Today it is reported to be freezing rain in Toronto Canada. Throughout
the Algarve in Portugal it is sunny, moderately warm, and clear. I am so
blessed.
Playing in a triples roll-up match at the Valverde Lawn Bowls
Club, our lead rolled her forehand for
five or six odd numbered ends in a row without any consistency in line. Bowls sometimes hung out and other times
whipped across the center line as the jack was approached.
Her bowls were Taylor Lignoids- a wider swinging bowl than
any others in the game.
Finally I suggested that she just give up on that hand in
that direction. Immediately she was consistently right up against the jack. Her
weight had been good throughout the match and it remained good.
I have now and again seen that a particular biased bowl and
a particular side and direction on a rink will not work together. It is a waste
of time trying to figure it out. Just switch sides and stay switched!
How do you quickly diagnose such a situation? If you are
hitting your stare point more than once but the results vary so remarkably that it
surprises you, it is time to change your hand. Don’t be bull headed, the rink
won’t change and you can’t change bowls during the match.
If for strategic reasons you can’t change hands, ‘use the
mat’ by changing your anchor foot position either to the left or right.
You're right, Clarke. Use the first couple of ends to find the best hand and then stick to it unless forced to switch because the head or shot required dictate a change. I'd suggest that's true for both directions. So you should be bowing forehand one direction, backhand the other.
ReplyDeleteGrey and cool in St Ives Cambridgeshire today. Three months to go to Opening Day. Playing bowls around the year, you ARE blessed!