Strategy is an overarching action plan established before the action
begins. In lawn bowls, strategy is set before a match, at a stage when you know
nothing more than the identity of your opponents. Tactics, on the other hand, are applied when
the opponent is already engaged. Tactics therefore change as the situation on
the rink evolves.
Strategy is invoked for serious competitions where winning is the overriding purpose. In bowls, both strategy and tactics are decided by the skip and executed by the team. Never apply strategies such as proposed here in friendly games. Strategies can embarrass opponents. It draws attention to and belabors their shortcomings. This of course causes bad feelings. Similarly, being a stickler for the rules, which often is part of a strategy, is bad form in a social game. When playing for fun, the uncontested unanimous purpose is for everyone to have an enjoyable experience; so be friendly, helpful, and accommodating to teammates and opponents alike.
Yes- a skip should still take advantage of opponents’ weaknesses during a social game in a tactical way, but he or she should not share this estimation of opposing individual weaknesses with other team members, as one does with a strategy, because that insight is a criticism of another person’s game. Similarly in ‘friendlies’, the skip should not pound away at the opponent’s weaknesses, end after end, but only use that advantage at critical points in the game. Even in a casual game someone must win and it might as well be your side.
So that being said here are some Battle Strategies for Cutthroat Competition
Against Less Well Conditioned Opponents.
Competition here should be like war. Take advantage of the terrain. If it is hot and sunny, take a sun umbrella so your representative at the head is shaded. Wear hats, sun glasses, and wear sun screen as needed. Play steadily but not quickly. If it is within the house rules insist upon the two practice ends. Do not agree to shorten the required number of ends in a match if the tournament director proposes taking a vote on this. Take time to measure. Move the mat up and back regularly. Do not get discouraged if down at first but just try to remain close. Wait for the opponents to tire, sicken, or get angry.
Against a Generally Weaker Team.
Play long jacks almost exclusively. Having to bowl with more force exaggerates defects in a bowler’s delivery. If a bowler is off balance at the end of the delivery, long jacks will exaggerate the damage. Jacks near the ditch frighten inexperienced players who do not want to lose their bowl in the ditch. They do not sufficiently appreciate the weakness of bowling short.
Against a Frail Skip.
Bowlers are promoted from lead to second to vice to skip as they become experienced, but, out of courtesy, (which thankfully lawn bowling is full of at the social level) they are not demoted as they age. Often a person continues to play skip even after frailty has reduced performance. Their tactical insight may still be strong but the actual bowling has weakened. Again play long jacks. More pressure will be on the skip to save when bowling long. Requiring more force in the delivery exaggerates delivery defects.
Against a Relatively Weak/Inexperienced Lead.
Bring up the mat to about 2 meters short of the first hog line so that your own lead can easily and reproducibly place the jack near the ditch. Fear of the ditch will result in short bowls from an inexperienced lead. A strong head may be built before their skip comes to the mat. Your more experienced lead should recognize the importance of positional play generally and its added importance when it is easier to move the jack into the ditch.
Against a Team of Technically Better Players.
If within the house rules, insist upon the two practice ends. If you exceed the time limit for the game it will usually be to your advantage. The more ends played, the more likely your opponents are to win. Good luck can get you ahead but given enough time it will not keep you ahead. Let it be the opponents who must play faster to speed up the game. Watch for foot faulting and call the umpire. Taking a picture of the foot faulting on your cell phone camera could be unnerving! This can really throw off the concentration of an opponent or create friction within that team. Call the umpire if the opponents disturb bowls or otherwise misplay. Don’t try shots beyond your skill level trying to draw even. Just aim to stay close and look for a lucky break or that situation where their concentration is lost. Give the opposing side the impression that you think they should win easily. Be friendly and respectful but do not be bullied. Know the rules down pat because you are going to be a stickler about them. Express surprise and attribute your good shots to luck. The further the match proceeds before the other side realizes it could lose the better for you.
Against Evenly Matched Opponents
Don’t beat yourself. Don’t disturb the head when you are shot and have the last bowl particularly when you are ahead. If ahead only try to add safely to the count. If you have shot with two bowls remaining but they have last bowl, put a safe shot at the back. Force them to make the shot that beats you, don’t do it for them. If you have one of the other specific advantages named here apply that strategy as well.
Against Less Skilled Opponents
In a tournament, the margin of all your victories often determines the overall winners. Also, there are prizes for high game etc.. Do not be casual, relaxed, over-friendly with those you overmatch. The time to mentor is during friendly social games. In competition concentrate and pile up the score. Beginners play more slowly, so you may need to speed up to be sure you finish in the required time and have the opportunity to score in all the ends.
Against Older Players with Joint Problems
Call for a measure when competing bowls are close. Usually the other side will invite you to go right ahead with it. With longer measurements, however, you will need to ask for the assistance of the opposing second, which necessarily involves that player getting down on the playing surface. I have seen situations where it seems the other side concedes the point, rather than have to take the trouble to measure! I do not encourage you to do this in a seniors event. That seems too cruel; but in an open competition, it is the best competitors in every respect that should win.
Playing Away against a Home Team
Arrive early to take practice at right angles to the direction of play in the competition to get a feel for the weight needed to deliver bowls to both short and long jacks. Know in advance the tournament director’s ruling about practice ends before starting play. If within the house rules, insist upon the two practice ends. You will be unfamiliar both with the speed of the greens and which is the narrow and which the wide side for your draw shots. Your opponents know this. You could fall quickly and irrevocably behind if you don’t use every opportunity to learn quickly in practice.
Playing at Home Against a Visiting Team
All the opposite of the suggests above apply. Try to get the game started immediately.
Strategy is invoked for serious competitions where winning is the overriding purpose. In bowls, both strategy and tactics are decided by the skip and executed by the team. Never apply strategies such as proposed here in friendly games. Strategies can embarrass opponents. It draws attention to and belabors their shortcomings. This of course causes bad feelings. Similarly, being a stickler for the rules, which often is part of a strategy, is bad form in a social game. When playing for fun, the uncontested unanimous purpose is for everyone to have an enjoyable experience; so be friendly, helpful, and accommodating to teammates and opponents alike.
Yes- a skip should still take advantage of opponents’ weaknesses during a social game in a tactical way, but he or she should not share this estimation of opposing individual weaknesses with other team members, as one does with a strategy, because that insight is a criticism of another person’s game. Similarly in ‘friendlies’, the skip should not pound away at the opponent’s weaknesses, end after end, but only use that advantage at critical points in the game. Even in a casual game someone must win and it might as well be your side.
So that being said here are some Battle Strategies for Cutthroat Competition
Against Less Well Conditioned Opponents.
Competition here should be like war. Take advantage of the terrain. If it is hot and sunny, take a sun umbrella so your representative at the head is shaded. Wear hats, sun glasses, and wear sun screen as needed. Play steadily but not quickly. If it is within the house rules insist upon the two practice ends. Do not agree to shorten the required number of ends in a match if the tournament director proposes taking a vote on this. Take time to measure. Move the mat up and back regularly. Do not get discouraged if down at first but just try to remain close. Wait for the opponents to tire, sicken, or get angry.
Against a Generally Weaker Team.
Play long jacks almost exclusively. Having to bowl with more force exaggerates defects in a bowler’s delivery. If a bowler is off balance at the end of the delivery, long jacks will exaggerate the damage. Jacks near the ditch frighten inexperienced players who do not want to lose their bowl in the ditch. They do not sufficiently appreciate the weakness of bowling short.
Against a Frail Skip.
Bowlers are promoted from lead to second to vice to skip as they become experienced, but, out of courtesy, (which thankfully lawn bowling is full of at the social level) they are not demoted as they age. Often a person continues to play skip even after frailty has reduced performance. Their tactical insight may still be strong but the actual bowling has weakened. Again play long jacks. More pressure will be on the skip to save when bowling long. Requiring more force in the delivery exaggerates delivery defects.
Against a Relatively Weak/Inexperienced Lead.
Bring up the mat to about 2 meters short of the first hog line so that your own lead can easily and reproducibly place the jack near the ditch. Fear of the ditch will result in short bowls from an inexperienced lead. A strong head may be built before their skip comes to the mat. Your more experienced lead should recognize the importance of positional play generally and its added importance when it is easier to move the jack into the ditch.
Against a Team of Technically Better Players.
If within the house rules, insist upon the two practice ends. If you exceed the time limit for the game it will usually be to your advantage. The more ends played, the more likely your opponents are to win. Good luck can get you ahead but given enough time it will not keep you ahead. Let it be the opponents who must play faster to speed up the game. Watch for foot faulting and call the umpire. Taking a picture of the foot faulting on your cell phone camera could be unnerving! This can really throw off the concentration of an opponent or create friction within that team. Call the umpire if the opponents disturb bowls or otherwise misplay. Don’t try shots beyond your skill level trying to draw even. Just aim to stay close and look for a lucky break or that situation where their concentration is lost. Give the opposing side the impression that you think they should win easily. Be friendly and respectful but do not be bullied. Know the rules down pat because you are going to be a stickler about them. Express surprise and attribute your good shots to luck. The further the match proceeds before the other side realizes it could lose the better for you.
Against Evenly Matched Opponents
Don’t beat yourself. Don’t disturb the head when you are shot and have the last bowl particularly when you are ahead. If ahead only try to add safely to the count. If you have shot with two bowls remaining but they have last bowl, put a safe shot at the back. Force them to make the shot that beats you, don’t do it for them. If you have one of the other specific advantages named here apply that strategy as well.
Against Less Skilled Opponents
In a tournament, the margin of all your victories often determines the overall winners. Also, there are prizes for high game etc.. Do not be casual, relaxed, over-friendly with those you overmatch. The time to mentor is during friendly social games. In competition concentrate and pile up the score. Beginners play more slowly, so you may need to speed up to be sure you finish in the required time and have the opportunity to score in all the ends.
Against Older Players with Joint Problems
Call for a measure when competing bowls are close. Usually the other side will invite you to go right ahead with it. With longer measurements, however, you will need to ask for the assistance of the opposing second, which necessarily involves that player getting down on the playing surface. I have seen situations where it seems the other side concedes the point, rather than have to take the trouble to measure! I do not encourage you to do this in a seniors event. That seems too cruel; but in an open competition, it is the best competitors in every respect that should win.
Playing Away against a Home Team
Arrive early to take practice at right angles to the direction of play in the competition to get a feel for the weight needed to deliver bowls to both short and long jacks. Know in advance the tournament director’s ruling about practice ends before starting play. If within the house rules, insist upon the two practice ends. You will be unfamiliar both with the speed of the greens and which is the narrow and which the wide side for your draw shots. Your opponents know this. You could fall quickly and irrevocably behind if you don’t use every opportunity to learn quickly in practice.
Playing at Home Against a Visiting Team
All the opposite of the suggests above apply. Try to get the game started immediately.
Since the foot-fault rule has changed (only a part of a foot needs to be on or over the mat at delivery) there is essentially no occasion to call an umpire about this.
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