On the Jack – Blog #15(New Season)

🟢 On the Jack – Blog #15 (New Season)

“It’s All in the Weight”

Ask any experienced bowler for the secret to a good shot and you will hear a familiar answer:

“The weight was right.”

Not the strength. Not the speed. The weight.

It is one of those wonderfully unique bowling expressions that can puzzle newcomers. After all, every bowl weighs exactly the same… doesn’t it?

Of course, bowlers are not talking about kilograms. They are talking about the pace of the delivery, the gentle touch that allows a bowl to finish exactly where it needs to be.

Getting the weight right is like making the perfect cup of tea. Too weak and you are disappointed. Too strong and it can be a bit overwhelming. Get it exactly right and everything seems to fall into place.

🎯 The Art of Touch

One of the delights of lawn bowls is that it rewards finesse rather than force.

The heaviest bowl is not always the best bowl.

Sometimes the winning shot is the quietest one, the bowl that glides gently into the head, settles beside the jack, and almost apologises for being so accurate.

It is not dramatic. It is simply good bowling.

🌱 A Tip for New Bowlers

If you are struggling with your weight, do not try to throw the bowl harder.

Instead, develop a smooth, repeatable delivery.

Practice on different lengths.

Watch how far your bowls travel before they begin to bend.

The more you bowl, the more instinctive your sense of weight becomes.

Before long, you will find yourself saying: “It just needed another yard.”

Congratulations—you will officially sound like a bowler!

📚 A Little Bowls History

In the early days of lawn bowls, before the arrival of carefully prepared greens, judging the weight was even more demanding.

Natural grass varied from village to village, and players had to adapt quickly to changing conditions.

Even today, every green has its own pace, making weight control one of the game’s timeless skills.

🤝 Etiquette Corner - Encourage, do not Criticise

Everyone leaves a bowl short from time to time.

Everyone sends one a little too far.

When a teammate narrowly misses, encouragement goes much further than criticism.

A cheerful “Good line—just a touch more weight next time” builds confidence far more effectively than pointing out what went wrong.

Bowls is at its best when players help each other improve.

☕ Clubhouse Chatter

• The phrase “A yard more” was heard at least twenty-seven times this week.

• Strangely, nobody agreed on which yard they meant.

• The tea was perfectly weighted.

• The cake disappeared with remarkable speed.

😄 This Week’s Green-Side Quote

“Was that heavy?”

“Only if you were aiming for the car park!”

Fortunately, nobody was.
“Great bowls aren’t thrown…they’re gently persuaded.”

🌟 Final End Thought

The beauty of bowls is that perfection is not about power.

It is about touch. Patience. Feel.

And the quiet satisfaction of watching a bowl finish exactly where you imagined it would.

Those moments may only last a few seconds, but they keep us coming back for a lifetime.

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, 2nd August 2026
Alan Paterson, Press Officer.
Marine Gardens travelled to Petworth for a WSBL fixture and, as many might have anticipated, the artificial green and the home side proved too strong on the day. Petworth secured victory on all four rinks, finishing with an 81–43 aggregate and collecting the full 10 points.

A further WSBL match followed at home against Arundel, where fortunes unfortunately did not improve. Arundel won on three rinks and took the overall score 77–60, earning 8 of the 10 available points. The bright spot for Marine Gardens came courtesy of Nour Dissem, Trevor Punnett, Duncan Gayler and Graeme Poole, who’s excellent 23–15 win ensured the home side claimed the remaining 2 points.

There was better news in the Brodie match at home to Tarring Priory. In a tightly contested encounter, Marine Gardens edged the overall result with a 2–1 rink wins and one rink draw. Remarkably, the aggregate score finished level at 63–63, meaning the points were shared 6–4 in Marine Gardens’ favour. Nour Dissem again featured on the Top Rink, this time alongside Tim Baldwin, with the pair contributing a fine 18–15 victory. A close-run affair indeed.

Away from league competition, the Club Charity Day brought a welcome splash of colour and community spirit. Members donned bright attire and helped raise approximately £1,000 for St Barnabas House. Club Captain Bob Cole presented the cheque to Angela Morris, who expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of the charity. The afternoon concluded with tea and a raffle, rounding off a thoroughly enjoyable event for a very worthwhile cause. Sincere thanks go to social secretary Wendy Wilson and everyone who contributed to its success.