"TIPS FOR BOWLING ON HEAVY CARPETS"
As we now have a new Carpet and it is much heavier than the previous one, I thought the members may benefit from some useful tips on "Playing on a Heavier Surface" A large percentage of Bowlers who have never played on Grass, have never had to develop a "pendulum" swing delivery. Below are some suggestions, find the one that suits you best.
1. Take your arm back further (pendulum swing)
2. Take a longer step forward.
3. Combination of 1 & 2.
4. Speed up your arm action.
5. A combination of all the above.
6. Practice the longer lengths regularly. If you only put up short Jacks, you will never be able to reach the end of the green when necessary.
At this moment in time, Javea players will have a very good home advantage against the other Clubs because our Green is much heavier than the other Northern Clubs. If you don't practice the longer lengths, that home advantage will soon disappear.
PAT METCALFE
"CLUB COACHING SESSIONS CANCELLED"
In October of 2010 the Javea Bowls Club Committee agreed and asked me to organise a Club Coaching programme with myself Pat Metcalfe, National Coach at the helm assisted by Harry Chick.
There were notices put on the board and Members put their names down for various coaching. The only day possible was Friday afternoon.
Unfortunately, there were other things going on at the time, Leagues & Friday afternoon practice, but, not every Friday was a League day and we had a few people arrive (the same people) for the first 3 or 4 sessions. On the original list there were 24 people. Only 8 turned up and it didn’t get any better. In fact, it worse & worse.
During March 2011 and the beginning of April, Harry and Myself arrived every Friday for 6 weeks and not 1 person came.
I have to travel 40 mins to the Club and 40 mins back. I wasted my time, money and effort for 4 of those weeks and Harry for most of them.
I hear people around the Club saying to one another, we need some Coaching. The facility has been there for 6 months not being used.
Therefore, unfortunately, the regular Club Coaching sessions have been cancelled for the above reasons.
These facilities are arranged for all Members, especially the beginners in the Club. If you don’t use them, it is down to you and not the Committee or Coaches.
I am still happy to Coach anyone who wishes me to, but, you will have to ask me. I will not come to the Club for Coaching unless I have people to Coach.
Pat Metcalfe
"Don't change anything before seeking advice"
I have Coached a few people during the Summer and I have found that they have tried to change something to correct a problem they think they have. First of all, I ask the question,"what do you think your problem is?" After being given an answer, I then take a look at the delivery and ask what they have changed. Most of the time, the Bowler has made a change and compounded the original error or created another problem. Some people even went to the expense of buying different bowls. My advice is not to change anything before seeking the expertise and advice of a Coach. There are a lot of people out there who think that they don't have a problem, therefore, don't need Coaching. Wrong, when I watch games and listen to what excuses people are making, I think to myself, it isn't the green or the Bowls, it is you. There is no enjoyment in your bowls if you have a problem and won't admit it. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. At International level all around the World there are bowlers with problems. That is why all International Teams have coaches. There is no substitute for advice. Don't be too proud to ask.
Pat Metcalfe. Spanish National Coach
August 2010
"COACHING"
When I became a Coach some 20 years ago, little did I know what path it would take me.
Within a year I became the Hampshire County Coach. I also became part of the English Bowls Coaching Scheme Seminars, which took me all over England. So you could say that I have some experience. I came to Spain in 2001, I decided that I was just going to be a bowler the same as everyone else and enjoy my retirement. You know how it goes. Someone asks you how long you’ve been playing bowls, what County did you bowl for, have you won anything etc…… Then someone from your County recognises you and that’s it. It doesn’t take long to get around. So, when I was asked to do some Coaching in my Club, I couldn’t refuse. Not that I would anyway. I eventually became the Spanish National Coach in January 2008. Since I have been in Spain I am amazed at the diverse perception of this game of ours. People put so much emphasis on the Jack & forget the wider picture. You need to build a head for all eventualities. Look at what you’ll lose if it goes wrong. Don’t be greedy. It looks good holding five shots, but what have you got covering the back? A skip against you with the last Bowl of the end is a dangerous person. A heavy bowl through the head and you’ve just lost five shots. NO back bowls!!! Bowls is like a game of Chess, you need to watch every move and be prepared for the unexpected. A lot of people ask me to teach them Weight and Consistency. These are 2 things you cannot teach. Practice and concentration are the key to consistency and Weight control. In practice you should set up two or three jacks at different lengths. Short, medium and Long. Bowl to each length alternately using backhand and forehand. What works for me may not work for you. Everybody has different ways of delivering and standing on the mat. A few suggestions are: Take a smaller/longer step. Take your arm back further for the longer jack. Speed up your arm swing to give more momentum for a long jack and slow it down for a short jack. All these things can be practiced until you find something that works for you. When you have found it, stick with it and practice it until it becomes part of you. Concentration is a personal thing. Some people will stand and take deep breaths, others will have something that triggers them. Nobody can concentrate for a whole 18 ends. So long as you are concentrating when it’s your turn to bowl that should be sufficient. You should also be watching the progress of the game. Most people get the 9/10 end slump in a game. This is due to a few factors. Dehydration, lack of concentration, lack of energy, too much chat. The best thing to do is take a toilet break. Refocus on your game. A Banana is a good source of quick energy, also sweets like jellies are a good source of sugar.
Enjoy your game.
Pat Metcalfe. Spanish National Coach.
May 2010.
