BOWLS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11493, 21 November 1931, Page 10

BOWLS

PROBLEM QF TESTING.

Last week, Mr. W. A. Scott, of Dunedin, tho official bowl tester to tho New Zealand Bowling Association, gave some interesting information. regarding bowl testing to “Jack,” of the “Otago Daily Times.” Mr. Scott said lie had designed a number of machines for the delivery of a, bowl on the green, and also for table use. Ho believed that the one adopted by tho present New Zealand Association was the acme of perfection, and the data, supplied to the association showed that the scheme embraced a . standard bowl, a standard green,- and a- standard

distance.. All bowls had to draw alike on a, standard green which meant that some howls drew less than- tho standard bowl on 'a very

been green, whilo bowls of another shape drew more than the standard bowl on the same class of green, the reverso taking place on the green

heavier than the standard. The Australians had found this out and wero trying to remedy matters by having only ono shape of bowl, but up to the present they had made a total failure of it. “Much is talked about a standard bowl,” said Mr, Scott. “Where does it como from? What is it? How is it retained? I answered these questions for the old New Zealand Bowling Association. A committee of four was responsible, of whom I remember

two—tho late Mr. J. 11.. Hancock, and Mr. J. J. Marlow, whose lucid explanation of tho method of applying the green test has been much

appreciated hy bowlers in all parts of tho Dominion. The standard howl was widened by inches at a time until it was considered that a point had been reached between a drawing width and a driving one on a standard green. This means, of course, that the width is not too great, so that the tendency to draw is greater than it is to drive. This standard was made to be a divergency of 4ft llin on a standard green by a standard bowl, a distance of Sift. Now we get this represented in a particular bowl, and wo call it a standard bowl. I understand that the association has suck a bowl somewhere in a glass case, or at any rate it was a standard bowl at one time, but just what it is now T am unable to say.” ADVICE TO PLAYERS. That howling is increasing in popularity is shown by the number of new players who are taking the game on this season in Gisborne, and the following hints from the Brisbane “Daily Mail” will prove of interest:— “When a novice is played in a rink game ho is usually assigned to leading position or to second place, the responsible positions being third and skip. Opinions have changed as to tho value of a second player, and that is why the novice is given the position as lead. If many of this .category playing in the pennants carefully follow this advice, they will be surprised what a difference will Ire made. Hie leader, therefore, must keep his eyes and wits alert, and must make up his mind that ho will bowl right up to the jack or a foot or so beyond it with his first bowl, and with his second bowl he must ho either up to the jack or, better still, a foot to six inches short, in. the draw of Ids opponent.

“To tho novico leader: Get on to the mat with your heart in tho right place, and your eye and attention fixed on the jack. Eet your body down with a nice swing as you stop out with the left leg. “Now for the duties of second player. Ho must be a man who can, and will, do what he is told, and during the course of the pennants he will be called upon to accomplish many things. When tho leader has done what he has been told to do, the second man is generally used for 'playing safety.- He is then supposed not to bowff at the jack at all, but a certain position fore and aft. If the leader has failed, it is the duty of No. 2 to draw close to tho jack, perhaps by “resting” out one of his opponents’ bowls. That calls for some amount of nerve, and a. brave man is needed to accomplish it. No. 2 has much other work to do. If it is uunted to smash up your opponent’s wood, and create a new situ-ation-one which will enable the third or skip,to . secure a chance of scoring and saving points—a second must have good nerves and an accurate eye. He must be a clever driver as well- as a careful : drawing player. It is better, for No. 2to smash with liis first bowl, and, if .required, , to draw with his second. Therefore, a No. 2’s placo should not bo given to an inexperienced player. A. reliable second man must be able to cut out as clean as a whistle tho opponent’s bowls when asked to do so.”

PLAYING HP TO A VHATFUL.”

One simple fact appears to be little appreciated’by quite a number of “skips” {writes “Measurer” in til© Dunedin “Star”). It is that it is easier to savo “a. pot” by playing up to and among, tliio . scoring bowls than by trying to drayy tho shot on the open hand.; One yarely sees an end played in which the , score is heavy without evidenco-of ignorance of this detail'being apparent. It is a beginner’s error to think that a bowl played on to an opponent’s scoring bowl or bowls makes them scoro , more or bp, moro difficult to beat. A seven scored was the result of d skip playing his men—and himself, of course—on the open hand on a very keen green, while his opponent fVas.'‘piling -.them.up”-on*his scoring

bowls. The loser had not realised

that every bowl which tho winner tallied might just, as easily liavo been one of his own. It is well for skips and would-be singles champions to realise that it is easier for a man to “play-up” to a group of bowls than to draw to a foot or two with a “liatfui” against him. Psychology malees it so.