BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 4

BOWLING

By Jack,

CLUB OPENINGS Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday afternoon when six clubs — Dunedin, North-East 'Valley, Otago, Caledonian, Bahnacewen, and Morningtou — hold their official opening ceremonies. There was a particularly largo attendance at the Duuncdin Club's opening, which marked the commencement of the sixtysecond year of its existence. The president, Mr C. Stanley' Smith, and Mrs Smith were the host and hostess, and they left nothing undone to ensure the enjoyment of members and visitors. Mr Smith offered sound advice in these days of depression when he advised all players to leave all the cares of office behind when they came through the gate leading to the green. Mr W. Lloyd, president of the Caledonian Club, had the satisfaction of presiding over a large and very happy gathering at his club's opening function. Among those present was. the club’s patroness, Miss Greenslade.

The Valley Club’s green was in capital order for the opening ceremony. The new president is Mr A. M'Laren, who, in his opening address, referred to a number of improvements to the club’s property which had been effected since last year. These included the new iron fence on the north side, the scrub fence between the green and the lawn tennis courts, a new billiard table, and two new heaters for the social hall.

With one of the largest attendances on record the Otago green wa 3 a scene of animation for the official opening. Mr T. M. Gillies, the new president, in a happy speech quickly made everyone feel quite at home. The Bahnacewen green was gaily decorated with streamers and bunting tor tlie opening festivities. The president, Mr W. A. Ross, paid a well-deserved tribute to the greenkeeper, Mr R. Wallace, for the splendid surface which the green presented. Mr Wallace never spares himself in the preparation of his

green, a fact which members should, and no doubt do, appreciate. At the Mornington green Mr W. Brown (president) extended a hearty welcome to a large number of members and visitors. He mentioned that, as a result of a circular to residents, quite a number of new members had been secured. BILLIARDS COMPETITION , The Billiards Competition for the Henaghan Banner has ■ now reached finality, the Kaikorai Club coming out on. top with 404 points to their credit. The following are the scores for each club: —Kaikorai 40J, Valley 394, Dunedin 37J, Roslyn A 36, St. Clair 304, St. Kilda 30, Caledonian B 26, Roslyn B 25, Caledonian A 24. . Mr' Spencer Bolt takes the prize for making the highest break throughout the competition. Mr, Bolt’s contribution’ was 69. THE ART OF BOWLING After centuries of neglect the game of bowls is coming rapidly into prominence. Misapprehensions concerning its suitability for young men are now of the past. Men of all ages, from the early thirties to the mid-eighties, derive pleasure and improve their bodily well-being in its practice. Women have learned its_ value as a health-giving exercise, and in increasing numbers participate in its rites and ceremonies. In most places where men of the British race settle the game of bowls is welcomed. Between 400,000 and 500,000 men are known to be ardent players and supporters of the game. In recent years there has been a marked improvement in the methods of the bowlers. It is usual in comparing the champions of one quarter-century with those of succeeding periods to classify the former as “ giants ” in capacity. In bowls the advantage is with the players of to-day. Bowlers of 30 years,ago were ungainly in their styles, which -were many and diverse, restricted _in their possibilities, conservative in their outlook on the game, and armed with poor and ineffective implements for participation in it. To-day the style which is almost generally used is free, easy, and .graceful. It has increased players’ possibilities and consequently' led to progress in their methods and performances. Thirty years ago (writes “ Forehand ” in the Australasia) bowlers in general just rolled their bpwls jackwards. They were advised to kneel on the mat, place their left hands on their left knees if right-hand bowlers, and deliver with a “ through ” swing. Their sole object was to draw the shot. The remnants of that style in use to-day are the left hand on thq left knee and the through swing. The

posture is anathema. The objective is too restricted, and, if maintained, uninteresting. The tyro of these times wants to begin with “shots.” Steady and continuous “ drawing palls on him. He fears it wastes his time. The “through” movement, which is a fundamental necessity for success in >ilmost if not all physical sports, is the principal feature of a bowler’s delivery. Stance, grip, and selection of or line, are all matters of moment. The first two are the means by which the player sets his' bowl on its journey in proper style—i.e., truly upright on its running edge Or keel. The through-arm action assists that, maintains that uprightness throughout the first portion of the bowl’s course, makes possible the correct delivery along that course, and when assisted by constant, careful, and studied practice, makes length bowling possible and reliable.

In tlie details of play the grip comes first. It is not first in importance. There nrobablv is greater difference of opinion as to the “ best ” grip than about stance, delivery, and green taken together. We may accept it that each_ bowler must decide for himself what grip enables him to deliver his bowl most easily and. which is more important, most accurately. After all. the variations are not marked. The differences are almost all those of the position of the thumb. Thumbs have small range—not more than one-fourth the, perimeter of a bowl —and, strange though it may seem, lose or gain little effectiveness by reason of small changes in positions. Bowls should be so started on their journeys that they will run true to' the correct actions of the propulsive power which drives them forward and the bins, or weight, which changes their course. The tests which decide their fitness for use are the best possible proof of this need. They also show : clearly that bowls .properly started :on their runs invariably follow the: same course and finish .on the same spot. To deliver bowls upright on their bases should be the howler’s continuous effort. Stance, grip, and delivery should each and all be planned or adopted as means to that end.. Correct delivery having been made possible by the mastery of ; its difficulties, the next matter for consideration is the means of establishing the line, or “ green, ’ over which bowls are to be despatched. This is a matter of much discussion. There may be said to be three schools of thought on the subject. The first advocates the selection of something on or beyond the bank as an objest at which to play. The second directs its attention, to some mark on the green. The third laughs at the idea of the other two, but gives no alternative. The first two are actually one. •The chosen spot or mark on the green and rhe object on or beyond the bank must be in line with one another if both are correct. I favour the spot on the green. The selection of a guide such as either of the two mentioned establishes a standard by which subsequent deliveries can be made to correct the faults of those which preceded them. It is more easy to make fine alterations over or at either side of a mark eight feet or 10 feet from the mat than over or beside a something 90 feet or . 100 feet away. Furthermore, delivery over a mark to ensure a given line is less likely to interfere with strength than is the effort to bowl up to a mark. The third method, which is everything but a method, is an impossibility and an absurdity. Those who advocate it state that a bowler about to deliver his bowl should “never take his eye off the.jack.. This equals the motherly injunction to the boy who asks permisison to go swimming. “Yes, my son. you may—but don t go near the water.” Consider the dilemma of a man who, having bowled his first bowl two feet narrow, does not know how ■ to remedy that error. It is plain that he cannot unless he knows on what, line he delivered his first.- I am sure that no successful bowler bowls without taking—i.e., selecting his “green.” Some say they do not, but they have not considered analytically what they do. One common error in relation to green or line is the idea which many otherwise well-informed players have that it varies with the lengths of the ends. It does not. An frequently heard from skips is this, “Now! Its a longer end. Take more green . . • More green is not needed. Extra strength is. The longer the bowl runs the wjder it is when at the limit of its straight course. In that way it appears to take more green, and so misleads the superficial observer. . ' From what has been written so far the critical reader will see that attention to small details is a necessity for those who would become champion bowlers. It is evident that the uncertainties of the human machine must be warring constantly against the best attempts of the ownerof that, machine to prevent variations in his stance, his grip, and his delivery. In this he is at once his own best aide and his own worst cause of error. Only constant attention to small influences —pro and con —-can help him. .Of these small things not already mentioned may be classed- the laying of the mat and the throwing of the jack. All alterations in the lengths of ends are traps for the unwary and tests of “ touch.” The more regular ,the lengths the more easy the play. The less frequently the position of the mat is changed the more-simple is the. retention of correct line. Careful players —men of the type of Ernie Callings, twice Victoria's singles champion—consider these, things and base their actions.on them. Their stand on the mat is studied. They realise that variations in their position on the mat have the same effects as alterations in their selected lines. They should know that these things which militate against them may be used by. them as weapons against their antagonists.^ Given knowledge of, and capacity to display, suitable stance, grip, and delivery, there remains only one other quality to acquire to make a champion. That quality is “touch,” the principal -of: the constituents of “ form.” The others named are physical. Touch is intangible and elusive. To-day it is; to-morrow.it is not. Players have it in certain circumstances. These change and touch is gone. Mentality, psychology, anxiety, or that quality which in years gone by . We. described by the Anglo-Saxon name of some internal furnishings, affect it. They in their turn are influenced: by ..the physical powers. All are moved by steady, well-directed, thoughtful practice..