Tactics to help beginners

Choosing a Mark

First of all choose your mark.  When bowling out the jack, consider the best area to which you will bowl.  Do not bowl to a space just because it is an unoccupied part of the green, choose your own mark.

Get in First

When leading with the jack, concentrate on achieving a good lead.  Initial advantage is very important.

Adjustment

If your lead bowl is inaccurate, learn from the error, consider what went wrong and adjust the next bowl.

Choice of Delivery

The following will be options for bowling your wood

1. Bowling a closer bowl that your opponent
2. Resting on your opponent's bowl to give you a winning bowl
3. Drawing a very good second.  When drawing the bowl is extremely difficult do not give your opponent an  easy opportunity for two.
4. Trying the other peg when you have a very good green knowledge
5. Firing at the bowl

For the beginner there are many factors, including the score, which can affect the choice of delivery

Don't be Short

If you are bowling to your opponent's lead, and will therefore have the last bowl, do not in any event be short as this achieves nothing but is indicative of carelessness and lack of application.

Know the Enemy

Beginners should study the tactics of their opponents. Do they like long or short marks?  Do they like straight or round marks?  Do they like to go over the centre of the green?  Do they prefer the corners?  Do they prefer the edges of the green?  Do they turn their bowls over on certain marks?  All these points are essential to the tactical side of the game.

Change the Mark

Never bowl the jack to the same length or direction as your opponent has been bowling if he has won three or four consecutive ends.

Play in Your Own Backyard

Do not bowl the jack to a point which gives the opportunity to your opponent, if he wins the end, to revert to bowling from a position to a mark where he has accumulated a number of winning bowls on previous ends.  Watch how top players protect the jack or a good bowl and be aware of not promoting your opponents bowls.  It is essential that, as a beginner, that you find the green, establish the fast and slow ways in four directions to find the pace of the green.  Always follow the line of the jack and not the line of your opponent's bowl.

Some of Our Own Hints

Playing Left-Handers

If you are right-handed playing a left-handed opponent bowl thumb peg marks as this is more difficult for them to follow the line.  Also try round-peg marks, as again this may be more difficult due to the different starting position of the bowling hand.

Never give up the mat