Measuring Which Bowl is Shot? (AMem)

Clean-up started Feb 2026

Because it was 2013 written, will take time.

(*- reference original text changed)

   First, while watching the World Bowls 2012 in Adelaide, Australia, (on line streaming), I saw for the first time an official using  a Lawn Bowls Trammel Measuring.  All these different devices for Bowls measuring can be found on .lawnbowlsonline.com.au   Beginning Lawn Bowlers which have believe that only a Bowls Tape is permitted for measurement, were surprise to see the officials using devices like the Orbital Measuring Tool (Above, cost $330 Au) and  even the Telescopic Measure Tube..(photo Left).

Telescopic Measure Tube

(Update 2024, with the photo (below) In  a recent posted comment on our  Ontario Discussion Board by Ralph Ellis, concerning the photo below. (Mr Ellis is a well known Canadian Elite) we find: " This is a Taylor Sonic Measure being used at World Bowls in the 1984. I own one. It is extremely accurate, and an umpire's measure in my games has never disagreed with it. It failed commercially because it was expensive, and lawn bowlers are cheap. It was around $200 in 1980s money or equivalent to $600 today. The only technical drawback was that in strong winds, the measurement would fluctuate for a long time before settling down. Great for indoors or clubs with tree cover to break the wind." (end of update 2024)

Taylor Sonic Measure

     Of all my blogs since 2012, this March 2013 blog is one of the most visited. ( Photo below)  But, like any idea or method of play, it is as good as you make it by using it.

  Knowing this small unique tricks for measuring your bowls before the end of the game, can have surprisingly accurate results. 

February 23 2026 stats (5605)

But like any tool you learn and to see results, it is practice which will develop an accuracy and what can become an unbelievable skill. As I was learn my method of measure in Petanque, I at first often made my decision and then did a verification. I had played Petanque several years before coming to Lawn Bowls.

Likewise, I suggest that  you verify the measurement of the bowls your "Test Measured" after your end of play even if it is no longer in the final point count. As you develop your confidence in seeing the shot, moving from "I think" to "I know" it will allow for game decisions which will lead to winning more games.

In Westmount's LBC, Montreal Canada, during a Qualification semi finals of the Provincial Single ;  I was playing hard but trailing 19-20 of a 21 point game. The marker had said that the two bowls were a measure and because the decision of next bowl (and possibly the last bowl) was important: I walked to the head to know if my opponent had shot. I had to decide if I should attempt a "Tap-back" or a light removal of  Andy's bowl or if I drew for shot and accept a 20-20 score,  Thinking was, if I missed the tap-back of his bowl and the final measurement gave him the shot; then game was over. At these head examination. the need for a precision evaluation with confidence are usually quickly done, but a bad decision means a game lost.

  Because of my experience in the french game of "Petanque" where we can measure which "Petanque ball" is shot at any time; I had several years of experience using a visual method of measuring. With the below mention Visual Measure system, I was able to see that I had shot and only need a draw for 2nd shot to win the game.  In "Petanque" if every time the team captain  questioned who had the shot; they were to bend and measure the balls; the game would be long and the captains would quickly become tired. I have seen several time in an end of play that it was a close point. So to have a method of visual measurement and have the confidence of your visual skill, the bending and tape measure is not necessary although it is always permitted.

After walking to the head, checking who had shot and returning to the mat I decided I only needed to draw shot (making the questionable bowl a 2nd shot) and the game was won.  After the draw, the bowls in question were measured and being close the umpire was called. It was as close as I had thought (within millimeters) but my visual measure had been correct and I went on to the finals against Johnny, who eventually won our game and was that year's  Quebec's Single entry in the Canadian Nationals.

The second year lawn bowls student asked me " How do you measure which of two bowls is "Shot" when rules prevent you from any device being placed between the bowl and jack  before the end of the game ?".  I answered "That is why the Skips get the big money" and went briefly into  several methods which a knowledgeable player will use to measure which bowl is shot. However, everyone has their own method and level of confidence in their ability when visiting the head; and after years of games,  believe their method allows an accurate decision before the rolling that last bowl of that end of play.  

Finger Measure  I know you have all  seen  skips standing with those crossed fingers at the chest as they walks around the head doing their "Quess Measuring" of the bowls. The questions of "How accurate is this method? " is what one might ask.   Although I don't use this method often, I will try to explain it.

How does this "Finger Measure" method works ? the idea is simply that looking pass two fingers where have been arranged between the bowls will measure any other bowls in a similar setup if you change position without moving (up or down) the fingers as you move.

Later I will complete this blog by explaining what I believe is more accurate called "Center-to-jack"( found below), 

Develop the system you are most comfortable using because accurately knowing the shot before the bowls are measured at the game end can be of a major important. Especially when the decision of  that last bowl means a win or a lost, or the wrong decision causes a emotional lost of focus or believe in your ability.

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     Using the "Spread fingers at the chest" method requires that the Fingers be placed at the inside of the first bowl to be measured and the other finger on the inside of the jack. Now without moving the fingers or the hands' position, while the hands are still sitting on the chest; walk slowly to the next bowl and jack and repeat the same verification. It is important to learn to use a perspective vision of the bowls as indicated a few paragraph after the detail explication of my "90 degree/ Center Line" Method. You will see in that photo that your two eyes see the bowls and jack differently.

  Take one measurement by placing the left (or right) finger on the inside of the bowl, and the finger of the other hand to just touching (visually) the jack. Now here is the trick to proper measurement.  Use the left eye when checking the left finger touching the bowl and similarly, use the right eye, for the right side when touching the jack. Yes it works quite well.  (At this Blog's end is a suggestion for the photo above from NZ photo collection).  It is a combination of this finger measurement and my "Center to jack" measurement explained here. Not having used this finger method of measurement I appreciated the readers comments  on my suggestion  at the end of this blog. He states "I think the finger method needs the toes halfway between the bowl and jack and aligned with an imaginary line. The reason for this is to reduce the variables when you move to compare the next measure.") This method works well if the two bowls and the jack are in a straight line, but what if the bowls and the jack make an angle or so placed that the three each become a point on the triangle's three points. 

* Center to Jack measuring system   or maybe better called  "90 degree/ Center Line" Method.   In our high school geometry we learned that an "Isosceles Right Triangle" which is explained as having two equal sides and the third side called the base having a 90 degree diagonal (hyotenus) at it center point.  If you were to stand behind the two bowls looking toward the jack, and place your foot at middle point of a line drawn between the bowls (the base); you are looking up a 90 degree diagonal.

Isosceles Right Triangle

If  the diagonal pass directly through the center of the jack then the two side are of equal distance and therefore both bowls are equal distance from the jack.

However, if looking up the diagonal you see your 90 degree line passing to the left or right of the jack then the bowl on the same side as the jack is closer. Eventually with confidence you can see the diagonal pass left or right of center of the jack and know by that small amount, how much one bowl is closer than the other. (a measure judgement which certainly would need an Umpire measure after the end of play is finished.)

One can see this system of measure used when the bowls and jack are not in a straight line . Over the many years of Petanque (even now at 80 I still play it as my indoor winter sport), this measure of shot method has developed. This is my second go-to measurement system, because over the years I have worked at four or five different measurement tricks. (Example the thickness of my finger or thumb being viewed between the bowl and jack). 

Learn to apply precision in your various steps of preparation toward the visualization of the actual point. Of course, having confidence in your ability to use this  system will lead to strategy decisions with good results.  If you have other method, unlike these two measuring system; you will probably be using the one with the most confidence. Often we seek out another measurement system depending upon how the bowls are placed.

First, let us start with basic math. Geometry and the right-angle triangles says that when two triangles are placed with the common side together, then those two opposite sides (left and right) in front of us, create two "right-angle Triangle with the outside edge being of equal distances.  So, if  the Jack is between the two bowls and clearly a tight measurement, we first start by finding the mid-point. With your center of you shoe equal distance between the bowls being measured. (Forgot about the jack position, as it will be view and used later and also it probably is located at the top (or apex) of the triangle diagram (as in the bottom part of the photo). 

This method becomes more difficult when the two bowls are in a straight line with the jack located on that line between the bowls. (in their middle). I often, at these times place my hand in front of me to block or hide the jack. It is important that you find the middle point between the two bowls. Do not place your foot near the jack as this could be consider as using your foot like a measure. If the bowls and jack are close use your thumb or a few fingers to see the closer bowl. Always find a location for the position of your foot away from the jack, possibly you will need to go to the opposite side of jack.

 
There is an important part of this photo.  This apex of the triangle and line of the 90 degrees, up from the base of the triangle, indicates equal when it runs through the "Exact center" of the jack. (if there is the least little difference of this 90 degree line running through the center of the jack, then the ball which is closest to the center side of the jack is the shot, even if a few millimeters.  (look at the below example photo of the foot below)

Secondly, To have this method work accurately it is necessary to find the "exact" middle between the two  Bowls (or balls if Petanque); so continue to move your foot (as in the photo below) left and right until you are sure you have the middle. You will see eventually that the space on the left and right of your foot are the same distances. (Photo 1 below). If done properly, you will be moving your foot left and then right as you evaluation of the left and right bowl distance from the middle of your shoe. (I wear a black felt mark line on my white bowls shoe for this reason)

2017 Indoor S.Finals 

Once the middle point between the bowls is found, you move your heel left or right, so that  your middle point of your shoe (the toe line if you have drawn one) points toward the jack at exactly 90 degrees. (do not aim at the jack but aim at 90 degree to the line between the two bowls and passing thought the toe of your shoe. If done properly you will see that the jack is not what your line is point toward. I have even see the line point toward a few millimeters of the center of the jack.

  It may seem difficult but forget about the jack and think of the line between the two bowls and the 90 degrees outward from you where your shoe points. 
 I am going to mention a problem at this point because it is important.  In the sport of petanque the balls are completely round but in lawn bowls the bowls may not be round side pointing toward the jack. (because of  the way the bowl is sitting). If it is the Bias side of the bowl facing the jack I allow a few millimeters plus or moin and walk away with a bit of confidence but not total confidence. Actually a member told me the different on the opposite sides of the bias is only a few millimeters.

  But if the bowl is sitting on one of the  Bias labels then you can be sure the bowls are round. (the running surface is round)  (of course this is where the umpire will be measuring it.  Although you may, like in photo 2 (below), find it necessary to use different parts of each bowl for your measurement (because of the bias the final measure by the unpire will be that side of the bowl closer to the jack . (Update May 2017 to add photo of Claire Johnston of Scotland during her  2017 Indoor Mixed Pairs Semi-Finals  as she is checking which bowl is shot with  her foot and this method of measurement. (as it was Game over, the Umpire was called following her verification during this indoor game)

In the pictures below we see that the bowl on the right (measurer left) is closer because one notices that more of the jack is on that side of the 90 degree line.  I have learned that, in time and practice,  you can see which bowl is shot to within fraction of a jack (In the photo (3) the 90 degree line passes to the left of the centre of the jack, this is the difference in the measure. (1/4 jack width for the bowl on the right) . Remember, the closer the 90 degree line passes to the center of the jack the closer the measurement will be or the distance will be the same)

When the bowls are both on a straight line which passes near the jack, your evaluation will be easy. .However, the weakness of the method is when the bowls are farther apart and especially when they are at an angle on like with a clock hands  at 10:15. (opposite side of the jack ) When practicing this method and for learning, use bowls that are sitting flat so you can better see their positions.  In time you will also know how to evaluate those standing bowl  and it not affect you when use for the eye  to find the mid-distance point of the bowls.

So to review.
  Three different steps are required to accurately use this method of  visual bowl measuring.
          1 - You must move your foot to the location which is half way  between the two bowls to be measured. Take the time to find this center point as it is important. (because of leaning bowls always use the bowl's centre. Maybe even cover the jack with your hand if seeing the jack is a distraction during your find the mid-point.
           2. -  You  then fine tune your evaluation , finding this  center point take time to refuse it and re-evaluate it again as you move your foot left and right until you are confident that you have the exact center.     
         This center point will show you which bowls side is nearest. Known as the Center Point (CP) between the two bowls. This is also the closest point to the jack. (experience and mistakes here will eventually fine tune your judgement )

 
          3.  -  Having found the point, now look straight up (a 90 degree on that line between the bowls) toward the jack. In the diagram (above) the final photo show the 90 degree passing not though the center of the jack so the bowl on the left is closer.  As you get extremely good you can see the center line passing to the left or right of the center of the jack and have confidence in such a fine measure.

The photo at right shows what one would see if they were to use first their left and then their right eye with the tips of their fingers touching the inside or outside of the bowl or/and jack.

I have suggested that you use the left eye for the left finger and when verifying the bowls use the right eye with the right finger; although I think anyone who is always using the same eye would eventually develop a method of verifying the bowl that is shot and have the confidence that their calculation or final decision is correct.

Practice and Development of Measuring skill.

In a non-game practice you can build yourself a double triangle to see the 90 degree from the line from the two bowls. Take two right handed drawing squares (plastic) and tape the short sides together to form a long sided triangle (photo at top of page).  The number along the lower side will help you find the half way point.  This tool should be only used at the beginning to develop you confidence in your foot placement (in the middle between the two bowls).   Using this tool is only suggested to help you to know where to put your foot (mid-way) and verify  your method of fine tuning. (moving your foot left and right until you have the ability to find the center point and see the 90 degrees.  Always, when practicing this measurement, measure the bowls afterward to know you were correct on your evaluation and decision.

 1.After finding your midway point between the two bowls use the tool to verify how accurate you have found the midway point as you use it at wrist high like the finger measurement.(above top photo) Without looking at the jack or the point of the tool toward the jack. place the marked side of the square on the Closest point (CP) of each bowl. Your taped joint should arrive at the place of your shoe and your marked toe spot.
2.  After you have decided which bowl is closer, to verify how accurate your are, use the practice tool to check how the 90 degree line compares to your 90 degree to the jack. The tool is only suggested to allow you to have confidence in your judgement.  It is by using this practice tool that you will fine tune your ability.
3.  Measure the bowls to jack with a Bowls tape and find that you were correct on the closest bowl.

Update May 25 2017 Stats

I've added the stats (left) for this blog. After 5 years and over 20,000 views, this blog has been the most popular each week. (was written 11 March 2013)  (Later Updated with  photo of stats of 2017)

  Combined Finger/ Center of Jack Measure

  The center to Jack method described above  is rather difficult to use when the bowls are on opposite side of the jack, As you see (below) the  fingers are too close for a good finger measure; but a combination of the finger measuring and the center to jack method  is suggested, as using the above system is helping you develop your confidence .  

One hand hides the jack while the other
hand (finger) finds cehter. Foot placed
so 90 deg passes along line.  Hand
to see how jack fairs to line.

  * Using the above NZ Bowls Photo.and bowls to be sighted here I have attempted to modify the photo to show how it is possible to have a combined sighting method (finger and center of the jack sighting).

 1 - Place one hand to hide the jack and then sight the centre of the two bowls with your finger without seeing the jack. (a small finger helps)
 2 - Placing your foot where the center passes between the two bowls (can even have your mate stand on opposite side of jack and be second position of 90 degree line.
  3 - Now remove the hand which is hiding the jack and see how the 90 degree centerline to jack passes through the jack. (or even through the jack..

You should be able to see how the 90 degree line passes to the left or right of the jack. (or even through the jack)
To the left of center mean the that the right side is closest to the jack. (largest half of the jack)
The idea of the center to jack method is to find the center of the two bowls and see how the 90 degree line pass through the jack.  But in the photo it is clear you can not put the foot half way between the two bowls to be sighted.  So do the next best thing.  Place it back away and use an  "mind image" of the above mention tool to find the half-way point.
Hope this suggestion helps with skip measuring during game play, but to use the center to jack method requires fine tuning your ability to see that center line. If you use finger measure all the time and then try this at other times, it may not work because you must fine tune your eye to see the center to jack line. (* end)
   Good luck , have fun.                                                                                  Re-written Aug 2024

The Zone and Previsalization

So....." Being in the Zone" as referring to Sports,  is having to a point, so practiced your sport that it has becomes instinctive (without thought) and the Subconscious mind is allowed to take control and do the action.   Simple?  Remember that when you think and tell yourself what to do, the Subconscious mind is shut down. The "Zone" is the ability to go "Mindless" or be in a "Void" or " Absence of thought".

 "What is The Zone?  The Zone is intangible. It is that ideal - that place - that state of mind - where performing is easy, your actions are effortless, and your results exceed all expectations." This would be sufficent explaination by the author Jon Gorrie for his book "Performing in the Zone" as he described it on ebay.com. We are told that "Actors, musicians, public speakers, dancers, models, sports-people, entertainers, and singers -we're all performers. We all receive training, practise for countless hours, enter our performance environment, and sooner or later, for better or for worse, we get affected by the performance situation". His book suggesting we develop our abilities and after sometime our performance is a natural prefection of our ability. "We experience performance arousal - a phenomenon which can either get us into The Zone or cause devastating performance anxiety." the author  explains of the need to " control  your performance arousal instead of letting it control you" 

Things like Performance arousal or performance anxiety should not be underestimated but I think we need to understood the conflict and fear of  letting the subconscious mind take control and attempting to maintain control, while we ignore the efforts by conscious mind to regain control.  In the zone to me, means turning control over to the subconscious mind which does a lot more than just perform muscle coordination. The mind (subconscious) is always analysis the results and evaluating why they were not what we expected. 
      This is the last of 8 blogs on using the Subconscious and the action of visualizing your bowls delivery; before, during and after the delivery or shot.   Unless you normally read the last pages of a book ,to know the ending, and then go back to the beginning; will often prevent the development of an ability through steps of progress.  In wanting to develop you subconscious performance (or being in the zone) I suggest that you  go down the list of blogs and find the seven blogs on the Zone or the development of the Subconscious; and start at the first blog. One things about a book on this topic, as a lot material has been presented by a lot of people of other perfections of self, in Lawn Bowls like Golf we want to be One.

Another book I crossed in research on the net is by Ray Mackay Phd. In the Previous Blog  the last exercise presented, seem a bit simple-minded; but it works in becoming aware of your subsconscious self.  I  often use this method to teach how to add-on and take-off  weight when teaching Blind Students to Lawn Bowls. This is because the visually impaired who is learning to lawn bowls; does not see their bowl as it rolls up the green and often only see the image of a delay roll of their bowls in their mind. For this reason, even with visual Lawn Bowls students, the thought of wanting to remove weight or add-on; as to a physicial change, is as very strong direction given to the subconscious mind.

Many lawn bowlers on returning to the mat,  see, in their mind, the previous delivered  bowl rolling up the green as a memory; and believe they must do something physicially different to get the result and eventually change their routine. This is a mistake. Feedback was this analysis immediately after the bowl rolled and decisions made then. The subconscious mind knows what you want to now do and rather than have a physicial command to the muscles get into the habit of communicating to the subconscious mind what you decided. Think the action.

 However, the error of this as an exercise was that any verbal communication does not work with the subconscious mind. Language is a slow conscious communication and inhibits the subconscious mind.  In your understanding of the ZONE  Principle and how to put  yourself   " in the Zone" ; it is more important to get the subconscious mind involved in your actions and letting it do the shot.

 This applies not only at the time of delivery but also during the complete loop of delivery, analysis and feedback. Communicate what you are  Seeing,  analysing  and data you are collecting from the feedback to the subconscious mind and what is expected in the improvement of the next shot.  The subconscious mind follows these thoughts of the conscious mind and is always listening but I have found it is lazy and often have to be remained of our thoughts toward the new expectation.

      "Previsualization" is like a type of communication with  the subconscious mind  which will put us in the zone,  Just thinking of  what we expect is not enough, and as we  visualize the action and our expectation of the next bowl to be rolled, we reveal that we have confidence that it will be done. (by the subconscious mind)  Lack of confidence is a battle of conscious and subconscious mind over who has the control and we are always attempting to control or made changes in our routine to get that result. No, If you are losing balance during delivery, think why and the subconscious mind will stop that action from happening on the next delivery.

                          I will briefly go back a few blogs to compare the  Archery's athletic who are in the Zone. After they have developed the correct techniques for shooting the bow, they just has to find a void in thinking where they can allow the subconscious mind to do its thing, for a split-second, because it is in that micro second  that the bowstring is released and the arrow is let fly unknown it happen. (Time and time again for all 144 arrows toward the gold spot).
        There is the exception, In the instinctive  archer or bow hunter, which does  not using a sight, or any technical aiming aids; they do not stand on a shooting line, bow strung, arrow ready to let fly and drop mental into the zone.  The instinctive shooter has learned to throws the arrow with his bow. His action and the mind's control of it; is not much different than the baseball player throws a baseball. Both athletics have  incorporated into their subconscious, the action of throwing. Actually, an instinctive archer is also throwing  his arm outward like the baseball player during his back swing; and both   uses a visualisation of where they intends the ball (or arrow) to go.  He thinks it and he does it... Or better ."He thinks and It happens because of the subconscious mind".

      In the previous blog there was an exercise to development of  the feeling of knowing when the subconscious mind is in control... Communicating with the subconscious mind has several levels and to identify the subconscious mind's presence will often to the new student seem like a strange feeling of "out-of-body" or in "the Absence of Mind" Zone. Once you know what these feelings are, you accept to be there and you feel it without worries. If you are in the Zone, you know it and lucky if you are not distracted or forced out of the zone with a thought.

 Everything we do in Bowls is being watched and communicated to the subconscious and  like the horse and rider combination; during a riding competition, where one is doing the work and the other is doing the instruction; we must be in balance with our subconscious mind. Our subconscious mind, knows what and how to do that bowl delivery, but also we  need to know how to relax and let it happen and that we have correctly instructed and told the subconscious of  our expectations, 
  These blogs have been about the conscious and subconscious mind... Others call it The zone of Perfection.

         You have just rolled a great bowl which draws to the head and stops short. You need to add a bit. Yes you can use techniques like longer step, wrist flick, more swing to increase that extra weight., but with the subconscious mind it is more "What Happen ?"  "Why?" and "Ok, you can do it...Do it"

 This is where visualization is involved..When we left the mat, after the delivery, we were thinking of what happen and what we will want to correct. Now back on the mat ready to bowl we do a quick instruction to the subconscious of these instruction of improvement needed for a better bowl.  we incorporate these thoughts with the pre-visualization and let the subconscious mind do it.

    .Visualizing the Bowl roll involves a state of mind  which allowing the subconscious to see what  we visualize as to how our bowl will roll (imaginary).This thought is a communication which direct the subconscious to roll the bowl to the spot wanted. We the roll in our mind before we do it  and we know with  "Confidence" that it will happen...

   "Previsualization is a routine of seeing the action in a visual thought in your mind a few times before we deliver the bowl to the green. A more detail thought is an instructions to tell the subconscious how the bowl will roll and what changes we need to make to correct our previous error. However, it is also a method of transferring control to the subconscious mind, at the end of the actual though image, and not knowing  that it has happen..Here we see (in the mind) the bowl rolling up the green, roll pass those frontal bowls and roll up and fall over at the jack. And we do it a second time to be sure of the instruction and even to add corrective thoughts to that image.  By the third imaginary image we are not aware the bowl has been delivered and now we see that the bowl has been rolled by the subconscious.

 Where it become important, is that we are staying in the Zone. (not taking back control from the subconscious mind) until the delivery is finished. Yes, we want to be able to stay in the zone for the total few micro-seconds of the delivery.  From the back swing to the roll and release.

 If we have our routine down pack as to rolling our bowl, all we need for the subconscious is a point of transfer.  This  third visualization of the imaginary bowl defines that transfer.  For beginners, it is necessary to see it,, 1 time, see it again, 2nd time, and 3, see it happening.

     We all make mistakes and the discouragement of a mistake is a change of mind set.  As I watched Ryan Bester's World bowls Single final I learn that the determination of trailing by several points is a big Zone motivation booster for him. With the subconscious, the more the task seems impossible, the more it amazes you in that it can do it perfectly. Ryan seem to allow his opponent in a few game to get a jump of points on him. Sort like giving an extra load of work to the subconscious mind to do.

  . In poker we hear the term "A tell" meaning an action or twitch which tells something about the player's thought.Update Oct 29th 2023 This Toe-tapping Tell is seen in the Australian National lawn Bowls Singles Final by Cody Parker Western Australia in the Youtube Video. Same action to tell the subconscious the distance..   In the petanque video , on youtube, the shooter, who is practicing a takeout shot, can be seen to visualize (or Previsualize because his action is before doing his actual shot) and perfirns a mental action where he imagines his action of the throw and the takeout  actually hitting the target; in his mind as he is recalling the memories of previous shots. his shot by his left foot . This "tell" can be seen as a swing arm, a toe tap, a eye movement or just a finger.

 That short twitch of his toe, is his thought during the visualizing of the coming action of the thrown ball  instruction to the subconscious and the thought back to himself . (we also see that he does the communication (Twitch) several times)  He is like the rider on the horse, where he  stays  in control but also allow the action to be done as it is wanted. This same  sort of action is done in the predelivery action of Lawn Bowls atheltics like Karan Murphy the Australian Singles World Bowls Champion.

 We talked about confidences and I will tell you.. the subconscious mind has a big ego. It can not accept it did a mistake, so when it make a mistake and at these times, we see how it sometimes gives us the wrong conclusions.   This is important, because doing it "Instinctive" is letting the subconscious do it. But it can be a problem when the mind (subconscious) does not have enough information. We said that we have become overconfidence, but in the following example the mind created a gathering of information it needed from memory.

  I was helping Alex, from Montreal prepare for the World Petanque Championships and build more in the Zone with concentration.  It was important he know the limitations of the total concentration on his ability and skill.
 He was doing Petanque takeout, which is the normal practice (carre every 3 of 4)., So, I asked him if he had a Cochon (jack of petanque) and walked up and placed it behind the ball he was shooting to take out.  He first thought that this practice would be to takeout the ball without moving the cochon. A sort of  shot where he hits hit target ball on the left or right side; which is harder and often practice ".No" I told him (and his subconscious mind listen) as I explained. "You know the cochon is behind the ball, shoot just over the top of the ball,  and take out the cochon.  You can do it". (Alex was confidence the yellow jack (cochon) was behind the target ball, which he had been shooting. So after a few tries he made the shot and his takeout shot went over the top of the target ball to hit the yellow cochon behind it. (as in phot right )
    One problem,  I had not placed the cochon there and it was in my hand.  In his frist two attempts he was too high and he knew it. On the 3rd shot he knew that his shot had succeed in just  passing over the petanque ball and hitting the jack (if it had been there).  He was sure he had seen the jack fly to the left and went to where he thought it was and began to look for it.  After a few minutes I showed him the jack in my hand and explained.  
  "The subconscious mind had seen the shot done several times before and always the jack fly left or right,  in a different direction when it was hit...  so when the shot was done correctly, it (the subconscious mind) convey to the shooter (Alex) that it had seen the cochon fly to the left.  Although it had not. Alex was so amazed when he realized what had happen and the jack was in my hand (I showed and explained it) that he sat down  and interrupted his practice.  A big lesson on not accepting all the information that the subconscious mind transmit to you.  Don't get lazy by not doing the post-delivery analysis.  That year Alex placed 3rd or 4th in the world at the World Petanque Competitions.
 .                   Confidence is good,  but when in the zone and allowing the action to happen, always go back to your routine of analysis and feedback.  The need for this is that it is both necessary for an athletics's development and the subconscious mind needs this awareness of expected correction or errors which were made.

. In the indoor match between Australia and New Zealand if you watch the video you will see the tell (pre armswing) of the auzzie. 2010 BCIB - PBA Indoor Challenge Singles video
  Same with seeing distance, we calculate distance by the subconscious feeling  the tension of the muscles of the eyes being focus on the bowl or jack at a distance.  But the subconscious can not say 25 meters unless you have a method of calculating  the distance..  Like how far is  the jack within  the boundaries (for a long jack) or  how far over minimum distance is the jack?  You can actually visualize yourself walking from the hogline to the jack and counting the steps and develop it very actually. Or on a long jack you can watch the player behind the jack coming to the head and count their steps.
  If the conscious mind does not do these calculation then the subconscious mind will not do it.  Stay in control.. otherwise being over confidence and begin making mistakes.
    In closing,  I suggest if you have read all the 8 blogs and are interested in this strong force in your bowls development, you do not abandon any part of your present routine.  Build upon it by defining and feeling the involvement of the subconscious .  Check out other aspects of our sport.. Crown Bowls is very much instinctive and with  quite a non-flat effect on the bowl roll.  Blind bowls should be tried. Go to the club and after standing on the mat and line pull you hat down over your eyes and get into the previsualization and roll the bowls.  Learn, adapt and improve.  
   Thank you for following the blogs...  If  the chance arrives I will attempt to do another two or three of follow-up nature.. But by chance I saw the book of "in the Zone" and want to read it.
   A last thought    "If I know all this,  why am I not a top of the line athletic ?   Well, maybe one day I will say hi.. because I am also still working on all the aspects of perfection.   But I do have national gold.  but not in bowls... Not yet.

Three Subconscious mind Exercises (AMem)

This blog speaks of a old saying that "A wise man and a fool appear alike until either one of them  begin to speak"  Why even express yourself in something, which others don't understand and  which may be so controversial to have readers view your teachings as PoppyPoop.  (Gosh I wrote a lot in this blog, re-reading it I ask..what should I delete ???)

Last Month, while watching Ryan Bester, Canada's best Lawn bowler, on streaming Australia Bowls at  the World Bowls 2012,  in Australia.; I saw  the smooth flow from Conscious to subconscious actions in his bowl delivery.

(update july 2014, Ryan will be bowling in the Commonwealth Games 2014 this week in Scotland)

This young man has done what I had taken over the last 40 years of personal learning in several sports for me to develop. And even today I have  far from having it at perfection..  With great teacher like the french instinctive traditional archer ,Jean Marie Coche, and his book "La discipline du tir a l'arc instinctif souple", I have learn  to relax during the action, and let the subconscious do the sport. (End of Update July 2014)

  I believed in the development of these abilities, "to be in the Zone" and if not for the recent video of Tiger Wood on the subject in Youtube, I would have just continue to work on it myself.  This smooth flow of mind from conscious to subconscious, creates what some people will call an out-of-body experience.

  Recently Golf Digest (Updated March/2016) has a 18 great mental tips from golf greats and one was by Tony Jacklin who said " When I am in this state, everything is pure, vividly clear. I'm in a cocoon of concentration"

Another golfer , Mark Calcavecchia said it another way in that article. "When I'm in a zone, I don't think about the shot or the wind or the distance or the gallery or anything; I just pull a club and swing."

Likewise, Al Geiberger said  "A great round of golf is a lot like a terrible round. You drift into a zone, and it is hard to get out of it."

 This Zone is when the  Conscious mind release control to the subconscious, and you stand back and watch as you are performing the actions.  The actions and results is best defined as " total in the zone" because you have learn  it is possible to give total control to the subconscious.  Your subconscious mind can easily remember how you do that action and can reproduce those priceless and well developed actions.

Update July15, 2026 - This month, during a club game after a 5 hot days Provincial Singles Competition, I was doing a club game and took a cramp during the delivery of a long jack which resulted in a torn biceps. I ofcourse, was forced to abandon my 2026 season to allow the injury to heal and repair. As I was a sub in a Final Club competition I continued to play the last few ends,but with the pain, my regular delivery was impossible as with the pain I could not pass the hogline. 

I write this because I, like many, I believed  that "Muscle Memory" or subconscious control of delivery muscles was unique to the muscles that were used in practice while building this "Muscle Memory". (that the subconscious mind controls and balances all those delivery muscles for a perfect delivery)  

So with the pain of the torn biceps, I changed my delivery from a arm swing of a bend elbow delivery to a straight arm delivery. But the Muscle Memory continue to add a smaller bend elbow finish to the delivery.(too painful) So with two bowls to go and finally the game is over; I changed  to a side-step presentation. With both feet on the center line and my shoulders pointing up the center line I did a straight arm swing from back to front the full 180 degree (9 o"clock to 3 o"clock like swing).

 Of course I turned my waist to the angle of delivery.  The first bowl at a full length jack had to raise two bowls a few inches into the opponent's bowl on the jack. Success was weight as it was to raise the jack 12 to 14 inches to my only bowl behind. (too much was lost points) Muscle Memory knew the needed weight but these muscles had never been a type of delivery (a straight arm swing is a back shoulder full rotation) and balance ( stand on a turned waist and spread legs).

 I was surprised, as the shot was perfect as if I had practice it for years. Now I had the point but for our team to win I needed to draw to the new jack position with the opposite bias. Muscle Memory did the "Dead Draw" of 4 or 5 inches. Amazing !!

 It is important to realize, from this incident, that the subconscious knew the need weight as this was the last of 10 ends, but the muscles being used for such a long jack had never been used before. Muscle Memory did what would have take weeks of practice.  This story shows that memories  of performance and data collected (delivery weight and green speeds) are all calculated and used when Muscle Memory performs and not because you have done 100 hours of those Muscles in practice or game play. (End of Update July 15, 2026)

Whether, in  Lawn bowl delivery, Archery shooting an arrow or what ever.  If we think about what we want to do we lose it..  Because the subconscious mind requires you to not think about your action you must learn to think about nothing for that few microseconds.

 A half century ago. when  I was just 18 and  starting photography at a N.S. newspaper office, my mentor told me, how he had gone up the Mount Kennedy (a mountain in Canada renamed for John F Kennedy ) with a team of American National Geographic photographers.  There, he was told by the US Photographers, that he could not be there it was an Americian expidation. He said "Not allowed on a Canadian mountain, where do you think you are". Of course, when the National Geographic magazine was published later that year, there was not a single photo showing his presence in the group. His lesson to me was "Do what you believe is right, no matter what others say".

 He had told them. " No American is going to tell me I can not climb and photograph on a Canadian Mountain" So as a young man of 30, he went with the group and  received no credit as no photos printed show him as being  there.' .  Why this story ?

He always said..  "I did it because I could"  And  most important "You are remembered not by what others say (or photographs) you have done. but what you know in your heart you did or can do". In life we should all be lucky enough to find a good mentor with sound advice.  Validation is not important if you know yourself how valuable your actions have been.

Also he would say "Knowledge is free so give it free.. pass on to others"    He taught me to share knowledge and be proud of  what I know, even if others may disagree as to it value, or even doubt if it is  actually an obtainable power..

         In my first sport, Archery, I was shooting beer bottle caps at 30 feet off the wire fence.. Just turn and shoot instinctive.. Trick shots , yes a bit , but skill use of the subconscious mind in a split second of action.  If I had taken the time to aim I would never have been able to do it.  Just that quick action of turning and shooting... no thinking... just doing. Later at the Canadian National Archery Instinctive Competition in 1990 or so, I won gold and Bronze in Bowhunting giving me the Competition Combination Gold. all because of Instinctive skills. You, or L, can do the same in Bowls and Ryan Bester shows us this in his delivery and shots in the 2012 World Bowls.
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Without saying too much more but with these three exercises,  listed below, which allows the Commanding of the Subconscious; you can  apply it in your  personal Sport.  Again to some,  I will seem to be an idiot, but to others I can be a teacher.

 But if the reader learns to. Know what is the difference by studing into Instinctive and Visualization as it applies to the Perfection of their sport; I feel honoured to have had you as a reader. In time, after you have incorporate these ideas into your sport and build your performance tools in your toolbox; your endurance, confidence, and  great bowl delivers will amaze yourself and others.

Like a neuro-computer, our mind works on our thoughts and commands. But like a computer with a operating system a lot of what happens in our life are controlled by a subconscious part of the mind.

 Daily, in driving a car we Brake to a stop without thought or do preparations as we have many tasks being performed instinctive. We live our lives with the subconscious doing for us. The subconscious mind is always busy , But, because we never allow it a total control, it is hard to later in life  develop it as part of our sport.  Maybe, it is now time in our personal sport development, to engage, and develop, this aspect of mental control. Let things happen and be less of a control freak as we watch our self giving more control to the subconscious mind. ( And see the difference it makes in our performance).

In sports, a lot of actions happens so fast only the subconscious has the ability to control how we react and then produce the final wanted result.  If a baseball player in throwing the ball and is losing his balance, was to think "I am not properly balanced and must throw to the left because I am falling as I throw"?  All of these conscious thoughts would then be allowing our conscious mind to interference with our actions. He just throws and after the ball is released he braces for his fall.  Thinking would mean that the final performance would  only result in the pitched ball being badly thrown.  The subconscious mind  can feels that  "off balance action" in the throw,  and knows how to achieve the  needed action which would result in the adjustment and  change of force to correct the throw of the baseball to the target.
                       - - - - - - -  OK Down to actual exercises - - - - - -

The three exercise given here will
  1 - show the presence of Subconscious control,
 2 - How to give over control to the Subconscious,  and
 3 -  communicate with the subconscious our expectation in our  performance.(the feedback we collect after the previous bowl delivery)

        Two problems happen in Lawn Bowls which don't happen in other sports.  First, lawn Bowls, it is not  a fast "physical action" sport, and therefore, because of this long action period, we do not allow the automatic subconscious  to take control of our delivery. We believe we can best  control and direction our actions.  Not True !!

       Secondly , where in other sports, if the athletic want to improve, they will develop muscles or  buy special equipment (golf or archery),  in Lawn Bowls we improve by changes that we will incorporate into our next bowl, in our next  competition, etc. We study and learn from the analysis of our errors after the game or competition.. However, every time when we  improve our bowl's delivery technique in this way we also develop a control by the subconscious mind. We become, each time, more confidence to let the subconscious learn and take control of it.  In communication, if we,  think, as we want  to change our line of delivery; we find that the next delivery has become a little more fixed (consciously) and as we continue to allow the mind (subconsciously) the control of this action until the end  with our delivery routine. This habit becomes our style.

Yesterday ( update 2023) I was talking to an international athletic who has been at Internationals for several years who was having problems with their performance. The subconscious was missing information because of the bright sunshine coming through the window of the indoor sport area. Our eyes adjust to the bright sunlight but the athlete said that the subconscious had not yet adjust it method of distance judgement,  My advice was to communicate this need. "All that is required is to think “Bright Sunlight”, before his transfer of control to the active subconscious and allow it to make the adjustment.(not the word but the idea) Of course, it required three or four occurrence of this pre-action thought to establish that all future action at this time will require the same adjustment. If the individual was using pre-visualization to identify the distance the subconscious would automatically adjusted. Pre-visualization is am action of repeated viewing the distance with reference to previous experiences, until you know (feel) the proper distance.

 Tiger Wood's coach in talking about Visualization in Tiger's Perfection 

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1mSMDoVqcg) said

 "The athletic in the Peak Performance Zone,, is really in a heighten state of awareness., (has) an absorbed focus. There is an element of Relaxation Response, that goes on in there. And they are always in the Here and the Now, with a clear uncluttered mind.  Just absorbed in the moment."  and most important.. "Letting the performance happen rather than thinking or helping the performance to happen"


Exercise 1 Feeling  the presence of the subconscious mind taking control.
       This exercise is not for results.. it is to notice and feel when,  in your performance,  the subconscious  mind. is engaged.  Once we feel  the subconscious mind taking  control and know of its presence, then in your bowl delivery you know bu that feeling, and then progress through practice of letting it have control,  to activate it  (which is also deactivate the conscious mind). As the control of the subconscious mind's transfer to your bowls delivery you will feel the return of control back to the conscious mind as you watch hour bowl roll up the green.

 This knowledge of knowing the subconscious is active, can be everything you need to improving your sport. Your coach can not roll your bowl. Only you can. likewise, your conscious thought and action can not improve the roll of your bowl.. only your subconscious.  Let it happen..  You know how to let it happen, do it even if just to feel that emptiness of control. Let the subconscious mind do it.

    If in catching a ball, you did not know the hand could be used to catch a thrown ball, you would do like a lot of kids and catch it between your arms and your stomach. Today, you know to raise your arm  and catch the ball between your fingers...  The following exercise will show you a "feeling" or "awareness" of the subconscious mind being active.

     EXERCISE     As with a regular Bowls practice, go on the green with 4 bowl (or even 8 bowls of the same near weight and size) and place them close to the mat.  You will be reaching down quickly to pick them  up,  bowl by bowl, and rolling them one after the other. So, place them as near the front of the mat as is good for your style of delivery with out the forward step.
       Because you are going to roll 4 (or 8) bowls very quickly up the green. Your exercise has three parts.  1 - Position yourself (always the same) on the mat, (I do it in a bent (floor washing( style  2 - Roll the bowl, and quickly pick up anther bowl and roll it.  and 3 - Feel that something between the release of the bowl and reach for the next.  What is missing ?  (Missing is the feeling the conscious mind  telling you to pick up another bowl).  All this is done without concern where the previous bowl has stop or rolled.  (no important on the same line, same weight or point of  final draw, just .. whot do you feel or what don't you feel). 

This exercise will identify the short time that the subconscious is controlling your delivery. You will feel that "void" or nothingness. You will feel the presence of the subconscious as the conscious mind takes back control and tells you to pick up another bowl.

       Principle here is.. The subconscious always take control from a "a start point of your delivery" (Thus a normal start position on the mat, staying there is important for this exercise) .You will reach and pick up a bowl and having stood in a way that your feet have not moved, but if they have then place yourself back  at that same start position, and if your do a grip or extended arm type preparation, don't worry,this is ok..do it. but don't waste time planning or line aiming..  The subconscious mind will always take control from a known point of transfer  (of control from the conscious mind) and preform it task each time that you roll the bowl.

   RESULTS   For all the bowls,  you have rolled the bowl along a line and then forgot about it,.. reach down and got another and position your self and  roll it immediately without concern for the previous bowl.. All of this for all 4 (or 8 bowls)  You don't think about style, form or weight,  just rolled  the bowls.

Did you notice, that somewhere during the exercise and your delivery, you did not know the bowl was rolling.  You realize that you had done your delivery when you saw the bowl in front of you.

 And this was because you were now thinking  "I got to get another bowl"  This absence of thought time is the time identified as the subconscious mind's control or presence. We call this the Zone or a period of "Empty Thought".

             This exercise  works now to show you the Zone, because you probably never have rolled 4 or 8 bowls fast like that... and the subconscious mind does not have any routine to remember.  so when you decide to "Get Another Bowl",  the subconscious mind immediately returns control to your conscious mind.. Also, in your normal routine of delivery and watching it roll, you do  not see the subconscious presence, but here  you have that  feeling that you need to watch the bowl until it stops. (Another routine interrupted by this exercise and which shows the subconscious mind receiving confusing information  and does not like be interrupted or tricked.

 These two feelings identify the subconscious mind's presence.  "absence of thought period" and "Interruption Annoyance" Looking for a photo this book arrived in my search. Never read it but seems interesting. "In The Zone Training by Clinical and Sport Psychologist, Dr. Ray Mulry,"

           Up until now your routine (conscious and subconscious) has finished with the results of the roll.  The "Blackout period" was ended when your subconscious mind has given back control to you..

The annoyance is caused because you are unaware that  your subconscious takes other inputs like the  results, what you expected when after the bowl has stopped, your analysis of error, and decision of what to do to fix it.  All these inputs of information are part of the subconscious work of preparing for the next routine.

In your future bowls delivery, before the transfer of control to the subconscious you will now know  the big need to communicate your expectation and  changes in delivery, ( Not consciously do it but decide to do it and and  wait and watch them happen from  this thought to the subconscious.)
 
        Now do the exercise again returning up green.. This time identifying where the bowl were on the green and when you feel the return to your conscious mind. Try to place the bowl a little farther from you by sort of letting the subconscious keep control longer.(This becomes your future objective)

 Do not change your speed of getting the next bowl.. Just think and do each bowl the same as before but identify the bowls position on the green when you saw it rolling. You have now seen the subconscious mind presence in the previous 4 (or 8) bowls; and you can now  maybe see the ability to extend it presence further into the non thinking part of your delivery..
  Tigar Wood talks about this absence of mind being so long he does not remember doing the swing or shot.  "I know I was there, but I don t remember doing the shot "

Exercise 2... Creating the Absence of  Mind.

 In the photo, the rider is allowing the horses to do the work while directing them where they want them to go...However, you know the horses know what to do because they have done it a thousand times before..

Update July 28, 2026 - My opinion or experience are unique to me. Not all Lawn Bowler athletes have passed by Archery before starting the sport. Each sport leaves experience on the individual'S attitude toward their new sport. Recently I spoke to an elite, was a member of the National team; and asked "Do you feel during your delivery the "Muscle Memory Void? ", The reply was "There is a calm after a good delivery which tells me I did a good delivery"  

So, although in Archery, I expected the feeling of the "Void" after a good delivery of my arrow to the target, It appears that not everyone needs to feel that 'transfer of mind" or "Void". Because of Archery, I seek it as confirmation I allowed "Muscle Memory" to perform my best performance, but the athlete's answer also contained the following phrase. "I feel a calm and satisfaction when I have done a good delivery". So the purpose of these exercises is to identify (or confirm) the presence of the subconscious mind and the feeling of "Void" when the instinctive performance is finished.  To suggest it is necessary to feel it, is a big error(on m ,y part, as the feeling of each individual may be different.  When we establish a feeling or action to confirm a good delivery, they know they have done a perfect "Muscle Memory" performance. (end of Update July 28, 2026).

    To be able to roll bowls with the subconscious, we must be able to project our mind into this Absence of presence and we sort of transfer control to subconscious.  Our conscious mind want to say..I can do this,,let me  do it, But like the horseman, we must give instruction and  then let it happen.
.  Getting your mind busy..(like that quick roll did) and with this  busy thinking of something; you will allows the subconscious to be in charge.  In the previous exercise we were occupied with getting the next bowl but you need something less destructive to your routine of delivery..

It is important to note that there are Visual and Auditive individuals So some individuals (visual) will find this easlier than others (auditive) individuals. In the video of Tiger Wood, he said he had trouble visualizing and  his coach had him use his hands for the thought of visualizing the movement. Maybe Tiger Wood is not a visual individual and this was his method.

                So in this exercise you are going to try to create a period of absence of thought  by thinking, maybe concentrating,  on the spot on the green where you want the bowl to stop.."There There There" is your thoughts.

 This will  trigger the subconscious mind to take control, especially if you are ahead of the routine of delivery. ( Of course,  remember the same "transfer of control" point in your delivery routine) This point is always after you have done everything else..( position yourself on mat, bias checked and thoughts of weight that is  needed). Always giving the subconscious mind the control of your actions before the actual delivery..(or at some point.. maybe during the back swing). The photo from Ehow.com shows about the point where you regain control of your delivery consciously.

     . "There, There,there"   It is only during delivery that it is necessary for the subconscious to  be active.   This exercise is to  be able to switch conscious to subconscious when you want.. or have confidence that the subconscious is now doing the delivery. Confidence  that the bowl will arrive "there, there" and confidence that control has been transfer to you subconscious..   Strange but it happens, You will be so occupied with your thoughts of "there, there, there" that suddenly  you will see the bowl on the green,(at some point in it roll to the head) and know that you have returned from the subconscious mind's control.  This feeling of  "not being present for a microsecond", is all that is needed.

 What has happen ??.

  Before rolling the bowl..or during the start of delivery.. forget the delivery and push your mind ahead toward the spot on the green where you expect it will stop or half ways to the head if you are doing a imaginary roll in your imagination  of your bowl  rolling to that sport. ..Concentration, on the imaginary bowl going  to the head and the position where you want the bowl to stop. (If you want to develop this ability, you will feel your mind returning to your delivery but you must again push it to to that position on the green and then to the head)   The difference of this "Green to the head thought "  is that the thought  is your memory of the bowl as you have seen it roll so many times before, into the head. You have seen it many times, so it has a very real movement in your mind.. a memory of  the same having happen many times before to the bowl.

Later you  can work on  having a  full ability to  visualize the action of the bowl all the way from your hand to the head position. This visual image does not see the bowl rolling at it greens speed but forgets time and only thinks about the action. (It is fast but it is complete).  But always from  before the delivery you do your transfer of control (to the subconscious) and work  your thought to  be more concern with  seeing the position near the jack where the bowl  finished it  rolling.
    The subconscious know how to do this...let it do it...Confidence in your ability to allow it to do it automatically or instinctive.

Did you by chance notice the grouping of your bowls in the above exercise. were you surprised that it was such a tight group..(it probably was)  If they were not in a tight group you were not stabilizing your stance on the mat starting from a point of control to the subconscious or you were fighting with the results wanted as to the purpose of the exercise.

Exercise 3.   .Moving Bowls with your thought.

I know that seems stupid..but when I decided to shoot a Petanque takeout shot completely blindfolded, it seem stupid. (In Petanque, which is the french "Roll a ball or bowl to a Jack" game, we throw the ball 18 to 20 feet to hit and remove (Take-out( the counting ball)  Throwing a metal ball with your eyes closed is NOT crazy, if no-one is near the target.  But I knew I could do it because I just let it instinctively happen.  (Subconsciously)  Mind,thinks about it.. Mind, know how to do it .. and the ball is quite big.. Mind, in not being instructed.  Of course there was nothing to see if instinctive, except the ball being thrown thought the air is seen in my mind from previous times I had done the "Take-out".  It happen..no not every time but it was just me practicing deeper control by the subconscious. NOT EXPECTING TO DO IT.
(Photo Petanque Ball hitting and removing a target ball)

Likewise, with a blind student it is possible to make them use their thought because they bowl their bowl in their mind... They do not see, (if totally blind) the green or bowl.

This exercise is not a feeling to be aware of.. but is just an exercise to prove to yourself how the mind (subconscious) will know what to do from your thought to it.  Yes you communicate to your subconscious mind what you expect in your delivery and final shot position.  And you let it happen.

    Take 4 bowls and a jack..  Place the jack at a distance which you like (natural distance probably)  Roll a bowl to that distance.  Now depending upon if your bowl is short or long (I hope it is not on the jack) you are going to simple add on or take off with a thought to do so... Yes a thought to the subconscious.  "I am too short, add on maybe 12 inches"
 .
  Adding on... If you were short and want to just pass your bowl... Think "Unnnnnhhhhhh" like a grunt or forceful sound. as your roll your bowl. and see (in your mind) the previous bowl on the green and this bowl is just a little pass it.
Do this for each of the three bowls left after the first bowl is delivered and try to put each bowl as just a little farther than the previous bowl.  Try this for a few ends and believe in yourself... you can do it.

 If your was long and you  wanted to be in front of that first bowl..  Think "Woooohhhaaaa" like telling a horse to stop. while thinking of the bowl (in your mind) as if it is placing  your new bowl just in front of  the first or your last bowl...Do this for all three bowls each should be just a bit shorter than the one before. If you want to advance this exercise think of the actual inches you want between bowls.  Yes you can do it that way..

As this was originally written in December , our Canadian Winter;  I realized that in Canada we did not have the ability to go out to the green; and therefore, I  was with the hope some Australian bowlers would try the exercise and report back to my twitter or comment here their experience.

 Fellow Canadians, you' will have to wait until next summer and remember these exercise unless you have an indoor winter bowls program at your club or area. These exercises work and with further effort on the exercises; you will  become aware of commanding the sub conscious mind

The next blog,  and last in this group will show how the subconscious mind can make mistakes and be misleading and you must not allow yourself to be caught up believing everything that it shows you.. As this is posted on Christmas Eve I guess it is my presence to Lawn Bowls and you a follower or blog readers.. Hope you have time to try these exercises before the next and last blog in this group.

If you do not think I am a total idiot and you have tried this... my reason  for this long blog has been completed... If not,  your opinion of me as an idiot does not matter because I have and will always be able to do this. (transfer to and from the zone). If one day you can go  to the green and bowl blind and feel these results; I am very happy to have had you as a student.