🎳 On the Jack – Blog #20

Superstitions, Rituals, and the Search for the Perfect Bias

Every sport has its quirks, and lawn bowls is no exception. While cricketers cling to lucky bats and footballers perform elaborate pre-match rituals, bowlers have their own quiet superstitions — charming, curious, and occasionally comical. Whether they work or not is beside the point. They add colour to the green and character to the game. ---

🍀 Lucky Charms and Rituals

Ask around any club and you will hear some classics:

• The bowler who refuses to change socks on match day — even if those socks could walk themselves to the jack.

• The skip who swears their bowls “listen better” when polished with a lucky cloth handed down through generations (or at least since last season).

Do these rituals help? Probably not. But in a game where millimetres matter, the placebo effect might just be the most powerful tool in the bowls bag.---

📜 Famous Bowls Beliefs

Superstition in bowls is not new. In the 19th century, players were known to “tap” their bowls three times before delivery, believing it aligned the bias with fate. It might look peculiar today, but it is no stranger than footballers kissing the turf or tennis players bouncing the ball exactly five times.

🎯 Ritual vs Reality

Of course, the real secret to consistent bowling is practice, focus, and knowing when to retire those lucky socks. But there is something endearing about these rituals — tiny traditions that bind clubs together and add flavour to the sport. Half the joy of bowls lies in the stories we share between ends.

So next time you see a teammate whispering sweet nothings to their bowl before a key delivery, do not scoff — just hope their ritual works in your team’s favour.

📌 Question for readers:

What is the oddest or funniest superstition you have seen on the green? Send them in — we might just feature your tale in a future blog!

🕵️‍♂️ The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Bias

If lawn bowls ever needed its own detective novel, chapter one would begin on our green last Saturday. A certain bowler (names withheld to protect the innocent… and the embarrassed) sent down a perfectly respectable wood that, after a promising start, veered dramatically in the wrong direction.

Gasps were heard. Eyebrows were raised. One spectator muttered something about witchcraft.

The truth? Far less magical, far more human: the bowler had accidentally swapped bowls with their teammate. The only crime committed was against geometry and common sense. Still, it gave us a hearty laugh — and a prompt reminder to always check your bowls before stepping onto the mat. ---

🕰️ A Brief Historical Bias

For newer members: did you know that in the 16th and 17th centuries, bowls did not come with built-in bias? Players would insert weights or shape the wood unevenly to make it curve. It was not until the 19th century that standardised, factory-produced biased bowls became the norm — fairer, yes, but arguably less entertaining for those of us who enjoy a bit of chaos on the green. ---

🎭 Etiquette Spotlight – “The Invisible Bowler”

Every club has one: the bowler who, having delivered their shot, hovers in the head like an anxious parent at a school play. Here is the golden rule: once your bowl is away, step back, give the next bowler room, and resist the urge to stand directly in line with the jack — you make a better target than you think!

Respecting space is not simply good manners. It keeps the game flowing, the players safe, and the atmosphere friendly. --- Norman Deegan.

THIS WEEK ON THE GREEN – Club News and Activities

🗞️ Marine Gardens Bowling Club Weekly Report

Week Ending Sunday, 31st August 2025
By Alan Paterson, Press Officer

Marine Gardens broke their recent losing streak in emphatic fashion, securing a 4-0 (76–52) victory over Maltravers in the Stracey League. This well-earned result strengthens our hold on second place in the table and restores a welcome sense of momentum.

🏆 Top Rink honours went to the formidable quartet of Gerry Perch, Graham Rae, Perry Cairns, and Graham Poole, who led the charge with a commanding 20–12 win. Special mention also goes to Tim Baldwin, who rallied his team—Alan Paterson, John Dorkings, and Duncan Gayler—from a 15–8 deficit after 10 ends to clinch a thrilling 18–16 victory. A clean sweep and all 10 points for Marine Gardens—an achievement both rare and richly deserved.

🎉 The winning spirit continued in a friendly home fixture against Southwick Park, where we triumphed in three of the four triples rinks, finishing with a 71–57 shot advantage. Standout performers included Patsy Nicholson, Nick Sinden, and Bob Cole, who delivered an impressive 18–6 win.

🌦️ The week concluded with the much-anticipated rearranged President’s Day. Despite less-than-ideal weather, spirits remained high on our beautifully manicured green. Bragging rights went to the captain’s team, who posted a 61–37 shot advantage. Leading the charge were Betty Stevenson, Jim Masters, Ken Leadbeater, and Trevor Punnett.

🍸 A highlight of the day was seeing new member Mark Charlottes receive a bottle of gin from the President as the winner of the Spider competition—a lovely moment of recognition and welcome. The event wrapped up with a delightful afternoon tea and raffle, generously hosted by our President.

Here is to a week of renewed success, camaraderie, and celebration at Marine Gardens.