"On the Jack"

Post #3: 

Weight for It… The Gentle Art of Not Overcooking It

Welcome back to On the Jack, the only blog where the weight of your delivery is just as important as the weight of your post-match drink.

This week, we are digging into one of bowls’ greatest mysteries: weight control — also known as “Why did that bowl stop six feet short?” followed by “Now why did that one end up in the ditch?”

Weight — It is Not Just What You Put On Over Winter

Weight in bowls is a delicate balance between:

• Too little, where your bowl gives up halfway like a tired spaniel,

• And too much, where it powers past the head like it is late for a bus.

Getting it just right is an art — part muscle memory, part green reading, and part pure luck (or as some bowlers call it, “instinct”).

The Common Culprits of Poor Weight

1. “The First-End Flop”

You have not warmed up, the mat feels odd, and your arm is still in coffee mode. Bowl 1? Ten feet short. Bowl 2? Into orbit.

2. “The Weight Creep”

Starts well, but each delivery gets just a touch heavier. By the end of four, you are sending missiles.

3. “The Rink Whisperer”

Your opponent swears the green is fast. You believe them. It is not. You are now two shots down and suspicious of everyone.

How to Actually Improve Your Weight (Yes, Really)

• Practice with purpose: Roll with your eyes on the jack, not the snack bar.

• Use markers: Mentally note where a good weight lands on that rink.

• Slow down: Rushing usually adds yards.

• Keep your rhythm: Deliver like you have done it before — because you have.

• Stay off the drink: (At least until after the match.)

True Tales from the Green

• One skip this week asked his lead, “Are you short?” The lead replied, “I was hoping it would roll further while we were talking.”

• A visiting player delivered with such force that it broke the sound barrier and the jack… and nearly our tea urn.

• Another bowler declared he would “found his weight,” then proceeded to lose it again by the next end. We are still searching.

Ask the Skip: Your Questions Answered

Q: “Is it better to be consistently heavy or short?”

A: Great question, Consistency is good… but consistently wrong? Not so much.

If you are always heavy, at least you are passing the head and giving your bowl a chance to turn. But ideally, you are adjusting each time. The best players are not perfect — they adapt faster.

Final End

Weight is what separates a great shot from a nearly great shot — and no one gets it right every time. The trick?

• Know your green.

• Know your pace.

• And know that even the pros sometimes send one flying into the ditch.

Until next week, keep your line steady and your weight just right.

Stay sharp, stay smooth, and stay “On the Jack.”

This week on the Green

Alan Paterson, Press Officer – Club news and activities.

Marine Gardens Bowling Club Weekly Report – Ending Sunday, 4th May 2025 

Sunshine continued to bless Marine Gardens bowlers this week as competition season kicked off with two thrilling internal contests—*the Triples League and Aussie Pairs*.

Nestled between these club battles was a keenly contested friendly match against Storrington, marking their first seasonal match.

The encounter saw Marine Gardens secure a home victory, sharing the rinks evenly at two apiece, but emerging overall winners with a shots score of 74 - 64. The defining moment came from a commanding 30 - 9 rink win, with Marcia Mell, Angela Neale, and James Albon earning Top Rink honours.

The week concluded with another triumph at home in the Brodie Tray league match against Worthing Pavilion. Once again, the rinks were split into two each, but Marine Gardens outshone their opponents with a superior shots score of 75 - 59. A spectacular 31 - 7 victory secured by Gerry Perch, Keith White, and skip Tim Baldwin proved decisive, earning them the Top Rink accolade. This hard-fought win against Worthing Pavilion capped off a highly satisfying week in perfect bowling conditions.

Looking ahead this coming week, we hope the sunshine continues as we celebrate VE DAY on Thursday, witness the crowning of our Club’s SUPREME CHAMPION on Saturday, and welcome all to engage and try the game of bowls on our OPEN DAY on Sunday.
Your support is invaluable. Please join us and enjoy these exciting events, refreshments, and a warm club atmosphere!