How can it be that, having almost whitewashed my opponent in the first set of the Non Winner's quarter final (being best of 3 sets, each of 7 ends), I then let him do the same to me with knobs on in the second set... and again for most of the final set!
Thought I was home and dry after that first set and had my opponent really worried. He was struggling to find a length as I banged in about half my woods within a metre of the jack.
As we started the second set my opponent in the other quarter final I'm in introduced himself and stayed to watch my form. He had a hard time finding any... from then on it all went to pieces. Was bowling too long or short, and when I did find the right length the line was out. How could I go down ten woods in just the first three ends??? Criminal!
It wasn't until half way through the final set I started to get back on target. Whilst pulling back seven in four ends was possible, was just a bit too much for me on the day.
What went wrong? Nothing to do with being watched by a future opponent. Didn't even think about that whilst playing the second set. Think it was simply that I was just trying too hard when I found myself three down after the first end of the second set.
That leaves me in the quarter final of the Handicapped Singles, which I'm playing next Tuesday evening, and with Geoff the semi final of the Club Pairs, date to be arranged.
Lesson learned : No matter what the score is, just concentrate on getting one or more woods within one metre of the jack.
What else would you be concentrating on? I find that It isn't an outcome that one needs to concentrate on, it is some aspect of form. I have found that the most important part of the delivery is being sure that my advancing foot is on the ground before my forward arm swing is begun. Otherwise I can't hit my stare point.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion Clarke... into my second season and I'm getting much more comfortable with my bowls. Finding the right line quickly and naturally, adjusting the weight of shots more easily. Hoping I won't suffer the same kind of disaster any time soon!
DeleteRegards, John