Under Development March 13,2026
This blog is a redo of one of my first blogs done in August 2012 on Green's speed judgement in "Rainy" condition of play. It can be difficult to know what effect rain, whether heavy rain or light drizzle; has on our Delivery.. But there are tricks which used wisely will allow your first bowl as lead, to be on or near the jack.
 |
| The best of Canada and United States with windy conditions |
I have combined this blog with Wind conditions of play because the last blog written here, and if the video was watched; we see those Australian elite players doing many of the same things suggested here. Wind and Rain conditions of play require the same delivery calculation and mental discipline.
First, if you are rolling the jack to start the end of play, you have a sort of "Green Testing" opportunity. Certainly, the skip's requested distance is your objective, your efforts and how they are affected by the rain or water on the green; can tell you a lot of how the speed of the green has changed.
Normally. as a lead with a good ability to roll to the skip's foot, your "Jack roll" should not be modified for the conditions of the rain. Thinking of a heavier roll because it is in the rain, is a "Buzz kill", If you want to know the speed of a car you compare it to something going at a speed you know. Your own speed as it passes you. Likewise, rather than change the "Jack Roll" for the rain, do a normal effort to deliver it to the skip's foot. If the jack has stops 3 to 4 meters short this is a gauge of how much the conditions of play affect your roll. Not just your "Jack Roll" but also your "Bowl Roll".
First, your subconscious mind knows that the conditions of play will slow the "Jack roll" and when you attempted to roll to the skip's foot, it will instinctively made an adjustment. But this lost of distance which happens is the "Error of Subconscious correction" which occurs even after your subconscious mind has done a heavier "Jack Roll".
 |
| BumBum, a friends pet |
Unless all the spectators are in the clubhouse, there are others sharing the rain with you. Find things to relax your mind between your deliveries. To rush your game because of the conditions of play may mean a lost in "Focus". Keep your mind on the game. Sometimes a thought of something funny like this photo will bring a bright focus into your delivery.
The 3 or 4 meters short of the jack that happen with the "Jack Roll", now allows you to make an adjustment of your Bowl Delivery. Very often we think of an addition and the Muscle Memory of the "Jack Roll" adds something more. Other than thinking where you want your bowl to finish, don't see these calculation as added delivery weight. (think "more weight" is a conscious thought which destroys Muscle Memory performance) The jack may not have lost it distance because of "green speed" but maybe a lost of speed due to other conditions. (wet hands, slippery footing or maybe just discomfort due to the rain).
- Learn by watching the jack roll each time, whether you are lead, second or mate, because the collective information will be used for all your bowls in this end of play. Read the "Cock Tail" or standing spray of water behind the jack as it rolls. It will indicate areas of your green which have more water than other areas.
 |
| An Australian Finals |
The higher spray of water behind the jack is because it is passing through deeper water. The photo (right) is from New Zealand Championship final and within 15 or 20 minutes players were on the green starting their morning game. Good drainage is a major part of a good construction of our playing greens.
The green speed may have changed by what you believe is your bowls "Rain Resistance". Because you have practice in these rain conditions and have build your knowledge of how certain rain conditions will change your "Bowls Speed", Of course your club's green conditions during your practice have given a value. My term for this calculation and measure is "Green Quarter" because I use a thought (image or word) to tell Muscle Memory my expected resistance that the rain causes to my bowl roll.
If you have not rolled previously in the rain you may have to calculate that a wet green requires a certain distance increase in your delivery weight. However, if you have build a "Condition of Play" knowledge base, from information collected from a rainy day "Cock Tail" study: you can now added to this knowledge your known "Water Resistance" distance increase.
My calculation adjustment term of "Green Quarter" is based upon the legal 10 meter distance that a jack can be played. (21m to 33m) Dividing the Hogline Jack to the Max Distance Jack into 4 areas of play. The 1st Quarter (hogline to 23 or 25 meters), Halfway. (26 meters). 3rd Quarter(28, 29 meters) and Full Length (from respot to the Ditch) .
The idea of changing your "Jack Distance" is similar to the skip asking for a bowl 1 meter behind the jack. If you need 2 "Green Quarters" adjustment than you are bowling as if the skip is asking for a bowl 2 meters behind the jack. This mental calculation is a "Focus" point because you accept the ability to play to a requested position by the skip and as your accept the skip's knowledge you also accept your success or failure of delivery. When your adjustment of weight results in your bowl being on or near the jack; you accept your focus was not lost by questioning the reason for the extra delivery weight.
 |
| Blog Stats March 2026 |
This stats photo shows how sudden a volume of readers might decide to search or seek out a type of blog information. Sometime, such volume occurs because at the beginning of a bowl's season a coach suggest a subject and discussion which send students to this blog.
Also sometimes it might be because of the use of a particular word. With Trump again in the news and countries searching the net for that name will result in a blog reader volume. Where my blogs are not short, to have over 900 read/visit may mean hours of bowls knowledge being distributed.
Also, the change of subject allow a pause of reader who not only relax but may take a break. Such pause or break prepares the reader for better understand the following text.
If you watch the video suggested the previous blog on the 2026 Australian Classics Singles game; you will have seen several times Berrie Lester waiting for the wind to decrease before playing. You can also pause yourself during a increase in rain volume. Doing a pause in play to improve clothing or just waiting by leaving the mat; will not affect your delivery if your Pre-mat decisions are made. Don't do a pause if your Delivery routine has decision making aspects involved or you are simply rolling your bowl be finished and get out of the rainé.
If you feel guilty doing a pause in your delivery, I suggest you look toward the officials as if to be asking "Are you going to pause the game". The reason for this pause is that prior to coming to the mat (Pre-Mat Routine) you did your calculations and now you are ready to do your delivery to that spot. Your change in "Focus" by the distraction of the sudden down pour of rain; does not now need you to decide to make an adjustment in the middle of your delivery.
Under rainy conditions, there are many things that will slow your bowl. Many new bowlers think that these conditions of play problems is a "Trail and Error" part of the game of Lawn Bowls. (Roll the first bowl and see where it goes.. then adjust your delivery to get closer with idea that by the third bowl you should be on the jack).
Can you afford to waste 3 bowls to get one bowl close to the jack. A "Trial and Error" approach to your delivery is wrong and you are better to work in the kitchen or on the Social Committee than be in a Lawn Bowls Competition. Your bowls "Rule one" is "Every bowl counts" and "My Post Delivery analysis" in preparation for the next bowl is where I do this sort of thinking. Like the "Skips Expectation" your expectation of your self and your delivery should be a high standard.
Other helpful hints.
- Know what effect your raingear has on your delivery. Do you hear the movement of your raingear during your bowl delivery. Does it restrict your movement, balance or even destory your "Focus".
- Watch and learn from your opponent. If he/she is has difficulty doing a good roll to the jack, and their bowl is 3 meters short then you know to add 3 meters for the jack when you bowl. (Of course, have they that "Trial and Error" attitude ? If yes then make no adjustment because the only bowl which matters is their last bowl. Every bowl you roll matters and your focus and calculation are all good.
- Virgin Greens are worst with Rain. A "Virgin Green" is an area of play where no bowl has yet rolled. Often in the first few ends of play or when the jack has been moved away from center line. In rainy conditions your new "Line of Delivery"following a movement of the jack; may not have the information on the amount of water at various parts of that line.
When possible, change your hand of delivery so you roll using more of the center of your rink where you have knowledge of the conditions of play. Remember that previous delivery line have had the water removed from the grass leaves (laid down like which happens with morning dew). If you took an approach line, you can after your opponent has wasted a bowl and shown the conditions; expect a fruitful delivery. Your "Focus" after "Calculation" in the Pre-Mat Routine is of major important, as to a quick to the mat and bowl because of the disconfort of the rain.
- Bias is depend on the speed of the bowl... Faster roll gives less bias, and be aware that the quick stop of your bowl in rain may mean your bowl has little or no final bend (finish). Your bowls will only swing in the last few meters when it has slowed to a normal Bias speed. Even with wide Bias bowls do a narrow line draw for those heavy delivery on rainy greens.
- Watch the water spray behind your bowls.. This "Cock tail" will indicate low green areas with more water and if you can avoid them. Decide on your "Point Radius" (how far from the jack and still be a point) which might allow you to change the delivery line or even the Delivery hand (forehand/backhand).
- Roll the same bias each time.. using the previous line now showing in the wet green. By using the same delivery line your expectation of your delivery will offer more confidence and success.
- Fast delivery bias (finish bias) greens happen if the jack is placed around where the mat was previously as well as where bowlers stood waiting their turn on the mat. (usually behind the mat)é
- Listen to your skip.. He may be adjusting for the weight ( by asking for a back bowl) or giving a narrow line (accepting the frontal bowl being a good blockon a dangerous "Runner line").
No comments:
Post a Comment