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It is presumed that you have studied, adopted and practiced the principles described in the delivery technique such as, angles of the green, the aiming point, adjustment of the aiming line, an upright well balance stance, focusing, alignment, timing, the follow-through and how to check the precision of your delivery etc. That you have now become proficient with the many requirements explained therein before attempting to play advanced on-shots.

UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION

Many bowlers miss the opportunity to step into the high performance area because they do not fully understand the tactical purpose of on-shots, they often fail to regulate their delivery speed to existing green conditions and do not realise that the impact speed on the target must be controlled to achieve a particular result. Without understanding or applying these assets one cannot hope to become a good exponent of on-shots.

Skill definition. On-shots are a low velocity attacking, defensive or recovery shot played with the ultimate aim to, obtain shot(s), recover or increase your own score, to retain your bowl(s) within the head with minimum disturbance, to prevent the opposition from scoring shot or further shots, to gain a tactical advantage by opening the size of the head from a tight to a loose head.

Skill objective. To skillfully apply varying delivery lengths through the centre of the target e.g. 30 cm, 1, 2, 3, or 4 m, to either impact your own or the opposition bowls to obtain the following result:

• Obtain or retain first, second or third shot etc.
• Rest on a bowl or a cluster of bowls,
• Wrest a bowl over,
• Trail the jack to a required distance, into the ditch or kill the end,
• Remove bowls out of the head,
• Remove a bowl out of the head and stay,
• Remove a bowl and trail your bowl forward to a required distance,
• Separate two close bowls and stay,
• Separate two close bowls and pass between them to a required distance,
• Promote a bowl forward into the head, or a toucher into the ditch
• To open a tight head to a loose head,
• Strike a cluster of bowls and stay,
• Retain the delivered bowl close to the head if the shot misses the target,
• Minimise the movement of bowls within the head if the shot misses the target
• To kill an end .

INSTRUCTIONAL LAYOUT

For ease of instruction, it is advised that when teaching on-shots, that each shot be individually demonstrated from a position on the centre line of the rink approximately seven metres away from the ditch facing back towards the ditch. The target or head should be set on the centre line 6 metres from the ditch, and the coach positioned at 7 metres or one arms length from the head and facing towards the bank. The advantage gained by using this layout enables the coach to give a short delivered bowl into head to demonstrate the results of the shot and for the bowler(s) to see the results of the impact speed. This also allows enough space and distance to demonstrate all the on-shots from 30 centimetres to 4 metres and avoids long delays when recovering and resetting up the jack or bowls.

THE TIME FACTOR

Coaching sessions. The time factor presents little or no problems if coaching sessions are continuous and conducted over weekly or monthly periods. It allows one on one coaching and the transition of greater knowledge The number and types of on-shots to be taught in each lesson will greatly depend on the ability, learning rate and experience of the individual or group. If the time factor presents no problem the theory and process activity can be worked to its maximum.

Seminars. The time factor is against full on coaching. Coaching large numbers during one day seminars require brief explanations with greater emphasis placed on group activity using training drills. Training drills are good for the process but theoretical knowledge is considerably reduced. Conducting two day seminars give greater time and leeway to expanding the theory and process activity.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION.

On green instruction should be brief and to the point. The tactical purpose should be given e.g. attack, defend and recover.

Explain on-shots are an extension of the draw shot, followed by the general sequence of explanations and demonstrations as required:

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THE 30cm ON-SHOT.

Explain. The bowl is delivered over or towards the aiming point situated on the aiming line either ten centimetres or one bowls width inside the drawing angle. The bowl should be delivered with enough impact weight so that if the bowl misses the target or other bowls it will travel thirty centimetres through the head.

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THE 1 metre ON-SHOT.

Explain. The bowl is delivered over or towards an aiming point situated on or along aiming line 1. (refer Angles of Green).

The bowl should be delivered with enough impact weight so that if the bowl misses the target of other bowls it will travel one metre through the head.

Purpose:

• Ensuring the shot is played through the head towards the back-wood
• Trail the jack 1m through the head
• To wrest a bowl or bowls out of the head and stay
• To separate two bowls and stay
• Promote a short bowl
• To open a tight head (the dimension will depend on the speed of the green

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THE 2 metre ON-SHOT.

Explain: The bowl is delivered over or towards an aiming point situated on or along aiming line 2. (refer to Angles of Green)

The bowl should be delivered with enough impact weight so that if the bowl misses the target or other bowls it will travel two metre through the head.

Purpose:

• Ensuring the shot is played through the head towards the back-wood
• Trail the jack 2m through the head
• To take a bowl or bowls out of the head
• To separate two bowls and run through 1m (the closer the two bowls are together the less the run through)
• To open a tight head (the dimension will depend on the speed of the green)
• To impact a short bowl and follow through
• To impact a short bowl and follow through
• Promote a short bowl

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THE 3 metre ON-SHOT.

Explain. The bowl is delivered over or towards an aiming point situated on or along aiming line 3. (refer to Angles of Green)

The bowl should be delivered with enough impact weight so that if the bowl misses the target or other bowls it will travel three metres through the head.

Purpose:

• Ensuring the shot is played through the head towards the back-wood
• Trail the jack 3m through the head or into the ditch
• To take a bowl or bowls out of the head
• To separate two bowls and run through 2m (the closer the two bowls are together the less the run through)
• To open a tight head (the dimension will depend on the speed of the green
• To impact a short bowl and follow through
• Promote a short bowl

EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE THE 4 metre ON-SHOT.

Explain: The bowl is delivered over or towards an aiming point situated on or along aiming line 4. (refer to Angles of Green).

The bowl should be delivered with enough impact weight so that if the bowl misses the target or other bowls it will travel four metres through the head.

Purpose:

• Ensuring the shot is played through the head towards the back-wood
• Trail the jack 4m through the head or into the ditch
• To take a bowl or bowls out of the head
• To separate two bowls and fun through 3m (the closer the two bowls are together the less the run through)
• To open a tight head (the dimension will depend on the speed of the green)
• To impact a short bowl and follow through
• Promote a short bowl

Note: If the target is aligned with the axis of the rink, no closer then five metres from the ditch and the delivered bowl misses the target and other bowls, it will in most cases come to rest within the confines of the rink.

SPEED OF THE GREEN.

Many bowlers become obsessed by the speed of the green and mentally find it difficult when the green speed does not suit what they believe is their ideal performance condition. This mental obsession for many is the result of poor training methods because their training and game skills are wrongly focused on the outcome­ of success, rather than the actual process of how to handle the relevant speed of the green. If their training program is aligned to the skill process, then the bowler will rise to the challenge irrespective of the conditions. Training should cover the following aspects:

• The characteristics of their bowls, the wind and green conditions,
• Trained in the segmented parts of the delivery skill process that produce accuracy e.g. focusing on the aiming point for absolute concentration, balance, alignment and timing.
• Being mentally trained to, “Look for it, expect it, train for it, and don’t accept anything else”. (Also see THOROUGHNESS).
  

SLOW GREENS. (approximately 8 to 11 seconds, or slower)

On slow or holding greens most bowlers become exponents of on-shots, this is marked by a rapid increase in magnitude by their increased delivery speed to reach the head. Bowlers who do not normally play on-shots perform with an increased target strike rate with uncontrolled impact force. There is an overwhelming tendency to play short and medium ends and many untrained team members deliver every on­-shot at the one delivery speed. Failure to control these aspects of the delivery can become critical to the tactical deployment and dispersion of bowls within the head, negligence of training will gradually eventuate into very much a pot luck situation­. Subsequently the advantages and disadvantages are as follows:

Advantages.

• The softer surface restricts the bowl from turning on its normal bias resulting in a much narrower delivery angle,
• The delivered bowl is less likely to drift off course on softer ground surfaces,
• Bowlers are less apt to lose balance because of their faster delivery action,
• Bowlers who don’t normally play on-shots and who push the bowl in their forward action have an increased strike rate. (see Disadvantages)
• If the bowl is poorly delivered on the running surface it has a higher percentage of realigning itself on its course,
• Bowlers who have a well balanced upright stance with precise alignment and timing have a more consistent strike rate with good
• Impact control within the head.

Disadvantages.

• Bowls are harder to move both in and out of the head because of the soft ground surface,
• Bowlers who push the bowl in the delivery action have poor control over the impact force,
• Draw bowl has no run at the end of its course and comes quickly to a dead stop consequently many bowls are short of the head,
• Because of the above advantages many bowlers get an adrenaline rush and the uncontrollable urge to play every shot as on-shots,
• Bowlers with the one delivery speed find it difficult to control the dispersion and deployment of bowls both within or out of the head,
• Bowlers who adopt a crouched stance on the mat may find it difficult to play long ends.

MEDIUM PACE GREENS. (approximately 12 to 16 seconds)

Medium pace greens possibly give the best conditions for on-shots. These conditions also suit the physical ability of most trained bowlers. Slow greens require greater body exertion, medium pace greens require a smooth delivery and fast greens require a delicate delivery action all of which is in the control of most bowlers.

Advantage. Whatever the playing standard of the bowler, most will perform at their best on this pace green.

Disadvantages. Throughout the day or evening, if the green speeds change, most bowlers who are not trained how to detect and handle slow or fast greens will experience periods of very poor performance.

FAST GREENS. (approximately 17 to 21 seconds or more)

On fast greens it is essential that alignment and timing be maintained to the highest degree. Lack of thoroughness within the follow-through action and failure to see and check the eye, hand and aiming point alignment at its completion will only lead to the bowler missing the target. The characteristics of fast greens are, the strike rate slightly decreases and the impact force is less controllable. These advantages and disadvantages are as follows:

Advantages.

• The delivery angle of the green is wider on harder surfaces,
• There is less delivery speed and impact force required,
• There is a good bowl run at the end of the bowl’s delivery course,
• Some bowls may increase their turning bias at the end of the run,

Disadvantages.

• Players who push the bowl in the forward part of the delivery action are prone to losing balance, their eye, hand aiming point alignment and have great difficulty in controlling the delivery length,
• Bowlers are more apt to losing balance because of the slower delivery action,
• The impact speed is harder to control if the bowler has poor timing,
• On the harder surface poorly delivered bowls are more subject to veering off course,
• Many bowlers because of the precision required to play the draw shot get an adrenaline rush and the uncontrollable urge to play drive shots which in many situations has a low percentage success rate.

WINDY CONDITIONS.

Training. Bowlers should train regularly in the practice of playing on-shots in windy conditions. This type of preparation familiarises the bowler with the unexpected factors that affect the run of the bowl under light and strong wind conditions

Conditions. Wind can blow across the green creating a wide and narrow hand, or diagonally giving heavy conditions when delivering into the wind and faster when finishing with it, or parallel with the rink giving variation of pace from both ends. Prepare for the unexpected by understanding that which follows:

Slow greens. When delivering on-shots on slow greens, the delivery angle is much narrower and light winds have little or no effect on the run of the bowl because of the holding ground surface. Care must be taken to adjust to the correct delivery angle and increase the speed of the delivery arm back-swing to the speed of the green. It is important to remember that when playing the faster on-shots to long ends on extremely heavy greens, that a slightly wider or narrower grass line may be required to counter the wind and surface friction which tends to curve the bowl. On heavy greens, this characteristic, no matter what the length, certainly occurs when playing running or drive shots.

Fast greens. When delivering on-shots on a fast green the delivery angle is wider and the run of the bowl is slower and subject to being blown off its intended line because of the harder ground surface. Care must also be taken to adjust to the correct delivery angle and to decrease the speed of the delivery arm back-swing to the speed of the green.

Speed variation. In early morning periods of play the green speed in most cases will increase as the heat of the day or as the wind increases. During late afternoon play, green speeds will decrease as the sun sets or if the strength of the wind subsides. During night bowls green speeds are subject to rapidly decreasing as the night moisture sets in or the wind subsides. Rain in most cases will slow the green.

Indoor greens. These types of greens are not normally effected by wind but in most cases the green speed is slow in the morning increasing speed towards noon and then decreasing speed as the evening sets in. Should the size of the viewing audience increase within the building there will be a slight but noticeable increase in the green speed.

Which way what way. Under different wind speeds some bowlers play better on one side of the rink than the other because of the condition of the green surface and the various makes of bowls. It is therefore essential to observe the run of the bowl on the forehand and backhand from both ends of the rink. The key to the selection is the side that gives the truer run of the bowl. Following these guidelines to identify these vagaries will make playing in the wind easier to overcome.

PHYSICAL FITNESS.

Many bowlers, because of lack of game fitness, physical fitness and mental fitness, are unable to perform a simple draw shot after playing an on-shot, or lose their peak performance over a series of competitive games. Most bowlers ignore or are unaware of the vast difference between these three types of fitness:

Game. Game fitness is the ability to maintain thoroughness of your delivery skills throughout a game. It ensures attention to detail, a pursuit of excellence, a standard of quality, and an obsession with getting your delivery skill right. You must know it, expect it, train for it, select it and never accept anything less. This can be done by perfecting your delivery skills through the coach, learning the theory of the skill and use of training drills.

Physical. Physical fitness relates to condition of the body, giving it the ability to maintain peak performance and perform those arduous delivery skills over several continuous days of competitive
competition. This as very much a self help training program that covers all round fitness to improve your strength, flexibility, speed agility and balance by participating in light strengthening and flexibility exercises for the arms, shoulder, back, waist and legs.

Mental. Mental fitness is understanding how your mind works and using specific simple principles to keep you at that peak performance during the game or throughout an entire time period of competition e.g. goal setting, game plan, concentration, controlling your emotions, imagery and visualisation, relaxation, cohesion and debriefing a performance. Mental fitness also requires an attitude of thoroughness e.g. “Look for it, expect it, train for it, and don’t accept anything else”.

THOROUGHNESS.

This is in relation to the delivery technique it means every detail carried out through the whole. To fully execute, you must be thorough going in action and procedures leaving nothing undone to make it complete and perfect. High performance demand and expects you to, look far it, expect it, train for it, and don’t accept anything else. This is briefly explained as follows:

Look for it. Seek out the coach or coaches who teach high performance and that their curriculum covers focusing, concentration, balance, alignment, delivery timing, follow-through, theory and more. Ensure that process training drills are used which involve on green training aids. Look for precision in your delivery skill and check it in the follow-through action each time you deliver a jack or bowl.

Expect it. Expect the coach to cover what you are looking for, if not, ask for it. Whenever you deliver the bowl or jack expect to see the procedure and expertise in your delivery technique.

Train for it. Thoroughness takes time, be prepared to accept change, make sure your training covers the process not the results. If your training covers the process then you’ll get the results:

• The process. this involves training drills and procedures which give accuracy, timing and balance when delivering a jack or bowl. The process must fully maintain thoroughness in the delivery action.
• The results. this relates to what you have achieved after the skill has been performed e.g. during the game achieving the shot you have just played, during training, the training drill or your margin of error is your guide to justify whether improvement in your skills has taken place. It should be seen and tested by you or the coach before and after training.

Don’t accept anything else. Whether playing social or competitive, don’t relax, play your highest standard and never give in. If you are beaten in social play you may have encountered stronger competition or revealed weakness in yourself of your play. If beaten in competition review your training program to improve the three areas of fitness, tactics and your individual playing skills.

TACTICS.

Tactics depend to a large degree on the ability to sum up and assess the relative strength or weakness of the opposition. In making decisions their own ability and the respective abilities of each member of their own team must always be considered and whenever possible exploit these strengths.

Tight and loose heads. Precision becomes an important factor when making a decision to play a particular on-shot. Low velocity on-shots from 1 m to 4 m can do a vast amount of unwanted damage to the disposition of the bowling head if the wrong impact force is applied to the target. The type of shot to be used may depend on whether you wish to retain a tight head or open it out to a loose head, it should be remembered that the size of the bowling head can work for you or against you. Your proficiency in the game to retain or expand the size of the bowling head is tactically important and must be well rehearsed in training before it is included in your game plan.

Tactical guidelines. Many of the tactical guidelines stated by experts can become rather confusing to even the best of us particularly when we try to apply it to every situation. For general play some of the following cues may be emphasised in your game plan.

General play:

• Stick to the game plan unless something dramatically goes against the run of tactical play,
• Its better to go down by 1 shot than 2 or more,
• It should be remembered that sometimes a good tactician gives the scoring shot to the opposition to win the game or tack up the score, Tactically speaking it is better to change the delivery length by shifting the mat than changing length of the jack(When changing the length of the jack the opposition is only required to adjust length, when shifting the mat they are required to change length and alignment),
• In close finishes don’t let your thoughts be distracted from your own game by paying too much attention to the play and scores on other rinks,
• When weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of playing a particular shot, if the disadvantages outweigh the advantages don’t play the shot,
• It is unwise to play towards your own bowls with excessive weight because in many cases you take your own bowl out,
• If you are down, your persistence to keep playing as if there was no score at all will eventually change the run of play.

On shots. Some golden rules that should be applied to your playing skills and tactical considerations:

• Play your on-shot according to the game plan,
• Focus on the aiming point not the target,
• If you are down you’ve got to be up. How far you have to be up will depend on the type of shot required at the head. This may range from 30 cm to 1 metre through the target,
• When playing with weight ensure that you have back-wood,
• Bowlers should always remember that the on-shot is only an extension of the draw shot through the centre of the target to a different location,
• Good tacticians not only consider the opposition’s bowls as the target but also their own,
• On-shots should never be played when failure will leave the team or player vulnerable to loss of numbers,
• When you have only one bowl in the head, never play an on-shot towards it, always play away from it otherwise you’ll take your own bowl out,
• It is always good tactics to play the on-shot offering more than one opportunity of attaining your object,
• Sometimes playing the oppositions shot give you the tactical advantage,
• If you are unsure of the required on-shot, then play a draw shot,
• Always remember that when playing on-shots on a slow green add the extra weight to compensate for the required impact on the target,
• Remember that when playing on-shots on a fast green you may have to reduce the weight to minimise the impact on the target and bowl movement within the head,
• On-shots should only be played when the position and back bowls are in your favour,
• The scores and the overall results will govern what type of on-shot and whether you play it or not,
• Bowlers should always assess the final result of the on-shot, whether successful or unsuccessful, so as not to leave the head vulnerable to the opposition.
• It is unwise to play towards your own bowls with excessive weight because in many cases you take your own bowl out,
• Repetitiously playing on shots not only discourages the opposition but also disheartens your own team.