What to practice?
You are always confused what you should do to become a better bowler. Everybody gives advice and you do not know what works or what do not.
My Bowls did a study and with just four basic practices you can be the best bowler that you can be. Just remember what you put in is what you get out!
We have a points system where you can track your progress. See the setup of the points in each section.
The weight bowl
First you have to understand the weight of your delivery. The practice below will teach you to have control of your weight.
Place bowls, cones or even golf balls. Two metres from the end of the rink and two metres apart. The objective is to play a bowl on one side behind each marker. Practice five heads from your front hand and then from your back hand.
Then five bowls on each side before the marker. Do not worry to much about direction. This is a weight training but try to get it close.
Track yourself
Points: Total points available = 80
+1 for each bowl played behind each marker. Or +1 each bowl played before each marker on your second round.
The draw bowl
Lawn bowling is most importantly a drawing game. Sometimes you have to out draw bowls that is in front of you.
The practice below will teach you how to draw between two bowls.
Place two bowls, cones or even golf balls. Try to draw your bowls between the two markers. You can place your markers where you should be a problem in a match situation.
Play five hands from your front hand and five balls from your back hand.
Track yourself
Points: Total points available = 20
+1 for each bowl played through between the markers. Or +2 for each bowl played closer to the jack better than the markers.
The drive bowl
Although the simple drawing game is what bowling is about, it is sometimes necessary to play a stronger shot. This can be very helpful if your opponent is laying in a great position and a simple draw would not give you a change to win the head or to move the jack towards bowls lying at the back.
Play five ends from your front hand and five ends from your back hand. Unfortunately, if you it the jack you will have to go and replace it.
Track yourself
Points: Total points available = 20
+1 for each bowl played hitting the jack. Or +2 for each bowl played hitting the jack with and the bowl ending less that 20cm from the jack.
The area bowl
This is probable the best practice you can do. Although the above is also very important but sometimes due to time restrictions you do not have time to do all the practices.
This practice you will play 20 heads. Ten on your forehand and ten on your backhand from both sides of your rink. So you can choose to start with the forehand or backhand but play the same hand for ten hands(five from one end and five from the other end)
The objective is to play your ball in the distances from the jack as the picture above.
Track yourself
Points: Total points available = 80
+2 for each bowl played with in the 50cm diamond. Or +1 for each bowl played at the back behind the diamond.