Level 2 Skip Strategy
In the YouTube video of Tayla Bruce interview we hear Tayla say the importance in Singles to play the percentage with the fourth and last bowl of play
To night following a singles game my opponent said, "It is so hard to find information on Strategy" and I took time to explain a "Percentage Strategy" By reproducing the before last end of play by building the Bowls layout and explaining the actual shot; I express my thoughts on this shot just an end ahead of that last single point end. At that time of play, the score was 4 points from the end and I had 2 points counting and with last bowl I could see a possible 4 points. The bowls of the head (as per the created photo below) showed my "standing frontal ball" which could be rolled to the head and count.
The seven Bowls setup were as to the bowls in the photo. (those without the "X White mark"), but if missed with a foot or two "Over weight". there was the danger that could result in the lost of the point.
There are "Shot options" and there are "Shot Percentage". A "Shot option" is where we see the shot and then go to the mat and do the shot. As with the rolling of the "Raising the Standing Bowl" was a good option except for the "Missed Shot Danger" of either hitting the Shot Bowl or "over weight" and the delivered bowl not have time to "Finish" and then raise the opponent's bowl. (Bowl "B"). If the "Bowl Roll" was Bowl #1 or Bowl #2 then that error could lose the game.
A "Shot Percentage" is where by using a different line or weight there are several good results possible. The photo below shows 4 bowls delivery options (due to error in delivery weight) which will give that 3rd point. What you should get from this blog beside the proper study of your head; but also to know what is important ? " To have the line right" or "to have the right delivery weight".
Always, a "Percentage shots" depends on your choice of how to get the best result by letting the bowls work for you and give the best possible shot. The black arrow in the top of the photo (near the Shot option #2) show the actual Bowl Line for this Percentage shot success. However, the "Shot Option" of contact with the "Standing Bowl (white) would be Shot option #1 which if missed left or right is dangerous and could result in actually removal the shot bowls.
The 4 bowls with "X White mark" bowls are the 4 possible shot which was possible to make 3 points or even a 4th points. Yes, a draw for 3 is the natural play but because a miss is always possible; to use a Percentage play means a less dangerous point. The photo show how, by as much as 3 bowls left of intended "Shot Option" still gave a successful shot and this setup, known as being a "400 Percent Success" shot also shows the "Delivery Line" for a good result..
Bowl Shot #4 has 2 possibilities for the 3 points as it can also kiss the opponent's frontal Bowl and then wick to the jack or it could pass opponent's frontal Bowl and remove the opponent's (blue "A") or 3rd shot. Bowl Shot #3 will pass the frontal bowls and also remove the opponent's (Blue "A") 3rd shot. Bowls Shot #2 and Bowl Shot #1 will each hit my standing frontal white (and blue) bowl and hopefully raise it to kiss the Blue "A" (3rd shot) for a result of 3 points. To collect a 4th point would be depending on how that delivered bowl continues to roll toward the head after contact.
The space between the Bowl shot #4 and the Bowl shot #3 is the "Failure Percentage"; as a bowl passing there, it would raise the opponent's frontal bowl (" A ") and maybe knock out my first "shot" bowl. ( This is a 25% failure possibility).
In another blog of March 2021 "Lawn Bowls - Percentage of Success on Bowls", (www ishi-in-sn.blogspot.com/2021/03/percentage-of-success-on-bowl-delivery.html). I show that a shot with a low percentage of Success can be a good decision to made because of the "High Percentage of Failure". Using the youtube video of the 2016 World Bowls Triples final between England and Australia; Aron Sherriff tries a Runner which had a "High Failure Percentage". There is the possibility of hitting the frontal block which could make the shot a success but any hit other than perfect center on the block would not cause damage and a "Miss shot" had no danger of removal of his 2nd point bowl. With a miss he is only giving up 1 point.
To understand and develop an eye for reading such a "Percentage Success Shot", I suggest that you set up during a practice session the 7 bowls as shown. After you have tried the shot 4 or 5 times (one at a time and go to head) you will see what can actually happens. Not only will you know about "Percentage Success" but also you will have confidence in your viewing of the actual " Percentage Options".
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The question was "What is more important, Line or Weight" In this example, it shows that you have more than 4 bowl width of possibilities as "Success percentage". But if the delivery line is taken toward the Bowl #3, then any extra weight on your bowls will keep the bowl right (as per bowl #1 and Bowl #2). And what happens if your delivery weight is too little weight ? The bowl need sufficent delivery weight to allow it to finish (use it's Bias) as seen if the option Bowls of the left happen. (Bowl #3 and Bowl # 4).
If under normal play, you were trying to remove the blue Bowl (the opponent's 3rd shot) instead of using the percentage Success option, then the shot that you would be required to played a full bowl right. (The earlier blog of visualization means you would see the shot) So the line is there at the Bowl #2 position (Black arrow) because depending upon the weight and how your bias runs; you will do one of the four shots and collect the point.
Yes, we could try the accurate takeout shot to remove the blue 3rd Bowl but if we are not all that accurate then we might want to use the "Percentage Success" as the better method to remove the opponent's bowl. With the "Percentage Success Shot" we know that a miss on the left of the chosen line of delivery; will still has 2 possible "Good results". This thought will also give you confidence that you have a really good chance to make the takeout of that third shot. And in bowl study of a shot, we must always realize the danger which exist and how not to try Bowl #1 shot, as it is the less of a chance of success.
If the bowl is too much right on such a shot, or even a whole bowl right; there is the possible shot that it may even raise the opponent's frontal blue bowl "B" to becoming shot. So "Line" is more important if the "Success percentage " is to be 4 bowls widths. Why ? If your delivery is with too much weight (6 to 8 inches) then Shot 1 and Shot 2 happen and if the delivery is too light; then the lack of weight may even result in the bowl finding it's bias and still doing the removal of the opponent's third point bowl.
I live here in Quebec, Canada and every minute of every day we make a decision to talk French or to talk English and after that decision we do it. This is the same with the Percentage Success Shot. You make the decision and then do it. (Don't Second Guess yourself. Doubt will result in not making the shot.
I played the percentage shot with the line (Bowl option #2) that I knew as important for the best percentage and because I am playing at the end of this game. ( In the last few points of a Singles we must be comfortable with line and weight.) Actual result - I missed a bit left and did a Bowl Option #3 but with the right weight I did tap back the 3rd shot and wicked a bit toward the jack.
The modified Shot photo shown above was created with bowls from the first or 2nd end of play of 2025 Australian Open Men's Single which is still available on Youtube. A very good video to learn and see Singles strategy)
So what happen ? I was a bit light in weight and the bowl roll therefore ended as actually being the "Shot 3". Because of the under weight delivery (by 18 inches) it saw the bias finished a bit more and just tapped (hit) the opponent's Blue 3rd shot. If I had had more weight on the delivery, the bowl it would not have finished so much bias and which only moved their about 2 inches to give me the 3 shots (score was then 11-17 as condition of play was for game to be played to 18 points). What is important is with this shot my trying was rather safe as a miss still gave me the extra point as long as my draw weight was near to perfect.
What is important is that we will often miss a little and if you play a large percentage shot it will still be successful even with the miss. What is important in reading "Percentage Shots" is to decide if "Weight" is important or if "Line" is more important and making that decision apply the importance to your decision.
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