Your Jack Distance 2/2 (AMem)

Under development but because of the many youtube videos reference posting now.. will probably finish by end of first week of February 2026.

Have tagged  this as Advance athletic (AMem), it is the second part of  two blogs because for the athletic with a developed "Muscle Memory"; this blog will assume you know and have a "Muscle Memory" delivery.

After the first few paragraphs suggesting method of knowing the "Jack Distance" the blog will suggest how to take this distance from a Pre-mat Calculation to the mat and still do an instinctive delivery. Or continue to develop their delivery toward a Muscle memory performance.

To those with a developed "Muscle Memory" they feel and know the "Void" or "Zen Moment", but for the new bowler wanting to know the Jack Distance it is necessary to just have confidence that during your delivery your calculation will apply without your thinking of it.

We teaches that the bowl delivery weight is influence by three forces. First your physical movement, then your "body Movement Speed" and "Conditions of Play", all which may change in delivery  or result of delivery. In another blog on "Changing Green Speed" which explains how my club's green delivery speed changed three times in a few ends. That blog uses a Curling trick to read green speed as because of the club's location near a large body of water in June caused dew onto the green as the sun set. The third part of Bowl delivery which we have no influence over but necessary to know.

The photo (right) shows a Blind Bowler's Distance marker because the individual centering the jack indicate the distance the rolled jack is from the mat.   However, that distance is 21 meter when the mat is at the "Mat Line" and the Jack is at the "Hog Line". If the mat is brought forward 5 meters the center jack will be announced as 26 meters even if the jack is just legal at 21 meters. (often, in blind bowls games, the mat remains at the mat line for the entire game) 

A legal jack can be between 21 meters and 31 meters with the "Respot mark also at 2 meters from the back ditch. In the photo it is showing "29 meters because the "Respot" or "T" mark is at 31 meters.  As the mat is brought forward from the "Mat line" this maximin distance decreases from 31 meters to 21 meter when the mat is brought to the opposite direction  Hogline. 

So "Jack Distance" requires to be calculation, how far above the Mat Line  the mat has been placed and how far up the green the jack has been rolled. Be substraction of the Mat Line distance from the "Up the Green Distance" you have the Jack distance for your delivery. 

 In developing our Delivery we often look at the "Jack Distance" and feel it as "Close", "Far", "Very Far"  or somewhere between those distances.  We guess and throw the bowl and watch to see how close we are. This "Guess Distance"  of the jack is not the right way to instruct yourself of the "Jack Distance".

 "Skip's Assistance" often is not seen in major competitions because it also instructs the opponent of the "Jack Distance" and although a good skip will develop his team and be using signals to indicate the "Jack Distance" to his lead.  These quick signals only occur once after jack was centered and usually to help the lead's performance.

The most common Skip Assistance is his body movement after the placement of the jack on center line. Sometimes we see the skip walk to the "Hog Line" or the back ditch and then walk back to the jack. (the 2 steps to a meter is known by all). My first skip of a money competition  would put fingers to his chest, which was for my one "Natural Distance" and showed how much more I needed. In another competition I saw him used that same signal for his players to know the points in the head. 

Since that time, I have developed the use of the same signal for indicate the other distances of 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 distance.  points in the head allowed it to be confused by opponents as Points and not Distance..especially at times when they have asked the lead to bring up the mat. There are several methods if the mat is at the "Mat Line"

. Sometimes the skip after placing the jack will step back to the "Hogline" to indicate a jack a few meters over. (2 steps are close to 1 meter). 

The jack will always be between 21 meters (the "HogLine") and 31 meters (The back Ditch) unless the mat has been moved forward. Since this distance of 10 meters is the playing green between  the Hogline and the Respot or "T" spot; a player can use other indication to know the jack distance. In those first walks up the green I often take a lot of notice of furniture or buildings at various surrounding of the green. 

 The front of that bench is 1/2 green, or that miss-colored sport on the green is 1/4 green. All of this sign as you go up the green and then back after the next round of play should be your distance markers. The benches at my club are 3 meters apart so I can say 23,26,29  and the same with the clubhouse where windows are same distance apart.

When you have the distance now is the time to use that information.Go to the mat after having done your pre-mat routine (verify bias, decide on method of weight increase, etc) and as you swing back your delivery arm in starting your delivery see that image and then allow your instinctive delivery to happen. At first I had a filler image which I used (like a cloud or flag flying) which was my thought as the delivery finished.

Remember, it will take practice and you will know you have inserted the distance by that image.  (the bench, the car in parking) because you will feel that "Void" after your delivery.  But practice because now you are interrupting the subconscious mind for that image; later you can think the image prior to delivery without interruption as you train you mind that it is part of your delivery. One problem, the distance image has to be always part of your Pre-Mat routine. See it and it will be there.

In an earlier blog I indicated you could put a few inches more on a delivery by thinking of feeling your foot (toe) on the green as you step forward (an indication of moving your body weight forward a bit).

  Or take a few inches off by feeling your heel on the ground behind you. This is just a thought but the subconscious learns it is an instruction to do more body movement or less movement. 

Each time you practice a Muscle Memory interruption  it is the same. An image or thought during your start of delivery and quickly leave it.. At the beginning you will use your filler image to occupy your thoughts.

There is two things I will introduce here. Each is an split second interruption of the "Muscle Memory" or subconscious control of the delivery. The first is where players whom are beginning to see a "Muscle Memory" and feel that absence of thought; and is how to introduce a image or thought and allow the delivery to continue.

The second, which I am successful with at about 40 to 50 percent of the time. It is called "Projected Distance" and involves allowing the subconscious to use memories of previous deliveries to jack at other distances. In Archery, Projective Concentration happen when the shooter follows the expression of "Be the target, pull the arrow to you". If you are not aware of Visualization a blog of interest is "Seeing the Shot, Visualization; where a youtube video of Tiger Wood talks about "Being in the Zone". He said he does not see the ball between his back swing and when it is in flight in front of him. There is also a blog to help you discover this "Zone" and its feeling  The Lawn Bowls blog of "Three subconscious mind exercise" of December 28 2012; was at first, an attempts to identify to the reader the presence of the Subconscious mind in the athletic's actual Lawn Bowls delivery. 

Your memory of the past several years of delivery to a jack at a distance is like a DVD bank of Music. You have seen every distance being bowled to and watched your bowl go to the jack. If you were to remove a DVD from your bank and it was not the correct music; you would put it back and take another. The visualize of deliveries is remembering rolling a bowl to the jack. if like the DVD you memory is not the right one for that distance; you will feel the lack of reaching the distance and therefore retreive a memory of a longer distance. Yes do another visualizing and push the finish of the image to the jack. Eventually you will feel you have the distance. My self I now restrict my self to three visualization and I am often it is the distance. I believe that the great athletics do this and only  need one.  It is real, it happens and it is amazing to feel and achieve.

To the first "Interruption" of Muscle Memory. In an earlier blog in explaining how I was shown to put a few inches (8 or 10) onto a delivery I wrote. "

Of course. when the mat is being placed, as I skip I count the steps it is brought out as this information is needed to define a legal jack. As most skips identify the "Natural Distance" of the opponent it also helps them to see the strategy of the opponent. Every player, especially leads of competitive play, should develop their own method of reading the greens and surrounding for "Jack Distance". 

Now, for the Advance athletic with a developed "Muscle Memory" who wants to develop or experience Projective Distance. Above I suggested a "Grass Speed Meter" which come from Curling where students are taught to count to measure the speed of the ice.  

First take a look at the Petanque video of Mark Wildeboar   Petanque Shooting and watch his left toe or shoe. He is visualizing his ball flying to the target and after three Visualization he does successful the shot. Maybe he has placed the target ball at his Natural Distance and so does a great shot. Myself in Petanque, I have found even the best "Canadian" Petanque players have a distance they have a low success percentage. Actually Mark could close his eyes after his visualization and still make the shot. That is how strong the Subconscious mind is when performing.

This Visualization of Distance is easy in Petanque because the jack (cochon) target is only a different distance of 4 meters between the closest and farthest distance legal.

As for Lawn Bowls, the 2024 blog of "Talking to the Subconscious mind 2/3" discuss this same visualization in detail and so this blog ends with reading that blog and watching the pairs' leads; Angela Bold (NZ) and Lora Daniel (WAL) in the 2016 World Bowls Final . 

Both leads have body movement similar to the above petanque player as they visualize the "Jack Distance" and then perform a Muscle Memory delivery to the Jack.  For bowls it is harder to achieve this level of Visualization because of the longer distance but with Practice and not accepting any interruption of the subconscious performance; you will develop this level of Distance Visualization measure of the Jack.

Myself I don't do competition much any more and this will be my 4th year working on this Visualization. My staying in the zone "Not interrupting the Muscle Memory" is about 50 percent and that is because my focus or concentration often does not push my vision to the jack.

Your Jack Distance 1/2 (NMem)

 In 2026, my blogs on Lawn bowl will be in three groups, New Members (NMem), Advance Members (AMem) and General Information (Info) to allow readers to choose topics which is as to their experience. Sometimes moving ahead on a topic only confuses the new lawn bowler, so it is suggested to not chase information until it is needed at your level of play and practice.

One of the major problems in developing club member as quality athletics for a competition level performance; is that beyond the "New Member" coaching of their first year, very few club members get any secondary coaching. This extra coaching, may be required at different levels of membership (2nd year, 3rd etc) and allow members to improvements their delivery, performance, and game to a different levels. 

Now, to today's Blog. "Jack Distance".  When I introduced the need to know the distance of the jack to perform a good tight jack delivery, one of my students replied "Children throw a baseball without knowing the distance it has to be thrown". I then explained that their "Muscle Memory" develops faster than older individuals who come to the sport later in years after have experienced several other sports. Actually, the reply was more to avoid the question and insert a "Buzz Word", preventing explaining details which would be beyond the intended level of the course being given.

 "Muscle Memory" is doing the same actions over and over until the action is instinctive and without thought. In the first year's learning of a lawn bowl's delivery, the coach or student are concentrating on how to instruct different muscles to do actions which are usually new. Over time, with practice and game play the student will have developed their own style of delivery. Their own "Muscle Memory".

 Your thinking, as you learn and develop your delivery,  is busy with checking that certain muscles are doing instructed actions while  always being aware that other muscles are attempting to do actions they have previously developed in other sports which are  interfering with our Delivery. 

The unique aspect of Lawn Bowls which separates it and the delivery performance of other "Ball Roll to a Target" sports; is the extreme distance of the target (or jack) from the player. Other sports like Bocci, Petanque, and Curling, all have closer distances of play or the delivery is always to a target which is at a fixed distances. 

In Curling the "house" or target, to which the "Stones" are delivered, is always the same distance. It is the same as  a Lawn Bowl's short Jack with a distance of  21 meters from the "Release Line".  

So muscle development of a Lawn Bowler's delivery is seen as, the new player always working to repeat the same  muscle movements and because of the changing distances; doing modifications to that performance for a new distance.  In Curling, "Muscle Memory" develops quickly, where in Lawn Bowls, unless the jack is always placed at the same distance in that first year; the 1st year student is always modifying their delivery,

 With the jack at a different distance with each new end of play or practice, a player is forced to know and work with this new "Jack Distance" by modifications to their delivery. Since game play requires that every bowl be well played, the game requires that the "Lead's first bowl be rolled after their preparation decisions on how to play that distance. This time of preparation is called "Mat Routine"

In Petanque, the french "bowls" game; the "Cochon" or target (an opponents ball) is between 6 meters and 10 meters. (Rules allow for up to 20 meters if during the game the "Cochon" has been moved).

Petanque Take-out

This short distance is because often the players are throwing their metal ball of 3" or more at the opponents balls in what is called a "Takeout" shot. Also in order of play, if the team does not have the closest ball to the "cochon", then they play again until there remains no more balls.

In Bocci, the Italian similar game,  the target is a bit longer distance and the game is more of a "Call Shot" sport. Similar to Petanque, the Bocci player rolls or throws their balls. If in the attempt of doing a "take-out" shot, it is missed; the "Boccis"  and "Pallino" (Balls and Jack) which were displaced by the failed shot, are replaced to their pre-shot positions. Likewise in other throwing sports (horseshoes, Darts, etc) the distance to the target is also fixed thus requiring only a  performance or Muscle Memory of precision. 

This difference is important to understand because a Lawn Bowls athletic who can draws to within inches of the "Jack", which may be up to 31 meters; must be always  making many fine adjustments to their bowl's delivery. Depending upon the distance to the jack and the experience of the athletic, such  a long jack distance and the changing conditions of play only increase the game's difficulty.

Blind Distance Markers

In Blind Lawn Bowls when the jack is thrown and centered by a "Game Assistant" the distance to the jack from the mat (on the Mat line) is announced to the player by the assistant. The "game assistance" or marker in Singles; only needs to look at the distance numbers on the side boards. (photo) Then the Blind bowler just performs a delivery for that distance, but also make changes to their basic delivery for the indicated distance.

  A social games skip will usually tell new bowlers their distance to the jack. However, the raison for indicating the distance to a new lawn Bowler is more in preparation for later in the course as they are explained the need to develop a Pre-Mat Routine. 

This routine is one of three parts of a "Delivery Cycle". Pre-Mat, Delivery, and Post-Mat. It is after the delivered bowl has stop that the Post-Mat Routine analysis the performance and any errors in the calculation of the Jack's distance.

The Pre-Mat Routine is where decisions on the modification to a delivery to a new distance is prepared, however, that first bowl to a just "centered" jack is difference than the delivery actions following a bowls. These "Next Bowl" decisions of the Pre-Mat are corrections and improvements to the last bowl delivery, or a new request from the team Skip for his game strategy .

It is critical in knowing the actual "Jack Distance" when coming to the mat, because we can make adjustment to our delivery weight as we attempt to always place our bowl on the "Jack".  Problem which exist is that if a player is thinking of a precise distance during their delivery, like 25 meters: it is a conscious mind thought and as an instruction to change the muscle performance for the delivery. Also, such thoughts during the development of the delivery performance;  "Muscle Memory" delays the establishing an instinctive delivery. One must remember that  a subconscious or instinctive performance is performed without  the interruption by conscious instructions. 

 We have to train our "Muscle Memory" to use the data collected before coming to the mat for our delivery. Yes, the subconscious or instinctive action of delivery will use that information. But to suggest the distance during the development of the delivery is like someone talking to a typist when they are busy working. Your subconscious mind is working in a void or emptiness, and a thought cause it to transfer the muscle control back to the conscious mind. 

The second part of this blog will attempt to suggest how to introduce this thought quickly during your delivery and let it be passed to the subconscious mind. If you want to become a good competitive lawn bowler every bowl you delivery is important and you can not always use the first bowl as a "trial end" to know the jack distance.

 Each of your delivery, the first bowl included, should have an expected result as we first establish the distance to the jack and then define what changes to our delivery we will do for that distance.

Following your lawn bowls coaching and during your practices, beside the physical development toward an instinctive delivery; you should be developing a routine which checks the proper performance of the many things which influence the delivery of your bowl. The actual evaluation of the "Jack Distance" is done only before the first bowl; after your jack roll has been centered. Also, if during your end of play the last bowl played has moved the jack then you return to your new evaluation of  the "Jack Distance", so knowing the distance is not only a "Lead's" knowledge. But because most players have previously been a "Lead" it is hoped that they learned the need to calculate the Jack Distance and it's influence on your next delivery.

The stats (above) of the blog show some similar blogs which might be helpful to thoughts from this blog. Things like "Line of Delivery" and the right Bowl's bias and other Pre-mat actions, are useless if you have been guessing at the distance or feeling that distance

. Lawn bowls student must makes some changes to their delivery for that new jack distance. And I always found that thinking on Delivery Line or (not and) Delivery Weight is hard to learn . Best advice is to do one or the other in Practice and apply them as needed when on the mat.. 

But, here is the problem.  If you are thinking a number of meters or a distance, this conscious thought causes the instinctive delivery to become a muscle performance instruction and interrupts your "Muscle Memory". So, in practice sessions you do your thinking, then go to the mat and allow the Muscle Memory to use that information without ever thinking about the distance again. A delivery routine is developed during practice sessions and a modified delivery routine (Pre-mat) is prior to active "Muscle Memory" delivery.

In the second part of the Blog, intended for the Advance Players who want their "Muscle Memory" action to collect the Jack distance information; the biggest suggestion is to just do your delivery with a small (microsecond) thought of distance. Not a number or a word just a memory of your calculation from before going to the mat.

If in reading Part 2 it seems complex, just realize that in time and practice that instinctive delivery will happen. You will know when your delivery  is at your level of development and to re-visit Part 2 will help make other changes to your delivery without interrupt to the "Muscle Memory". 

 With hours of practice of inserting a microsecond memory into the delivery performance ("Muscle Memory) the advancing competitive bowler will know that  "Feeling" of distance is confidence that Muscle Memory  know the distance.

Have tagged as Advance athletic (AMem) that second part of these two blogs because for the athletic with a developed "Muscle Memory"; it will take long hours of  long practice of  remodelling "Muscle Memory". And I know my blog readers who are seeking a small changes or correction to their Instinctive delivery (Muscle Memory) will find hard to understand that blog.

Summerland Series Singles (NMem) 2/2

As the 2nd day of the Summerland Series of Singles competition starts on January 2nd (January EST (American time)) at the Cherry Street LBC in Ballina NSW Australia; we find a dark day with a forecast for Rain. This the first big 2026 cash competition, and a large gathering of top notch lawn bowlers wishing to qualify. (and share the money)  Two Youtube streaming game providers  Youtube Live Sports  and  Australia Bowls Facebook attempt to cover some of the more important match ups.

On January 3nd, EST (North American Time), the final day of the Singles are closing and find players's last chance to reach the finals  and share  the $25,600 prize money. 

In the games videos we find at  5:30 AST  the last qualification game between  Jason Trainor (WA) and Terry McFaddon,  (TAS) whom are welcome to the green with a evening shower which quickly turns into a heavy down-pour rain.

As they finished their trail ends and starting their first end of play, the heavy rain had them step up onto the Club spectator's area to awaited the heavy rain to stop.  Seeing this condition of play offers me a chance to introduce an important aspect of Lawn Bowls, Game Time Management, as the second part of this two part blog.  Although the game had a time limit; players can leave the green for a short period of time but must know how to manage their game time.  Yes, the singles are a game of 21 points but in having a time limit, there are some interesting points of play management to know and remember. 

There is always enough time allocated for the games but often in a good Single of only a point or two per end of play, we have to learn how to manage that game time.  One would question a short absence from the green for rain when we do not know how the game will progress.

I would like to leave this Singles game for a minute as I discuss a timed Fours game because with four players teams it is the hardest to save time. But a few points well worth learning. Other games, Triples, Pairs and Singles are just a modified aspect of these "Time Saving" techniques.

First a fours game,  4 players against 4 players with each player having 2 bowls is a very good teaching game because unlike Triples with three bowls; players do not have an extra bowl to waste with a bad delivery. Also, because of the many players at the mat, we often see one of the two type of division of the players. A 3-1 or a 2-2 team division where the four players are divided into three players at the mat and the skip alone in the head. I personally peferre the 2-2 team division as  the front end two players (lead and second) are at the mat end of the green and the mate and skip are in the head. 

Three players of "Fours" game

Competition Game Rules define when the players can go to the head, but usually the two players of the front end go to the Head with the other team when their last bowls is played. (Photo from 2025 Australian Championship Men's Fours TAS / WA right & Below)

What different does these two division of players mean to the actual play of the "Fours" game?  First with the three players at the mat and the skip alone in the head it is very demanding of the skip to administrate all his three players. A skip worth his weight and ability will demand different performances from each player they uses that players strength to the team's  and game's best advantage.

Two players of 4 at mat

When the division is two players at the Mat end of the green and the Mate and Skip in the head the Mate can perform tasks which allows the skip to relax and better follow and administrate the game. The mate can receive the jack and after placing it work with the lead and second as the skip relax.In a 14 or 16 ends of play the last ends of the day can find a skip completely without "Focus" because of the lack of "self time". Not really a  relax because a skip would be busy advancing the strategy as the game starts; and as the mate is doing the skipping of the front-end, he becomes a member of that group. 

As the game progress into the 4th and 5th end of play; it is possible for the skip to use the team "Mate" to improve the performance of the front end as  his decision are carried to these players, or the "Mate" is now coaching or administrating  the four's front-end. For example, the skip can see that the lead or second are not performing as expected and send the mate to pass an end or two helping the two players work as a single unit.

Like in Pairs where the lead is busy building the head and studying the strength and weakness of the opponent; the front-end (lead and second) also have this work to do  in a "Fours" game. So with the mate is at the mat it is possible to instruct the lead and second finish their bowls and discuss their decision and deliveries. If the opponents division of players is not the same  (3-1 or 2-2), the only difference in movement of players is that the "Mate just stays at the mat" for their delivery as the lead and second go to the head with the opponent's front-end players.

Now concerning the rain which forced the Summerland Series competition players to pause their play without an official game pause; thus creating their need to save time. In a "Fours" competition we learn that if a time remaining for play is a problem  and the team must save time; it is the two players (lead and second) who must play faster to catch up on time. If one team plays faster, very often the other team develops the same method of going to the mat and doing their delivery thus creating a faster delivery.

In any timed game, it is usually the lead who will supervise the time limit and be aware when the game is at half-time. Yes the skip will watch the time but in a serious game the skip may probably allocate the responsibility to the lead. If the team is late as they pass the half way point of the number of ends to be played, it will be the Lead and Second who will modify their pattern of play to save time. 

 Ok back to the Summerland Series competition as the down-pour became  very heavy and the players step off the green for 4 or 5 minutes. In the video you can see the players looking to see if the umpire has called a short pause in play. Of course, as the camera scan the total  8 greens; the video show that other teams are still playing because no "Official Delay in Play" was called. 

As we see the two players of the singles step in out of the rain while the major down-pour they will also modify their play speed to regain that lost time. In a "Pairs", "Triples" or "Fours" game it is always the lead; and second if necessary that work to regain the lost time. The reason this task is given to the lead is because as the game time limit approaches, it is the lead who must quickly place the mat and throw the jack before the bell is rung; not concern with other tasks like collecting the bowls or placing protective screens if being used.

as the second end of the competition finishes we find as Jason Trainor checking the shots with a "Finger Measure" as weather changes to a light rain. The down-pour has not yet started.

 An interesting error happens and corrected by the players. With the 2nd end of play finished, Jason Trainor  comes to the head and after a quick finger measure for shot bowl; actually kicks the jack toward his own bowl.   This leads Terry McFaddon standing there, to believe that Jason is indicating that it is his bowl that has shot and Terry attempts to give Jason the mat. Without allowing Terry to verify or call an umpire, he believing that he has lost the shot. 

Then they both spend a long time exchanging looks before Terry realized that Jason had been given him the shot,  at which time he picks up the jack. If Jason is giving Terry  the shot, of course there is no reason for Terry to want to measure. 

 What actually had happen is Jason had pushed the jack toward Terry, as if saying "Point is yours, here is the jack". But because Terry was standing behind Jason's Bowl, he thought Jason was indicating which bowl was shot. 

An important single condition of play. A player should never move the bowls or jack until both players have agreed upon who has shot and how many. 

This video is a good example of the how the weather conditions changes the Markers communication with the players. You have to watch very closely to catch the sign from the marker. Remember to make your communication signs to the players very clear as they also are indications to the spectators as the points as they watch the game progress.

All competition players know they will eventually need to play in the rain and understand that depending upon the drainage abilities of the greens of the club; there can be various amounts of water still on the green when the play resumes. While waiting in the clubhouse for the rain to ease enough to allow the game to continue, it is sometime wise to take photo for your "Green's Rain Photo". Such a photo (below) will show the high and lows of the green as water collects and hills appear. Yes, different areas of the green can have a different drainage but usually the green drainage is consistance over most of the green.

 The Green's Rain Photo (right) is my club last summer.  From my Greens Note Book, which contains many small details; we can also see what to expect with game play in the  direction away from the clubhouse (North / South). It is also helpful indications of green's characteristic in the other direction as the water settles in the lower areas and the photo will help us remember these areas and their boundries for a future game.

 The greens at Cherry Street Sport LBC has great drainage as we will see after the downpour because although a really heavy rain, the first bowls of play as Jason and Terry return to play are both heavy by three feet. Maybe they played heavy thinking the wet green would slow their bowlsl or maybe they played their feeling of Jack Lenght and their bowls saw a green's speed increase as the influence of the just finished rain.

Summerland Series Singles ( NMem) 1/2

 One of the first Lawn Bowls Tournament of 2026 on Youtube Live Sports and Australia Bowls Facebook  is the Summerland Series with a  Post Christmas Pairs (December 27 - 29, 2026 AST)  and  a Post New Years Day Singles (January 2 - 4, 2026 AST or January 1 - 3 EST)  competitions  at the Cherry Street LBC in Ballina, NSW. Google AI, when asked about this competition replied as:

"The Summerland Series is a prestigious annual lawn bowls tournament held at Cherry Street Sports " and  " The 2025/26 series consists of two main disciplines: Pairs and Singles, offering a total prize pool of $25,600 ". 

 As I surf the web for recent Lawn Bowls' Activities during  our Canadian Winter months; these Games or competitions, usually in Australia, New Zealand or South Africa often bring together the best bowlers from these countries as well as others "Money Tournament Chasers" from Northern countries.

 For this year, as my 81 birthday approaches, I will attempt to keep my  2026  blogs to "Game Analysis" for Singles and Pairs and Subconscious Improvements. With over 170 written blogs since 2012, it is also time for a major Cleanup (and maybe Update) of the most frequent visit blogs. With more than 140,000 visit/reads to these blogs, it shows me that new and old readers value this information and opinion.

 As I will attempt to start this years blogs with single's strategy and common game errors made by players and/or Markers; I realize that I must attempt to make shorter blogs. To cover the same detail and player's improvement instructions, I may be required to create  more two-part Blogs like this one.

The screen capture  (photo left) is of the third  game of  The Summerland Singles  between Kenny Nelson and Duncan Elphick and show a important coaching instruction to Single players.

The  first bowl of singles, after the trial ends, is usually suggested to be played a bit heavy (1 to 2 feet) with the intention of being behind the jack and accepting that with proper delivery line it will move the jack off center line. With Luck your bowl will also staying tight with the jack. I mention "With Luck" because I will often replace "Luck" in a game by what one can call "Success Percentage". Even at times, I will even suggest "Failure Percentage" where a decision to perform a risky shot is a good decision because there is a low percentage of causing damage with failure of the shot if tried. 

In a March 2021 Blog  titled "Percentage of Success on Bowls Delivery", I look at such a decision by a skip in a 2016 tied triples game between Australia and England. Here we find Aron Sherriff of Australia attempting a  "Successful takeout shot" where he must take near miss shot (a 1/8 bowl) to win the game. Because of his "Failure Success" percentage being high and the last end of play,  he tries and makes the shot. (2016 Two Bowls World Bowls Triples Championship)

"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. "  (Quote from March 2021 blog mention above)

In this game, we see immediately in the first ends of play a unique style of delivery as Kenny Nelson "off the mat" delivery offers discussion of  a possible "Foot Faulting".

In this Summerland Series Singles games  there is the opportunity to discuss the role of  a Marker and it's important in a Singles game . The role of  the Marker in Singles. Immediately (as per the photo) we see that Kenny Nelson's delivery is bordering on a rule about the players position on the mat. It is not the Marker's responsibility to address this incident although many markers may question this delivery.

Most important is that the Marker has two major roles. First to assist the players in their game by answering questions about the bowls in the head thus saving time of the need for the players to come to the head. In many Singles competition we find rules restricting the players movement to the head. Very often players are told that they are permit to visit the head only after their 3rd bowl. However, a player who wishes, can ask permission of the Marker to visit the head.

The second role of the Marker is as the official game's supervisor and marks the cards and makes decision on the actual condition of play.

But then again a player must allow the bowl to stop before rolling their bowl. This accident could have been serious even if it was the trial ends. I have not said "umpire" because on most competition there are a Game Umpire but the marker in some of their task are doing various actions which could be consider as being an umpire. 

For example: The "Game Umpire" would definitely be expected by the Chief Umpire and Club adminstration to check this action if there was a possible "Foot Faulting" by Kenny Nelson. However, most "Marker's Courses" would not  expect a marker to be concern or  mention it to the player. However, if the opponent was to mention it to the Marker the Marker should reply "I will advise the Game Umpire of your concern" and not become involved or mention it to the player.

Also, good marker will do nothing which delays the game, which are usually timed to establish a continual flow of play. Sometimes games may be timed because of the Day's schedule of play..

 The Cherry Street LBC time restriction for game play is listed that the last game of the day is 6:30 to 8:00. Usually if no restrictions are applied to the game, it is a "to 21 point" game without a time limit.

The photo (right), from the World Bowls 2025 Ranking website, show Corey Wedlock of Australia, also in a near "Foot Faulting" Delivery. Corey this year was declared as the 2nd highest Ranking  Lawn Bowlers in the World bowls Rankings. If this was a major concern of Bowls, I am sure World Bowls would not have chosen this photo.

When teaching new players at the local club, the coach would identify this rule of the game. But there are many reason why this would not  be considered a question as "Foot Faulting". As mention, this question is a "Game Umpire" concern and shows how the "condition of Play" rules are applied to your performance. 

 Also the marker should do nothing which will interfere with the player's need for a "focus" or applied concentration when they are on the mat making their delivery. Marker's courses or instructions usually request the marker stand still and not become involved in conversations, but be 100% committed to performing their task as marker. Also to question a rule like "Foot Faulting" should  not be considered their need to address.

 All communication with the players should be avoided or as  little as possible as any  conversation between a marker and player which does not involved the game could be considered as a bias. The marker should always appear neutral in their job.  It is best to avoid communication with the exception to answer questions or to indicate the score at the end of  each end of play.

For me, personally, in addressing the bowler's decision to position himself on the mat in this manner (Photo) during delivery; seems a unnecessary opinion or involvement unless as a club coach.

 We learn and apply the rules as to our own actions on the green and the method of a player on the mat would  seem a trap of distraction. Any player who becomes concern with such trivia as a delivery style is not busy with the focus on their game. The deliveries of Kenny Nelson (above photo), Corey Wedlock (above right) or Daniel Salmon (left) seems a common delivery stance discussion. An athletics, who has a strong "focus" or "Game Concentration" would have no trouble or distraction with these deliveries. I believe, as we see less opinions being presented by a umpires or their opponents, that maybe this is actually as unsportman like as not giving a handshake at the end of a game. 

I could personally see such a close foot faulting incident as actually playing on the opponent's nerves, if the player was  too much of a sticker for rules,. It would  destroy their concentration  or "Game focus".  At the international level of play, these players don't see these things as a part of the game. Like the greenkeeper's role of cutting the greens, most athletics see the umpires job of controlling "Foot Faulting"and other major rules. In 2025 a rule change was introduced by World Bowls concerning stopping a bowl before it fell into the ditch because it was being over applied with constasted game decisions..

 When World Bowls publish a photo of Corey on their webpage, or a Game Umpire ignores such close faulting; it should indicate to everyone that they should not be concern with the delivery style of their opponent. A Marker who realizes that they should not let such personal opinion of Game rules become a part of their Marker's responsibility.

 If the Game Umpire does not see it as a problem, let it be an opportunity to learn to develop your own personal ability to ignore such questionable parts of the game.  Myself,  if I was marking a single competition,  I would see how I could do a better job as Marker and ignore such distraction during the game.  At a recent major competition where I was a spectator, the Game Umpire, with whom I had bowled a few competition;  asked me to go outside the club fencing and to ask an individual to turn down their radio. But then again none of these players were elite level lawn bowlers and the radio could be considered a distraction. At another game, where I was team coaching, one of my players complained about her opponent constance chit-chat. I said nothing as to suggest she work at accepting it as part of the game would best be kept for after game discussions.

Amazing that during a recent qualification competition where this same Game Umpire mention above was performing as a Marker; he interrupted the player on the mat with a traffic direction open hand signal so he could marks a toucher. Always something strange that one can notice whether as  a player, a Marker or just a spectator at the  local games. Things which are never seen in international competition.

Day 2 photo ..No that is not snow. It is heavy downpour RAIN

   In part two of  this  Summerland Series Singles blogging, I will discuss how on 2nd day of play a heavy rain affected the game. Although the format of play for the last day was for the players to finish their qualification for the finals which would have been played afterward. The big money games were planned for the day's end. 

In games of changing weather conditions it is important to know and understand how your game has changes and you knowledge of everything from green speeds to personal confort affects your personal skills. Also if a bad weather game is not  called for "Rain" or stopped for a short break; it is important as an participant to know how to adjust for a "Timed Games" and allow yourself to wait the worst of the downpour to pass.