HINTS FOR YOUNG BOWLERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4514, 7 October 1930, Page 4

HINTS FOR YOUNG BOWLERS.

(Concluded from page 2)

being delivered, and, themselves, taking no actual part in the act of delivery. The middle finger should he laid along the middle of the under surface of the how], pointing straight forward. The index and ring fingers lies along-side the middle finger, the distance separating them 'being a matter of convenience. As a general rule they should be as close together as possible compatible with a comfortable gfrip being maintained, hut this is a matter in which some latitude must be allowed to the individual. The thumb and the little finger are placed, one on each side of the bowl in such a position that the bowl is held firmly, and yet comfortably by all five lingers. The exact position of the thumb and the little finger varies. No rule can be laid down ns it is obvious that a. man with a long, narrow hand must adopt a different grip as compared with a man with a short, broad hand; but, while considerable variation may be permissible, it is generally agreed that the thumb should never be placed on the top of the bowl. The - reason for this will be seen when the actual delivery of the bowl is considered.

To sum up, the bowl should be held by the fingers, the three middle lingers being underneath, pointing straight forward, and the thumb and little finger, one on each side of the bowl, in the position which gives most comfort and security. To test the grip the arm should he swung back and the bowl held upside down. If the player feels that the bowl is held securely in all positions, and that no undue muscular effort is required to hold it in any position, then it can be assumed that the grip is not far wrong. A feeling

' comfort and security is essential, as it is impossible to deliver a. bowl correctly if the player is afraid that the bowl may slip from his ’grasp at any moment.

STANCE. Halving made sure of the correct grip, the bowler now makes ready to deliver the bowl. He should stand erect on the mat, the left foot slightly in advance of the right, the elbow close to the side and the forearm parallel to the ground. This position is the most restful one for the howler during the few moments he requires to map out on the green tile track his bowl is to take. The ideal to he aimed at in the actual delivery is that the howl should roll smoothly off the three middle lingers. To achieve this the delivery is made hv a swinging motion of the arm, the bowl leaving the hand at the lowest point of the swing. The howl should not drop from the hand to the ground. This requires that the body be lowered by bending the knees. Most bowlers take a. step forward with the left foot, at 1 lie same time bending the right knee. If there is any tendency to drop the howl, this can he corrected by bending the right, knee still further.

All these movements, though described separately, must be performed, or at least initiated, simultaneously. As the, hand passes backwards for till* beginning of the swing, the left, foot is advanced and the right knee begins to bend. If too long a, step is taken with the left foot, the body is in a strained attitude at the moment of delivery. Until the howl lias left the hand, the body must be firmly balanced on both feet, otherwise unsteadiness will result, and the delivery will be uncertain. If the correct length of step has been taken and the right knee bent sufficiently, the right hand will be at the lowest point of its swing- when opposite the left foot, and it is at this point that the bowl is actually delivered. After the bowl has passed from the hand there must 'be no attempt to check the swing. The band continues on its course straight forward with the palm facing upwards. This '‘follow through” is most important. The bowl receives a certain amount of impetus from the swing' of the arm, but accuracy is governed by the follow through. ’ lie member the position of the grip; the howl is lying in a cradle, with three fingers underneath, and the thumb and the little linger steadying it at the sides. As the bowl rolls off! the inclined plane formed by the three fingers, the tips of these fingers are the last parts to touch the bowl; and if the follow through is performed correctly, the fingertips give “running side” to the bowl which then follows its correct, course without any tendency to wobble. It can be seen now why the thumb on top of the bowl is radically wrong. With this grip, just as the bowl is on the point of leaving the hand, the pressure of the thumb must be relaxed, leaving the howl balanced precariously on the lingers without lateral support. The result is that it is pushed, rather than rolled, along the green. There is a much .greater tendency, also, to wobble the bowl and no two wobbles will give the same result. The tendency to swing- the arm either across the body or away from the body must at all times he resisted. Whether a wide or a narrow green is required the arm must always moye in the same place at right angles to the shoulders. The method of taking the green will be discussed later. For a correct dejivery it is essential that all movements of the body must be made smoothly and harmoniously. Jerkiness of any Icind is fatal.

Owing to the faiet that frost is absolutely unknown here (says a Norfolk Island writer) pumpkin and marrow plants are practically perennials. Their runners continue to strike root and to fruit year after year. On a Rocky Point holding a pumpkin vine planted over 20 years ago is still yielding beaky crops. In the' interval it has travelled across three sections of land and back again.