Bowling fast surfaces... Which woods?

[EditorialSpark]

Hi, I have bowled outdoors for many years but made the decision to play indoors all year round in 2008 to concentrate on trying to achieve success in county, national and world championship events. I gave up on playing my Drakes Pride Pro(which I used outdoor) and have used Taylor Aces. They are very good for drawing around difficult woods however the new Aces apparantly have amuch wider swinging arc than the originals and there lies my problem. Yes they have a constant arc with no hook but on faster greens they struggle. I have just played at the Welsh and Scottish qualifiers at Leicester where the green played at 19.5seconds (bear in mind the Pba rinks are also set up about 1.5m shorter as well). I was playing out to the middle number of the next rink to get back to the cot which left me struggling. I noted several bowlers were playing with Tiger II's also Jamie Chesney bowling with Greenmaster proline, and these were bowling consistant arcs to the cot on a line just inside the rink marker. I would welcome bowlers thoughts on this problem/these woods also any information on the Greenmaster range as their website is down. Many thanks. Paul

[Sam]

Evening EditorialSpark

When I first started Indoors I tried to bowl with my outdoor Bowls but it was nearly impossible epically on the end rinks,
took me ages to find a Bowl I was comfortable with and finally settled on Dream Line,
They will take a bit of a swing but hold a good line, I play lead but have heard someone who Skips say they are no good if you want to get round short Bowls,

Really difficult guess its what you are comfortable with,


Sam short for Samantha

[keith]

Hi EditorialSpark,

Can't blame you for just playing indoors, would give you a great head start, I think its a completely different game Indoors/Outdoors, look at Greg Harlow only plays indoors, rest the case!!!

woods are such an individual thing, I borrowed a friends Taylor Aces for a local competition won the first round but got completely hammered in the 2nd round against a good club bowler that I have always beat in the past!

Just had to much to do with the Aces great swing even on a dampish outdoor green. NEVER again for singles!!!!

Indoors usually play with classic 2's but on end rinks struggle against Vectors and the like, so have ordered a set of Tiger 2's very popular with good bowlers locally, they we be with me end of September understand a shortage in the U.K. of Tiger's (Roar)

Not a lot of thoughts on Greenmasters.

Best of luck,

Keith:wink:

[EditorialSpark]

Thank you for your thoughts regarding bowls for fast greens. I have tried a number of woods including Taylor Aces, Classic 2's, etc
I have opted for Tiger 2's because they hold a true line for 'yard on' shots and can be played confidently with attacking shots, equally they are great for end rinks, also draw very well yet still allow me to play a wide draw to drop round short woods. For me these were ideal.

[keith]

Hi EditorialSpark,

Ironically picked up my Tiger 2's today, have had to wait all September for new stock to come in!! Burgundy size 3 look great off tonight for the inaugural roll up!!!

Have seen a lot of tiger 2's in action and very difficult to beat on end rinks etc, have also got a plan to play them in single games outdoor? will give them a go!!

Will post tomorrow how I get on tonight, if I don't hammer the jack with every wood it must be the woods not me! they were dear enough!!!! :D

[keith]

Hi All Bowlers,

Took my new Tigers for a roll up last night, quite pleased and a few toucher's!!!!

Firstly had to adjust the weight from grass to indoor!! (a few in the ditch) then the line, not a great deal of difference from Classic 2's, mind you was coming to terms with the weight, tried a few firing shots and fairly accurate with that yard on as they can hold quite a tight line!!!!

So looking forward to the coming season 'I think'!!:grin:

[Angel]

:(I had a roll up yesterday and for the life of me I couldn't keep my Bowls on the rinks, it was really warm with the heating turned up and Indoor Surface was like greased lighting,
Came home very dejected felt like giving up but I know I have a league game next week so it back to the old favorite Practice Practice ???Help

Angel:(

[keith]

Hi All,

EditorialSpark still trying to get used to my Tiger 2's, find them a bit heavier than my classic 2's so the weight is a bit of an issue at the moment (thats my excuse). Have found that it's easier to hit the head they do hold that line with the 'yard on' shot!!!

Angel I think the weather has something to do with quick greens at the moment , around our way its still summer!! but the heating is on indoors, bit like a sauna!!!! Slow up a bit in a few days when its colder!!

First league game tomorrow so will be interesting, have practiced most days this week!!
:D

[Sam]

Ive really got to make the effort and get some practice in before our Indoor league games start,
I haven't played badly with the Dream Line would recommend them to any bowler thinking of changing their Woods,


Sam short for Samantha

[keith]

Hi Sam,

Notice your comments on 'Dreamline', have tried them in the past but struggled indoors plying back end with them. Weight had to be spot on as with no hook at the end they would just not bend in and hook on if I was just over weight!!!

Struggling at the moment with my new 'Tiger 2's' they are just a bit heavier than my classics and am just running that yard out of the head, so practice is my past time at the moment!!!:(

[snapper]

Played against a Lady Skip this week, and I know they say Vectors are too straight but I have never seen anyone take woods out like she did or change a head round,
Had a good look to see what sort of Bowl she was using and you guessed it Vectors,

She either had a fantastic game or I am using the wrong Bowl going to give this some thought,

Snapper from a Wet Cornwall

[kiwi bowler]

What about using "Classic Two's"?, these seem to a good all round bowl.

[Del]

Hi Snapper & Kiwi Bowler,

Think its a good suggestion from Kiwi Bowler, I have tried allsorts and Failed!! including Dreamline, Tiger 2's etc but always come back to the Classic 2's.

Find the straight woods with no hook so difficult to play with but thats me!!:D

[Surfer]

Played a game away and the rink we played on was to say the least tricky,
One side had a ridge if you went out it didn't come back take it a smidgen narrow it swung over, if I had any hair it would have been pulled out,
The opposition Skip had Vectors and all he did was come straight up the middle and wrecked the head, know Bowls England are looking at the problem of Bowls that are too straight,
We are going to be playing Skittles soon no skill required heave and hope comes to mind

[Angel]

Played against someone yesterday and she had lezer never seen anything that held such a straight line, she was playing three and came ring up the green straight as a die no skill these woods need banning sure she would have been no good in a front end position where you have to draw,

[Frankie]

Hi Angel,

Think you mean 'Lasers' but I know what you trying to say, have tried them but your weight has to be spot on as no hook, I just could not get on with them!!!!!

Give me the old classics any day.

Did see the Almark Edge being used outdoors, terrible woods, straight as anything but has limitations as well!!