I watch Youtube lawn bowling videos trying to learn from the
shot selections made by the best players. Whether this is useful however
depends, I think, upon the answer to the question, “Is correct shot selection
dependent upon skill level?” That is to say,“ If I can only draw within an
average two feet of a target, should I try the same shot as say Paul Foster who
can bowl on average within 3 inches?”
Tacticians who write books tell us that for each shot we
contemplate we should consider the risk/reward ratio. If this is true and it does
make sense. the answer hinges on the answer to a second question: “Are there
bowls positions where the risk/reward ratio changes depending upon the skill
level of the bowler?” This latter question is easier to answer. I can fabricate
a simple situation that will make this
point clearly.
I have the last bowl. The jack is in the ditch. My opponent
sits four. One counter is four feet from the ditch. Three more counting bowls
are eight feet from the ditch. Because I could easily accidentally ditch my
bowl and go down four if I try to get shot (since my average error is two feet),
I should simply stay out of the ditch and make sure I have second so I will only
go down one. A professional, who can bowl within inches of his target, can play
to get shot without undue risk. So yes-
risk/reward ratios for each tactical situation depend upon the bowler’s precision.
Does this mean an average bowler can learn nothing from the
tactical choices made by a champion? No. The factors that are to be considered
are the same for both. The terms in the weighing equation are the same but the
weight (the likelihood or importance) of each term is different depending upon
skill level. We should be able to enumerate to ourselves the different
considerations that the pros are thinking about. We should then have a good
chance to understand their selection of shot so long as we understand their level
of precision. We should also have a fair idea where the selection the champion
chooses will differ from what we ought to try in the same situation.
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