Learn from Greg Harlow’s Bowls Delivery

In the 2018-2019 World Bowls Season, Greg Harlow finished 2nd. After the 2020 World Indoor Bowls Championship, Greg Harlow was ranked sixth. He is the resident professional at Potters Resort where the World Championships are held each year so he has plenty of occasion to practice on the portable rink that is used in these matches. In my estimation, he has one of the classically most perfect delivery actions. It is interesting for bowling enthusiasts to examine this delivery.

Stance

Greg Harlow bowls from a traditional stance with both feet parallel to the aim line and the ‘stepping foot’ slightly in advance of the anchor foot in the ready position. At the beginning of his delivery action, he lowers his body slowly swinging backwards with his bowling arm in concert with it. but does not begin his backswing until the bowl is at ankle height. 

Grip

Greg Harlow’s grip is the claw grip. He does not bend his wrist in a scoop but it remains locked. The running surface of his bowl is consistent with his aim line.

 Harlow’s Opposite Hand Position

The ‘opposite hand’ refers to the hand that does not do the bowling. This hand in the cases of most top bowlers participate very little in their deliveries. Greg Harlow exemplifies this. His non-bowling hand neither steadies his bowl nor does he place it on his advancing leg as he sinks down by bending his knees to lower his entire frame. In his set position this hand rests lightly on his upper thigh. The whole action, without the support of this hand and arm, requires top-tier athletic balance. Perhaps because of the tremendous strain applied to his knees to do this lowering, smoothly and totally in control, Harlow has had somewhere in the neighbourhood of four knee operations- His bowling action is beautiful to see but Greenbowler would not recommend it. This is not something that one can expect to continue in one’s advancing years!

 Harlow’s Back-Swing

Greg Harlow has a regular backswing throughout that brings his bowl to near the heel of his anchor foot (see first picture). Greg does not noticeably tuck his anchor knee in behind his forward heel because his backswing does not go behind his anchor foot. Greg’s swing provides momentum to the bowl more than his shoulders and body.

Forward Stepping

 Harlow’s entire body moves forward with his bowl swing. His forward stepping foot first contacts the bowling surface heel first and then he rocks forward onto his toes. The bowl is not released until his advancing foot is solidly grounded as is the case with all top bowlers.

Follow Through

Greg Harlow has one of the most reproducible follow throughs in the game. His arm elevation and even his finger positions are consistent. This is seen in the picture.

Walking Off the Mat

Harlow walks off the mat smoothly without the exaggerated interrupted stepping that is the hallmark of Marshall and Foster. but his weight completely forward at release and his anchor foot is only touching the mat with his toes.

Positioning on the Mat

Harlow uses the mat more noticeably than most bowlers his standard. Commentators mention this more often than with other bowlers. When he wants to be sure that a bowl will get back to center rink he will stand on the front corner of the mat on the side opposite the side to which he is bowling. That is, for a forehand, he stands on the forward backhand-side corner.