BOWLING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 227, 18 October 1940, Page 8

BOWLING

A FEW HINTS TO BEGINNERS WILL PROBABLY BE IN ' SEASON' V The rules of most Clubs require that a new member-be proposed by one member and seconded by another, and provided that he is not black balled the newcomer becomes a mem ber. There will be no lack of advice as to how to get going, some good— some bad. The novice, not being able to sift the §ood from the bad, will be well advised to get all his hints and knowledge :£rom the ofTir cial coach. The coach will endeavour to set the novice right—in the correct way of doing things.

Making Things Harder. To the average onlooker the game ol' bowls seems very simple and easy, bnt like most games it is not so 'when you get down to playing it. If it. were easy it would not have the large following it lias. Bowls can be made harder than necessary however by the player getting into the unorthodox way. of playing. . A beginner does not want to be in a hurry to purchase a set of bowls ■ —in facts not until he; has found which make and size is suited to him. The bowl should be as large as he can comfortably handle, A good test for size can be made in this way: Take the bowl in the hand as if for delivery—turn the hand upside down so that the palm of the hand faces downwards. If the bowl feels secure arrtl shows no tendency to slip from the grip the bowl is not too large for full control. Holding the Bowl. "' The bowl should- be held b3 r the finger and thumb—not in the palm of the hand—as a more delicate totich can be imported by the fingers. The fingers 'should be spreaxl under the bowl. The position of tli? thumb does not matter a great deal • —the most comfortable one beimj the natural position. The bowl should be held securely-—but not tightly: the" lingers should be square with the running surface of the bowl and not -diagonally across it. This is important as with the diagonal grip the bowl does not get away true, but wobbles—and a'wobbling bowl-'is uncertain as to how and. where it goes. When the bowl is held,in front of the player the two discs—one on each side of the bowl—should, be square Avith the ground—one bn each side of the hand, that is a line drawn through the centre of the two discs and through the centre of- ihe bow! should bp level with the ground and at right angles to the forearm. • It is worth while spending some time and attention on the corrcct handling of the bow] as much depends on this for accuracy. Next week wo shall deal with the .stance and delivery.