Each individual bowler has a particular ‘natural distance’ under a given set of green and weather conditions. This ‘natural distance’ is the number of meters his/her bowl will travel when delivered with a smooth, effortless, thought-free swing, on that rink, at that time.
Only players who have developed a grooved delivery after playing thousands of bowls have a ‘natural distance’. Tyros vary everything- position on the mat, posture, starting elevation of the bowl, degree of backswing, and length of step. With some or all of these shifting around, no natural length is possible: nor is any real control of length achievable.
Consequently, in this blog I’m talking about experienced bowlers playing against each other.
If there are practice ends most bowlers when they get them will deliver the jack to the length they are planning to play most often. Initially you can assume that this is their natural length. If you have the mat at the start of the match, do not deliver the jack this length! As play continues identify and remember any length at which the opposition seems particularly accurate. When you have the mat, remember and don’t play that length. In team bowls it is the skip who needs to be watching this, since it is the skip who calls for a particular length jack.
If you know nothing about the opposing side, assume that their natural distance is a medium length jack. Play longer or shorter instead.
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