Bowls Tactics borrowing from Lachlan Tighe

Head analysis does not consider either the skill level or the confidence of the person who is being asked to make the shot(s). Neither the score nor the ends to play is usually considered in these hypothetical situations. The bias of bowls and the speed of the green are left out. Consequently there will always be disagreement over what should be played.

Readers should be inspired to share their own thinking in the Comments.

Four different head positions are analyzed assuming that the front ditch is, in turn, in the North(N), South (S), West (W)and East(E) of the diagram. The different orientations create four different tactical situations. The Skips are designated as White and Cross. Their bowls are respectively empty orange circles and purple circles with a cross on them. The small solid orange circle is the jack. The jack is on the center line two meters from the ditch. None of White’s bowls are touchers. White holds three shots. Each side has a bowl remaining but Cross has the last shot. 

North

The ditch is a meter behind the Cross bowls. Taken in this direction this is a problem set by Lachlan Tighe  who describes 15 different options for White. The positioning is deceptive. There are few locations the jack can realistically move short of the line formed by the three Cross bowls where Cross can score even two. The danger arises if the jack is taken anywhere past these bowls up to and including the ditch. A drive or running shot that touches the jack can then score three or four. The best defense is a bowl by White from the left with the primary objective to move White’s leftmost bowl back at least into the line and splitting the Cross bowls. If the shot is missed on the left the bowl could end up grouped with the two Cross bowls on the left which provides some cover.  Follow the link to see all the possibilities without any recommended choice.

 South

White can expect cross to drive into the pocket of White’s two rightmost bowls and the jack white should draw into a location in front of the jack and in the line of Cross’s bowls. Ideally this bowl will count but if it is a bit short that won’t matter.

West

Cross will have to execute a long trail to get more than two. Draw from the left. Since you are up three,  if you err be a touch wide. White will be happy to end up in Cross’s draw. Let Cross be the one to push up his own short bowl on the right, don’t risk doing it for him

East

White should try to rest Cross’s backmost bowl, delivering from the left. White should not draw behind the jack from the right. You do not want to provide a shoulder which could give Cross a wick in with his last bowl or even a bowl on which Cross can chop and lie from the right for second shot. Cross could be down four when he comes to the mat.