Analysis 2026 Australia Classic Singles (Info)

It is rare that all my blogs and lawn bowls instructions can be grouped into one game's analysis but this happens (January 6,2026)

Players Photo

with the 2026 Australia Classics Singles between Barrie Lester and Corey Wedlock (# 2 World Bowls 2025 Rating). Beside great players, also we have commentators who know their bowls and  their Special Guest commentator Gary Kelly who is one of the world's best players. (#6 World bowls 2025 List)

The first part of a single's game after the trial ends and handshakes is the first bowls of end number one. A great example of how this first bowl is suggested to be played. We see on their first end that they both do a  "foot over weight delivery" with an attempt to do a "Jack Trail". 

 You probably have two questions at this comment. "Why ?" and "Why do I think that was their objective. Is it not better to put the bowl on the jack and pressure on the opponent. ". Yes, true. but a good "Jack Trail" will also have the bowl with the jack.

 First, a single's game is "You and Them" (all those you must play) and if it was just who is the best lawn bowler we can ask the members of the club. But even a beginning bowler who puts thought and planning into his game can win over the best bowler. To do this we must quickly evaluate our opponent and their strength as well as do our best performance. We will make mistakes but so will our opponent.

We learn the the green quickly and our opponent's playing weakness. Starting with the Trial Ends, your opponent has shown you their ability with a jack on centerline. Move the jack on the first end of play and see how your opponent handles that new condition of play. If your opponent cannot handle a moved jack, or "Open Jack"  weakness, an advantage which is best not used until the end game when you want to pick up points. 

Second, Corey is left handed and Barrie is right handed and as per the photo we see that each have chosen to play their backhand. From your "Club Coaching" sessions, we learned that "Backhand" is easier to precisely perform. When Barrie missed his jack and his "Behind the Jack" bowl had stop; we get our first lesson from the video. Why did he miss by so much his weight? The answer might be the wind, because he played "Up-wind" and with changing wind speeds it is possible your bowl is send to it Bias quickly. Maybe the player's intention and his is just learning the wind. 

 Corey probably would have likewise missed the jack except the wind kept his bowl out and on line for a Jack roll. Corey is using a narrow bias bowl which is ideal for windy conditions.

Aero Bias Chart

If neither player had touched the jack, they would both still have had a  good back bowls.  Sometimes a player will change his bowls for the condition of play as we see with Corey who is using a "Aero Dymanic" with a narrow bias probably has an advantage over Barrie who in using a wider "Aero Optima" which has a wider bias. 

This information was asked of the commentator by a viewer (in comments at end 5) because this is part of "Playing the Conditions" and some athletes do watch and learn from these videos. Later following the Mid-game interview where the players mention their different in their Bowl's bias; Gary, the guest commentator takes time to explaining the raison why a player would change their bowl for a windy condition of play. (End 11 with score 7-7)

The photo below shows the frist end play with before and after the jack trail. Photo #1 as Corey's Backhand bowl is about to trail the jack and photo #2 the final jack and bowls position afterwards. Also the photo is a good opportunity to show how to trail the jack by bowling to a "False Jack" but learning it also requires much practice. 

First Bowl of Singles

There are tricks for a toucher, or jack roll and the photo (right) show how these great lawn bowlers (Barrie Lester & Corey Wedlock) do such a shot. So often we see the first bowl of a Single's game played like Barrie's bowl was played here, and so we think "not a great shot". But if we take time to think what it was that the player was trying; we realize it was a hard shot and a good effort. The trick is to know the clock position for the over weight of the bowl being played for the jack Trail, False jack always between 1:30 and 2 or 11:30 and 10 depending on delivery weight.

Because these players have and use a well developed  "Muscle Memory", they are not thinking of a heavy bowl for a jack roll, because this type if thinking becomes a conscious instruction to the muscles and interrupts the "Muscle Memory". We use a 'False Jack' to allow our Muscle Memory to performance without interruption because a 'false Jack' is like a 'block' simply a bowl placement without an instructive thought. As seen in the photo (above) which shows "False Jack" at 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock this trick allows your bowl's finish to move the jack, If you are bowling to a position, False Jack or Block, your  Muscle Memory just doing a delivery. 

By playing with a foot or two heavy we get a jack roll and if we play toward those "False Jack" the "Muscle Memory" adding weight asneeded for a toucher or jack roll. However, a different time (10:30) is needed for wind as a cross wind increases the roll to the jack after the bowl has passed the shoulder of the delivery.  (Play to a jack 10 inches heavy at those positions) I used the word "Trick" for this performmance because we have tricked our "Muscle Memory" into performing what they want, In any modified delivery if we don't want to interrupt 'Muscle Memory' by thinking  a muscle instruction to the conscious mind we must trick the subconscious mind like with false locations of where we want the bowl. This will even work with wind but you have to learn about wind on your bowl. A strong wind will stop your bowl from taking bias. Most changes in bowl direction are done in the shoulder and finish. The hardest adjustment for win is a 45degree as it has increase distance and swing. Practice and learn.

In viewing good Youtube game videos it is important to have good game announcers as with this Single game. The three game commenators are Peter Susovich, Sammy Atkinson and Gary Kelly, and they offer excellent detail evaluation of the players' abilities and performances. Gary Kelly who is from Ireland but living and playing Bowls in Australia has made the top 10 of the "2025 Male Player". In the over 5000 players listed, including the "2025 Female Player"  List, you will be surprise of whom from your country is listed. Hell, I played last summer a Club Single's game and my opponent is in the top 100. With Youtubes now catching most every countries competition you can now know and watch your best players on the internation scene.

In an earlier blog I said that there are three conditions which influences our Lawn Bowl performance. "Delivery" (Muscle Memory and Line) Mental Strength (Focus, Zen, and Knowledge) and Conditions of Play. This Single's game is a great teacher of "Condition of play" as we see by the photo (right) Corey Wedlock checking the wind with his bowl wipe towel prior to his delivery or maybe he is waiting for the wind to decrease in strength. Remember, a different level of wind, means a different line for that strength of wind. The video sound is bad because of the wind on the announcer's mike. 

 The photo (right) suggest a blog written in June 2019 about playing with wind. "Natural Distance Bowls and the Wind" suggest if you are going to study the effect of a windy day you should practice or study at your natural distance. Someone once said to me in a course that the bowls are so heavy that the wind will not affect them that much. This is not true but you should know how to check for the wind and play accordingly.

Blog on New Zealand Wind Play

A good blog and Video for seeing the effect of the wind on a Bowl is " "Bowls in NZ strong Wind" because the bowl just runs across the green. Written in May 2021 it looks at the Wellington Men's Pairs.

In the 9th end of play with Corey holding two, Barrie attempts to kill the end with his last bowl but missing he leaving Corey to draw for a third point to make the score 7-4. Gary Kelly as guest commentator and #6 in world Bowls Ranking is from Ireland but playing in Australia. His experience and knowledge (2nd part of Delivery) is from northern UK Lawn Bowls teaching and sharing what he was taught. Gary express how he expected Barrie to draw backhand and trail the jack to his bowls behind with his last bowl. His surprise as  to see Barrie goes heavy and speaks of his views of this decision.

Missed Takeout Shot

Sanny says. "One each to play" as Corey walks up the green behind his 3rd bowl which stops short and Sanny continues  "Bend's (nickname for Corey) hold two". Then like a professional announcer want the opinion of the guest  Sanny asks Gary Kelly  "What do you think he will play here?"

 Gary began to explain his opinion as Barry walks back to the mat for his last bowl of this end.  "I think he will play some sort of weight". "The hand will be similar" (backhand into wind). "Maybe a fraction more" (weight). "Yea, he will be trying to trail that jack. He's got two just waiting bout a yard pass". As they wait for the delivery Sanny is surprise of the heavy runner Barrie has just send down the green.

After Barry missed the take out or burning the end and a long silence after Sanny finished with "He's Miss, He's got nothing", Gary says "I don't blame him for that". Once again, these conditions. You know". He has obviously opp for what he believed was the easlier shot".

One of my blogs which talks about "Playing your Successful Percentage ", written in April 2021, looks at your shot choices. As Corey walks to the mat for his last bowl, Gary continues his comments. Gary  feels the important of explaining what just happen as he is aware of the viewers need for an explanation. Gary says:

"Just for our viewers at home. The textbook way, he probably would have played a yard (pass) to trailed the jack but in these conditions, once again, it all the "Percentage play". " It's what you play and trust". "So, what you can achieve". "Maybe not the maximum outcome, but (you try for) a positive outcome". "So Blost (nickname) opped for what he believed was the easier due to the wind".  "Taking the elements out of it, considering the wind"

Sanny also followed with "Couldn't agree more. With the bigger weight, you take the bigger weight, you take the variable of the wind and green out of it  a bit". "Compare to a yard-on shot", Gary - "The game is always about "Percentage Play". "In my mind, in my opinion" "You got to consider the conditions and what is a good shot and get a positive result there".

(Stats show viewer's interest in similar Blogs in past week.)

The Second part of the photo above, is the reaction of Barrie. His surprise to his missed "Takeout drive" and his disappointment is an important part of the game.  A good  performance at the mat requires "Focus", and his reaction is a release valve after such a shot. It is important because Barrie has to go back to the game with "A Total Focus".  Not thinking of regrets or disappointment.  Yes, he has a few minutes while the mat is placed and the jack is rolled, and centered, but to hold emotions is bad management, even if his visual reaction is not agreeable to the spectators.  Every athlete needs a method for the necessary outlet of emotions, without which he could pass 2 or 3 complete ends of bad play before recovery. 

Before one last subject... Measuring; I wish to say thank you to my readers. This blog is 8 pages (when printed) and quite a read of maybe an hour if you access also the other blogs mention.  However, looking at the stats of today, one week after posted; the  top 6 blogs are those 6 suggested or linked. Thank you.  To read is one thing, but to do the link to reference blog is another. 

Good discussion for a reader who will be playing their singles in a windy conditions and the need to take the time to consider the factors which give the best result.

Earlier they were playing minimum distance jacks which make takeout easier; but after several umpire measures in a single end of play they when to the longer jack. 

In a blog on "Measuring which bowl is Shot"  there are a lot of different methods and devices mention, even a Sonic Measure (before 1950s and Lasers).  This request for a measure in the 12th end shows a  "Measuring Extension" for the bowls' measure of over 3 feet distance from the jack and needed the use of calibers. Although the 4th point was refused, this end-to-end head and the heavy wind gave Corey  3 points and permitted a  catch up on points to a 6-7 score from 3-7.

Web Links suggested: 

 Game Video 2026 Australia Classic Feb 2026           www.youtube.com/watch?v=egXAOFniM5c

Blogs references :

Natural Distance and Wind Practices - June 2019             www.ishi-in-sn.blogspot.com/2019/06/natural-distance-usage.html

Bowls in New Zealand Strong Winds  May 2021                    www.ishi-in-sn.blogspot.com/2021/05/bowls-in-nz-strong-wind.html

2025 WBowls Men's Rating  www.worldbowlsseries.com/male-rankings.hrml

2025 WBowls Female's Rating www.worldbowlsseries.com/female-rankings.html

Present Blog activity - March 2026 - New Season of Bowls beginning in Canada in a few months so now doing a clean up of older blogs for new members coaching.

March 5, 2026 - Green's committee  Part 1.   Protecting your Greens as a member. Written October 2016. Updated