A Different View of Triples can make Better Lawn Bowlers

In lawn bowls, triples is the game between two teams of 3 players each; each with three bowls to deliver. It is this variety of the game that new bowlers most often participate and consequently it is in this game where the largest differences in skill levels occur. This is quickly apparent. Bowls belonging to the leads, from either side, less frequently participate in the scoring at the completion of ends. 

This does not mean that these initial deliveries are less important.  What it does do, is emphasize goals for the ‘front end’ of a team that are happily less demanding, yet the accomplishment of which will dramatically improve their team’s chances to score well.

Perhaps, why these particular strategic objectives are both more realistic and more appropriate for newer bowlers can be made more clear if we look at these games as being most like three-bowl singles between two skips, competing on a sculpted playing field prepared by teammates, two from each side, who shape the field of contest by strategically placing their twelve bowls. This is a realistic way of characterizing the lawn bowls triples at a point when the skips are clearly and consistently better bowlers than the rest of their teams.

Looked at it this way, how many bowls, up or down a skip stands after the leads and vices have finished their deliveries, matters little because according to this perspective only a few of the bowls already on the rink are going to end up in the count. What is crucial for any skip’s competitive success is the disposition of the head in particular:

* how many wasted bowls are there short of the jack blocking entry to the head

* how many team bowls are within the key target area just behind the jack

Now noteworthy between these concerns is that neither is a question of line or bias but both are issues of correct or incorrect weight!  It is understandable that new bowlers' first concern is about line. The aspect of bowls that is most fascinating is that a bowl when delivered follows a beautiful predictable curved path. This is the problem for coaches because the most important element of bowls' performance actually is getting correct ‘weight’. By setting as the primary objective for novice players to get their bowls consistently behind the jack when playing triples we are putting the emphasis where it properly belongs. Choosing the proper line on which to bowl can be pointed out by a teammate. Rolling your bowl along that line is a matter of consistent form and balance.  ‘Feeling’ the proper velocity to push a bowl the correct distance down the rink is the most difficult skill and the one that needs to be most emphasized right from the outset. 

It creates better bowlers and better bowlers are happier bowlers!