Called a Lawn Bowling teammate this pass week, to wish him a Happy New Year and during the call I asked if he had seen any of the World Bowls Finals. His reply was as we hear from many season bowlers, "Oh, went the Bowl Season is finished at the Club, I don't have time for Youtube Video watching as I have started my Winter Sport Activity". (common in Canada and United Kingdom)
This year World Bowls started their new structure of Competitions which some "streaming Announcers" called "World Bowls International Circuit" , but World bowls defines as World Bowls Series.
With the competitions now at many clubs throughout the world and in several countries; the participants gather points for their final placement score. These points created a end of Season Ranking of which the top best qualify for a 4 day World Bowls Finals in mid December.
Inside Bowls , the Australia Bowls publication (January 2026) has several pages about the Player's Success in these Finals which were played in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia.
I believe World Bowls may continue using this publication for their main bi-monthly information, and have committed more time to having a Youtube Video Channel of Game Streaming of a few of the Major Competitions. If you are not receiving "Inside Bowls" which allows for a lot of International Lawn Bowls coverage; it is a good inbox addition. Their e-mail drops directly into a magazine page flipping publication with great color and advertising. (yes, where to get what and what is new in our Bowls' World)
I will use this blog to explain why I believe if you want to learn and develop your Lawn Bowls ability then a major teaching tool is the Youtube videos which can easily be down loaded and studied in detail. "STUDY ??" you ask. Yes, nothing these great players are doing that you cannot see and learn from. I appreciate they have allowed me over the years to screen capture their style and comment (whether my opinion is correct or not).
As 2026 starts and probably the Potter Indoor World Bowls are the major Streaming Lawn bowls; very soon we will have the 2026 World bowls Tour announced. Last year, starting what World Bowls called "World Bowls Series", they allowed players to qualified in a Ranking system by participating in their World Bowls (reconized) Competitions.
The 1000 Male bowlers listed in the Ranking are probably including those in the lower 200, as having only participated in a few competitions. Those in the top 100 are probably professional Lawn bowlers as they chase the bigh money games. there are still many surprising placements on (or off) the List of 'World Bowls Series Rankings". Although the site shows an Octobere 2025 listing the Finals in December 2025 were the gathering of the top players at year end. (A small amount of surfing will probably find for the reader the end-of-Series Rankings).
Australia’s Dawn Hayman clinches the top spot as the countdown to the first-ever World Bowls Series grand finals (December 9-13) hots up.
Following her success winning the Australian Open women’s singles backed up finishing runner-up in the Australia Indoor Championships, she claims the coveted position with 674 points."
For each of us as we view the "Rankings" of both Men and Women, we are surprised how and who from our country are on the list. The 1200 women on listed in the Women's Top Rankings. are probably because with the increased number of reconized competitions in their home countries; there was a larger than expected participation. Certainly for those visiting several countries to build their rankings, the cost of travel and 3 or 4 days competition kept many great players at home.
Learning from these World Bowls Series Videos. World Bowls Day Finals Video of Australia's Corey Wedlock and England's Sam Tolchard Final bowls of 2nd end of Singles. Sam trailing 3 points in the last end. Needed 3 points to win else tie-breaker with only two points. Otherwise the game is lost with these four bowls of this last end of play.
Sometime you got the distance and Line of delivery but most time you have to be able to put a few inches to keep that tight points head. The photo (right) of Sam Tolchard yellow bowls show everything was going right for him and he took his win.
"He is holding the game, He just put three bowls on a, literally on a dime" Says the announcer. The streaming shows Sam's third bowl as it draws in tight for the 3rd point. see frontal view (photo right). Sam Tolchard of England has his 3 bowls all within less than a few inches from the jack. Corey Wedlock has had a amazing year and as the top Australian bowler has show his ability.
Walking back to the mat after seeing the 3 bowls as 3 points Corey has a determined look of unbelieve in the performance of Sam Tolchard (England) last three bowls.
Although, that image is deep in his head, as seen by Corey's body language as he walks back to the mat; his focus to do the draw with the weight need is seen as his bowls squeeze into the tight packet. It shows the great athletic he is.
If the Bowl's line has been just 3 inches more left it would have probably turned over his frontal bowl and if not taken shot, it would have certainly change the count from 3 to 2 points.
The photo show the feeling of Corey as he walks to the mat. But his bowl and it's weight also show how to have a solid focus and able to remove the visual image of those three yellow bowls; Corey had the focus to remove those doubts and get the exact weight right for that 4th bowl and last bowl.
Last minute edit - Well, this blog has been published and as I sit here watching my movie (Netflix)and I realize that I did give you the reader, the link to that wonder final game between Australia's Corey Wedlock and England's Sam Tolchard; So as I put the link above, I hope you take the time to watch the game.
However, A tip for the readers, as I promised. How often have you wanted a precision like this sort of three bowl tight performance; and just could not do it. "Weight feeling" explained now is an idea where you believe if you do something it will give a certain result. Don't know if confidence in your self or the performance trick makes it happen but here I suggest one of my tricks.
First, in viewing the video, I notice what seems like a small heel twist on Sam's deliveries and wonder if this is a "weight feeling tell". Weight feeling is thinking you feel something and because you believe that feeling that something you modify your weight. (A tell is a sign of something small but unique to the player that shows a thought, like a Poker tell).
A couple of years ago a quality players introduced me to "weight feeling control" and after a whole season of practice and reading the results; I found a bit of a unique improvement. This trick can be used for that little 3 or 4 inches add-on. Yes 3 or 4 inches, but practice makes it a "Muscle Memory" action.
Imagine if you were told to feel your toes in your bowling shoes and learn what it does for your extra (or less) delivery weight.
If you push your foot into the green, feeling the pressure of your foot on the green; you are increasing your body movement by a minute degree as you balance forward to feel your foot on the green. During practice, feel it, and practice until you know the result it provides. Repeat it until it is a thought and happens naturally when you decide to use it.
Likewise, if in your forward step you attempt to feel your trailing foot on the mat you are decreasing your body movement. Like keeping the heel longer on the mat. Does not seem much but during practice you have learned that that feeling of pressure on you toes (or heel) give a very small increase (or decrease) in the delivery weight.
In video studies, I look often for signs of a small change in an athletic performance as they finish their delivery and their body movement. With the video stop I can return several times and even go back to different ends of play.
Maybe Sam just had the right (natural) distance, but to repeat three bowls within inches of each other is also focus and confidence. To lose your cool at this point is possible for us less developed players.
Total viewer following 2025 posting.
