the head to be changed. When putting this in percentage I would say "has a 300 % of success". (No such option on Forehand)
We see that a runner on the backhand causes a difference approach and different results. Above, I mention that some players can only throw a forehand runner. In this case you must know your actual success at throwing the runner. A backhand runner is more difficult.
Even a backhand runner hitting the 2nd bowl square on will bounce a bit left and could move the shot bowl left and finally take shot. However, a runner is not the best decision here.
Also, as Corey had last bowl; his decision of a runner could have been saved for the last bowl and the other bowls used to prepare for such a runner. Very probably the quick decision of Corey was more the Pressure of a really great game which all players feels at the final end-game.
No comments:
Post a Comment