campbell
07-25-2008, 12:25 PM
Hello All,
I started bowls this year and have been bowling since April 14th. I practice most evenings for about 1.5 - 2hrs (some people think Im a bit mad I expect!)
Up untill last night I have found that I needed about half an hour to find my line, after this time people start to take notice! my accuracy is generally good and I will normally plant, say three or four bowls within a foot of the jack on a fairly frequent basis.
The big problem has been the first half hour when I am all over the place!
Now about last night. Last night I had a handicap singles game, I played off a five handicap, the other player is a first team player and had no handicap.
My opponant had seen me practice before and was quite nervous, joking that I should not have a handicap at all (must have been watching me after the first half hour!)
Anyway, I got hammered 21 - 8!!! and I only started picking up a few points toward the end! This prompted my opponant to ask how I took my line. I explained in all innocence that it was in my head and after so many ends it became instinctive, and that is why I need half an hour to get going!
I'm not sure that he totally believed me, but he went on to show me how he decided on his line.
His method is to decide on a side and try to stick to it, having done that he identifies a mark on the green and bowls to it, and then adjusts his line to this mark untill he achieves the correct line to the jack, all thats left then is weight.
He got me to try this, and I immediatly started bowling to the jack. I should now be able to achieve a line fairly quickly on any green!
All this is no news to most if not all of you, but if I had not played last night and had my opponant not been so helpful, I would still be taking half an hour to start playing, and been totally unaware of any alternatives.
Now that aspect has been explained to me I feel a bit stupid, but you should never underestimate the ignorance of the novice bowler!!!!
Does anyone else know of any new bowlers are making similar mistakes? I am sure they (and me) would appreciate any information or tips from all you experienced bowl players!
best regards.............Laurence
I started bowls this year and have been bowling since April 14th. I practice most evenings for about 1.5 - 2hrs (some people think Im a bit mad I expect!)
Up untill last night I have found that I needed about half an hour to find my line, after this time people start to take notice! my accuracy is generally good and I will normally plant, say three or four bowls within a foot of the jack on a fairly frequent basis.
The big problem has been the first half hour when I am all over the place!
Now about last night. Last night I had a handicap singles game, I played off a five handicap, the other player is a first team player and had no handicap.
My opponant had seen me practice before and was quite nervous, joking that I should not have a handicap at all (must have been watching me after the first half hour!)
Anyway, I got hammered 21 - 8!!! and I only started picking up a few points toward the end! This prompted my opponant to ask how I took my line. I explained in all innocence that it was in my head and after so many ends it became instinctive, and that is why I need half an hour to get going!
I'm not sure that he totally believed me, but he went on to show me how he decided on his line.
His method is to decide on a side and try to stick to it, having done that he identifies a mark on the green and bowls to it, and then adjusts his line to this mark untill he achieves the correct line to the jack, all thats left then is weight.
He got me to try this, and I immediatly started bowling to the jack. I should now be able to achieve a line fairly quickly on any green!
All this is no news to most if not all of you, but if I had not played last night and had my opponant not been so helpful, I would still be taking half an hour to start playing, and been totally unaware of any alternatives.
Now that aspect has been explained to me I feel a bit stupid, but you should never underestimate the ignorance of the novice bowler!!!!
Does anyone else know of any new bowlers are making similar mistakes? I am sure they (and me) would appreciate any information or tips from all you experienced bowl players!
best regards.............Laurence