The All-in-One Bowls Club Management System
Picture yourself on a quiet green, bowl in hand, the sun casting long shadows across the rink. You step forward with purpose, release smoothly, and watch as your bowl curves perfectly into place. This is the essence of lawn bowls – precision, rhythm, and control; these three words are what set the amateurs apart from the pros.
Whether you're moving beyond casual play or training with serious intent, we at Bowlr have put together this short guide to help you master the green. We break down the essential lawn bowls techniques every player should know to help you improve your game. Let’s get stuck in.
Before you can sharpen your game, it’s vital to understand what makes lawn bowls tick. At its core, the game isn’t just about rolling a bowl towards a jack. It’s about intent; how you deliver, judge the line, and read the green. Mastering lawn bowls techniques means taking ownership of every stage of play, from stance to release.
Now that you’ve moved beyond just enjoying a casual roll-up, consistency becomes the difference between winning and falling short. This is especially true at the intermediate level and beyond, where small details compound.
Don’t be discouraged in the beginning – improving bowls skills doesn’t happen overnight. But with practice and structured attention to form, players can level up quickly. After all, your goal is simply to develop a delivery you can trust, a strategy that adapts, and a mindset that thrives under pressure. Easy.
Let’s start with the most important thing to remember of all, and that’s how you stand, as this serves as the quiet power behind every accurate shot.
Your body is the foundation of every delivery, and getting it right improves balance, control, and repeatability. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and shoulders square to the delivery line. Keep your weight gently forward over the balls of your feet, ready to move fluidly.
Too often, players lose balance by leaning too far or placing their lead foot off-centre. These mistakes throw off the line and force compensations mid-delivery. When it comes to bowls strategy, the delivery starts long before you release the bowl. Stance is where strategy takes root, so make sure you commit to it.
Stance is a good place to start, but to be truly great at the game, you need to get a grip. Puns aside, understanding how grip influences control will drastically improve your consistency. It’s easy to assume that grip is all about strength, but it’s actually about feel. The way you hold the bowl shapes how smoothly it leaves your hand and how accurately it travels the green.
One popular method is the claw grip, where fingers wrap around the bowl’s sides and the thumb rests on top. This offers stability and is excellent for pace shots.
In contrast, the cradle grip keeps the bowl resting in your palm, ideal for slower, touch-based play.
If you're after practical bowls delivery tips, start with finding the grip that suits your natural motion and surface conditions. Avoid gripping too tightly, as tension leads to erratic release and fatigue. Trust your fingers to do the work.
To build a delivery you can rely on, it helps to follow a repeatable structure. These lawn bowls delivery techniques will sharpen consistency and confidence:
To reinforce this form, practice drills at varying distances. Use cones or jacks as targets and alternate forehand and backhand deliveries.
And don’t forget the 30 second rule. Applying the 30 second rule not only builds discipline but also mirrors competitive environments. Pause. Breathe. Deliver with purpose. That rhythm becomes muscle memory.
Once your technique is solid, the next layer is strategy. Lawn bowls isn’t just physical – it’s tactical. Reading the head gives insight into shot options, for instance, a draw to build the head, a drive to disrupt it, or a block to defend. Each choice shapes the flow of play.
To build a bowls strategy that demonstrates versatility and adaptability, learn to anticipate. What might happen two ends from now if you take this shot? What position helps your skip or partner on the next delivery?
In team play, communication is critical. Share observations, agree on tactics, and adapt as the game evolves. Now that your mechanics are dialled in, let your mind take the lead.
Don’t worry if you make a mistake, as even experienced players fall into habits that hurt performance. The key is knowing what to look for, and how to correct it.
Here are three frequent missteps that even pros make from time to time:
To improve, video your delivery or work with a coach, as spotting these mistakes early prevents bad habits from becoming your new normal.
Coaches and players alike benefit from simple, focused drills. These exercises create repeatable form and sharpen your touch.
With that in mind, try these tips and drills:
At times, it’s better to rebuild a faulty technique from the ground up. Other times, a slight tweak, like adjusting your stance or grip, can unlock pro bowls techniques without drastic change. Know when to reset, and when to refine.
And that’s it – while this guide only scratches the surface (there’s a lot that goes into forging pro bowls players), it at least exposes you to the key lawn bowls techniques. Remember that skill improves structure. From grip to game plan, every detail contributes to the result. So, don’t just practice harder – practice smarter.
Give each delivery your full attention. Reflect. Adjust. Repeat. Whether you're striving for consistency in league play or chasing perfection in championships, the habits you build now lay the foundation for success.