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 Robert (Bob) Tuck, the originator of getagameofbowls, has recently written a book called Lawn Bowls: The Game & How To Play It Well. You can find out more about the book from this link or read part of the chapter on getting your weight here
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    Shooter Stance can improve your bowls
    Great for any bowlers with balance problems and a possible solution for many dumpers


    For the August 2015 edition of gggazette I developed an index of YouTube videos for learning or coaching Lawn Bowls.

    When I first saw the Nev Rodda YouTube video about the Shooter Stance, I was doubtful whether to include it in my index because I thought that it was too radical, but changed my mind because new ideas should be included.

    You can see this index here

    When later I checked through the videos I decided to try it out myself. Four months later I have fully converted to my adaptation of the shooter stance!

    It took a long time to change the habits of 20 years, and this week I was thrilled that my skip told me that I was bowling the best he had seen me for many years, and astonished when he told me that he thought the reason was that I was delivering smoothly with no bounce! I saw the possible benefit of the system for dumpers

    See the Nev Rodda YouTube video



    I now believe that the system I propose below will provide great benefits for many bowlers

  • Better balance
  • Better control of line
  • Some weight improvement
  • A solution for some dumpers




    • The Shooter Stance Delivery
    I suggest a stricter regimen than suggested in the Rodda video




    1. Get on the Mat
  • Walk on to the mat so that both feet are placed together.
  • Make sure your feet are pointing along your delivery line






    •      		on mat on mat
    2. Move to the Stance Position

  • Take a short step (30 to 40 cms 12 to 18 inches) along your delivery line
  • As you take that step rotate your fixed foot 30 to 60 degrees so that you are in the shooters stance position
  • Pause and think about weight required
    		• on mat on mat
    To deliver smoothly using a very short step the bowl should be no more than 20cm (8 inches) above the green when held straight down in the upright position shown above.

    Hence the bowler has to lower his stance to reach an ideal release point. A 180cm (6 foot) bowler would need to lower stance by about 30cms.

    In the stable shooter stance position a bowler with no physical problems can go down far enough before commencing delivery


    3. Go Down to Deliver

  • Bend your knees to take yourself to a comfortable height so that you can deliver the bowl without dumping it.
  • Since your arm swing will probably be shorter if you are lower this may also be a way you can train your brain to vary your weight


    • Garry, the bowler in these photos, had never seen the shooter stance before I took these shots, and while not confident about it managed to lower his stance by about 30cms




    		lower lower


    4. Delivery

  • Deliver using a very short step with your front foot (15 to 25cms - 6-10 inches)
  • Maintain your balance by moving your non delivery hand to your knee
  • Stay down after releasing the bowl
    		• on mat on mat


    Dumping

  • This stance and delivery may also provide a way to solve some dumping problems because it separates the two movements, going down and going forward
  • The stability of the shooter stance may allow bowlers with knee and hip problems to get lower before delivery.
  • Such bowlers should also place their non bowling hand below the knee to help them get lower and feel stable after delivery. It will not work for everyone but it is worth trying.

    Coaches should of course suggest that bowlers get professional advice about this downwards movement if they find it difficult



    Rolling the Jack and Driving

    When you roll the jack or drive you can start out completely off the mat. As you move to the shooters stance position you turn your toe so it is on the mat - you can then roll the jack or drive the bowl straight down the centre line