On the Jack – Blog #20(New Season)

🟢 On the Jack – Blog #20

“The Big Shot – Keeping Your Nerve”

There is a particular moment in bowls that every player knows.

The match is close. The head is crowded. The opposition has the shot.

Your skip looks at you. You look at the head.

Then comes the instruction: “We need this one.”

Suddenly, that little bowl in your hand seems to weigh considerably more than it did a few seconds ago!

Welcome to one of the great challenges of lawn bowls: playing under pressure.

🎯 When the Pressure Is On

The funny thing about pressure is that it does not actually change the green.

The jack is still the same distance away. Your bowl still has the same bias. The line is still there.

But your mind starts telling you that this particular bowl is somehow different from every other bowl you have played that day.

That is when good routines become so important.

Take your time. Breathe. Look at your target. Visualise the shot.

Then deliver the bowl just as you have done hundreds of times before.

🧠 Do not Bowl the Result

One of the biggest mistakes we can make under pressure is thinking about the result before we have played the shot.

“If I get this close, we’ll win.” “If I miss, we’ll lose.”

Stop.

That is tomorrow’s problem. Your job is simply to play this bowl.

Good bowlers learn to concentrate on the process rather than the consequences.

Pick your line. Judge your weight. Trust your delivery. Let the bowl do the rest.

🌱 A Tip for New Bowlers

Do not be frightened of pressure. Treat it as a compliment.

If your team asks you to play an important bowl, it is because they believe you can do it.

And remember something every experienced bowler has learned:

You will sometimes get it wrong.

That is perfectly normal. The best players in the world miss shots.

The difference is that they do not allow one missed bowl to spoil the next one.

♟️ A Little Bit Like Chess

This is another reason lawn bowls is often compared with chess.

You are not simply trying to play the best bowl possible.

You are considering what happens next.

Do you draw? Do you attack? Do you trail the jack?

Do you block the opposition’s preferred line?

Under pressure, these decisions become even more important.

The cleverest shot is not always the most spectacular.

Sometimes the best shot is the one that gives your team the most options.

🤝 Etiquette Corner – Supporting the Player

When a teammate is playing an important bowl, give them room to concentrate.

Stand quietly. Avoid unnecessary movement. And whatever happens, be supportive.

If the bowl finishes perfectly: “Brilliant bowl!”

If it does not: “Good, try. We will go again.”

That is what teammates are for.

☕ Clubhouse Chatter

This week’s pressure bowl produced:

• Three people holding their breath.

• Two spectators leaning so far forward they nearly fell over.

• The skip giving incredibly detailed instructions and the bowl finished beautifully beside the jack.

The bowler was asked afterwards how they managed it.

The answer? “I tried not to think about it.”

Sometimes, that is the best strategy of all.

😄 This Week’s Green-Side Quote

“It’s only one bowl.” “Exactly.” “So why are my hands shaking?”

🌟 Final End Thought

Pressure is part of what makes bowls exciting.

Without it, the winning draw would not feel quite so special.

The key is not to eliminate nerves. It is to learn how to play despite them.

So, when your skip looks at you and says:

“We need this one.”

Take a breath. Step onto the mat. Trust yourself. And remember:

You have bowled this shot before.

Perhaps not in exactly this situation. But you have practised the ingredients.

Now it is time to put them together.

And if the bowl doesn’t quite behave?

Walk back to the mat. And play the next one.

Because in bowls, there is nearly always another chance.

See you, “On the Jack.”

Your Rink side Rambler 🟢🎯☕Norman Deegan.

This Week On The Green – Club News and Activities

🗞️ Marine Gardens Bowling Club Weekly Report

Week Ending Sunday, 6th September 2026.

Alan Paterson, Press Officer.
A lively week of inter‑club fixtures, supported by our regular roll‑ups, kept Marine Gardens bowlers fully engaged both home and away. Several close contests, some excellent rink performances, and a handful of debut appearances all contributed to an enjoyable and competitive few days on the green.

Brodie League – Steyning (Away)

Marine Gardens made an excellent start to the week with a strong Brodie League performance at Steyning, winning on all four rinks for a convincing 79–50 victory. Top Rink honours went to Liz Baldwin, John Nettleingham, Trevor Punnett, and Rod Smith, who posted an impressive 24–8 win.

Friendly – Billingshurst (Home)

The first of three friendlies proved a tight encounter. Billingshurst battled well to secure a 2–2 draw on the rinks, but Marine Gardens claimed the overall match by 69–63. A superb 26–10 result from Patsy Nicholson, Leon White, and Bob Cole ensured we crossed the finishing line ahead.

Friendly – Pulborough (Home)

Another close match followed the next day, with each side recording one win, one loss, and one draw. Pulborough, however, secured the overall victory with a 59–43 scoreline. Marine Gardens’ highlight was a determined 23–7 win from Alan Paterson, Bill Hurren, and Trevor Punnett.

Friendly – Rottingdean (Away)

Rottingdean also reached 59 shots, enough to claim a home win after the rinks were shared 2–2. In a tight finish, Patsy Nicholson, Brian Harrison, and Ken Leadbetter earned Top Rink honours with a well‑managed 17–13 victory.

It was another enjoyable afternoon at Rottingdean, made even more special by several players making their away‑match debuts. A warm “well done” to all who took part.