Forcing shot and drive
Ready when: Draw to the jack, both hands (i1) started.
What you are learning
Changing the weight: a draw, then the same line with more weight to push a bowl away (the forcing shot), and a fast drive to knock a close bowl out. Bowlers need both soft and firm shots to win an end.
Words on this card Bowl, Jack, Mat, Green, Ditch, End, Shot, Head, Anchor foot, Line, Weight, Draw, Forcing shot
- Bowl
- The heavy ball used in the game, slightly flatter on one side.
- Jack
- The small white ball that is the target.
- Mat
- The small rubber mat the player stands on to bowl.
- Green
- The green is the whole lawn; a rink is the strip one game is played on.
- Ditch
- The shallow trench round the edge of the green.
- End
- One round, when every bowl has been rolled toward the jack.
- Shot
- A point; each bowl nearer the jack than the other side's nearest.
- Head
- The group of bowls lying round the jack.
- Anchor foot
- The anchor foot stays on the mat; the lead foot steps forward along the line.
- Line
- The direction the bowl is aimed, which is wide of the jack because the bowl curves.
- Weight
- How hard the bowl is rolled, which decides how far it goes.
- Draw
- A bowl rolled to stop close to the jack.
- Forcing shot
- A firmer bowl rolled to push another bowl away, or a fast one to knock it out.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Draw a bowl gently to the jack.
- On the same line, roll one with more weight so it pushes another bowl away.
- From 4 to 6 m, drive a fast, straight bowl at a close bowl to knock it out.
Your part while they practise
Place an opponent's bowl close to the jack.
Step by step
- A draw, then the same line with more weight to push a bowl away.
- Alternate one firm shot and one draw so the weight changes each time.
- Knock a close bowl out from 4 to 6 m.
How much: 10 forcing shots and 10 draws 12 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: One bowl
Each player gets a single bowl to win the end.
Who plays: 2 players against each other.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- You set the head: the jack with the other player's bowl close to it
- The player has one bowl to win the end: draw closer, or knock the other bowl away
- Swap. 10 ends each
- Fair play
- A grown-up must win by drawing only, never driving.
- Points
- 1 point for each end won with the single bowl.
- Fouls
- The bowl does not count
- The anchor foot off the mat
- Bowling before the head is set
- The bowl going into the ditch without touching anything
- Winning
- More ends won after 10 each.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 5 points for 2 stars
- 7 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A slower target.
A moving head.
What you will see, and what to say
- the shot is too soft
Firm weight, straight line
Commit to the weight. - the drive misses
Eyes on the bowl you hit
Look at the target bowl, not the jack.
Self-check
4 of 10 forcing shots remove the target bowl.
Stop and get a coach when
Shoulder pain.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains weight change, tactical shots.
Intermediate is done when the player can draw, force and drive with control.
awiseathlete.com/sports/lawn-bowls/lawn-bowls-i2