Want to get closer to the jack more often? Improving your lawn bowls accuracy takes practice, but you don't need to spend hours on the green to see progress.
A few simple drills will sharpen your delivery, help you judge distance and build consistency over time. They work for beginners and experienced club players alike, and most need nothing more than your own bowls, a jack and a measure.
Before you start, check with your club when the green is free for practice and which rinks you can use.
Jack Targeting Drill
Place the jack at a comfortable length and deliver a set of bowls towards it. Then move the jack and go again, changing the distance after every end.
Remember that you're not aiming straight at the jack. Bias makes your bowl curve, so pick an aiming point out to the side and let the bowl draw in. After each delivery, check where it finishes. If you're regularly short or long, adjust your weight. If you're finishing to one side, move your aiming point.
Draw Shot Practice
The draw shot is the one you'll play most often. It's delivered with just enough weight for the bowl to come to rest at or near the jack, without knocking other bowls away.
Set the jack and deliver several bowls, aiming to finish as close as possible. Focus on a smooth, controlled delivery instead of forcing the bowl. Practise on both the forehand and the backhand, because a match will rarely let you pick your favourite.
The Consistency Challenge
Pick a target and deliver 12 bowls at it, which is three ends with a set of four. Use the same stance and routine every time.
Count how many finish within a set distance of the jack, such as a metre, and use a measure to settle the close ones. That's your score. Write it down and try to beat it next session, so you can see your progress at a glance.
Changing Distance Drill
Practise with the jack at short, medium and long lengths. Deliver several bowls at each length before you move on.
This builds your feel for weight. Green speed and moisture also change how far a bowl travels, so a morning session after rain will play differently from a dry afternoon. Take a couple of trial bowls first to read the green.
Obstacle and Marker Drill
Place a flat, soft marker on the green at the point where your bowl should start turning in, often called the shoulder of the green. Practise drawing your bowl past the outside of it and on towards the jack.
Keep the marker well away from the mat and anyone walking on the rink, so it can't cause a trip. It's also worth checking with your club or greenkeeper that it won't mark the surface.
Pressure Practice
Give yourself three attempts to finish a bowl within a set distance of the jack. Score a point for each success, then try to beat that score next time.
It's even better with a teammate. Take turns, keep score and play to a target, such as first to five points. A little friendly competition is the closest you'll get to match pressure outside a real game.
Make Every Practice Session Count
Good drills work best when the basics are right. Keep your stance balanced and your grip comfortable, and a smooth delivery will follow more often than not.
The right bowl accessories make practice easier, too. A measure tells you how close each bowl really finished, and spray chalk marks the bowls that touch the jack. On a damp evening, a grip cloth keeps your bowls manageable. If bending down tires you out, a bowl lifter means you can keep practising for longer.
Most importantly, practise regularly and record your results. Accuracy won't improve overnight, so be patient and let your scores show you how far you've come.
Ready to improve your game? Explore our full range of lawn bowls and equipment, or pop into our shop in Eye or Chelmsford for advice from people who play the game.
