Perhaps bowlers who have been playing for many years learn how to aim at a spot on the bank BUT perhaps bowlers who do not have a dozen years to improve in need a method that is learned faster. The advantage of bowling over a mark 4-5 meters in front of the mat is that when you miss your stare point you don't change it for the next bowl you just try again to roll over it. The problem with putting your stare point up at the bank is you can't easily see when you just missed the mark as opposed to choosing the wrong amount of bias.
in your County Senior Two Bowls first round match did you wear your contact lenses? Any significance of this factor is important to me. I wear graduated bifocals even when playing but of course I am looking through the top of the lens when sighting my mark. I have never tried wearing contacts.
Hi Clarke... Yes, I wore my contact lenses in that match. I don't think my loss was due to the contact lenses. I'm finding a more accurate line by wearing them, since I'm able to view better an aiming point at the far end of the rink. Something to do with no spectacles frame in the way, maybe even that staring through the top of the spectacles distorts the view. However, I still occasionally use an aiming point just up the green, when the line is so wide that I'm having difficulty hitting it because my heart tells me the line should be narrower. Regards, John
Hi John, This is exceedingly interesting what you hypothesize about using primary aiming points when the light level is low at dusk. Let's both keep track of information that relates to this idea. I have never read anything similar to this in bowls literature which makes your idea especially important.
Certainly seems to be working at present, Clarke. Getting plenty of practise to confirm, too. Not sure what light levels are like for you at present, but tonight we'll be starting our Mens 4s league match at 6.30pm, 18 ends. By the time we finish at about 8.30pm it'll be pretty gloomy. Regards, John
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Perhaps bowlers who have been playing for many years learn how to aim at a spot on the bank BUT perhaps bowlers who do not have a dozen years to improve in need a method that is learned faster. The advantage of bowling over a mark 4-5 meters in front of the mat is that when you miss your stare point you don't change it for the next bowl you just try again to roll over it. The problem with putting your stare point up at the bank is you can't easily see when you just missed the mark as opposed to choosing the wrong amount of bias.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, Clarke. For me, the jury is still out.
Deletein your County Senior Two Bowls first round match did you wear your contact lenses? Any significance of this factor is important to me. I wear graduated bifocals even when playing but of course I am looking through the top of the lens when sighting my mark. I have never tried wearing contacts.
ReplyDeleteHi Clarke... Yes, I wore my contact lenses in that match. I don't think my loss was due to the contact lenses. I'm finding a more accurate line by wearing them, since I'm able to view better an aiming point at the far end of the rink. Something to do with no spectacles frame in the way, maybe even that staring through the top of the spectacles distorts the view. However, I still occasionally use an aiming point just up the green, when the line is so wide that I'm having difficulty hitting it because my heart tells me the line should be narrower. Regards, John
DeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteThis is exceedingly interesting what you hypothesize about using primary aiming points when the light level is low at dusk. Let's both keep track of information that relates to this idea. I have never read anything similar to this in bowls literature which makes your idea especially important.
Certainly seems to be working at present, Clarke. Getting plenty of practise to confirm, too. Not sure what light levels are like for you at present, but tonight we'll be starting our Mens 4s league match at 6.30pm, 18 ends. By the time we finish at about 8.30pm it'll be pretty gloomy. Regards, John
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