The Bowls Delivery of Darren Burnett

Darren Burnett is most infamous to Canadians, like myself, because at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he won the gold medal in men's singles defeating Ryan Bester of Canada. Darren Burnett is one of the professional bowlers who most clearly illustrates the Shooters’ Stance. Because his anchor foot is distinctly angled with respect to his aim line, he does not need to twist his wrist in his backswing. His grip is classical- four-finger claw grip.

Burnett delivers from an athletic stance. He stands tall and looks down the rink from a fully erect posture and sights down the rink. Then as his arm pushes forward in the delivery motion he looks down towards his bowl. It is unclear whether he keeps his eye on a stare point. Perhaps his stare point is very close to the mat. This is a bit mysterious.

Different from all other bowlers in his ready position he raises his bowl up as high as his chin by bending his elbow. He also raises his other hand which remains close by the bowl as if to steady it. This is evident in my first picture.

When he begins his bowling action he rapidly lowers the 
bowl as he draws it

back towards his anchor foot. He steps forward but not as with others close to his aim line but rather partially away from it. When his foot is firmly down he sweeps forward and drops the bowl onto the rink.

Burnett lets go of his bowl further above the rink than other top bowlers and the bowl gets away with a considerable wobble.

 Burnett’s non-bowling arm ends up resting on his forward thigh. Unlike other bowlers, his forward stepping leg, from knee to foot, angles away from his strictly vertically bowling arm.