Lawn Bowls Delivery: The Grip | Technical Difficulties

Learning how to bowl? Need to tweak your current delivery? Coaching and need a good process of showing a delivery? Look no further!
This is the first installment of a 3 part series on Delivering a Lawn Bowl.
THE GRIP
Coach Darryl Fitzgerald shows off the do's and don'ts of a solid fundamentally sound grip that should help start off a perfect delivery!
Steps to the perfect grip:
- Relax your hand, natural spread of fingers - don't force anything!
- Place bowl so middle and ring fingers are the only fingers on the running surface
- Index and pinky fingers lay loosely on the grips
- Thumb is raised into the middle of the bowl on the side, not too high or too low
- Let the bowl roll off the two fingers on the running surface
Your grip should be comfortable, stress-free, and stable!
Thanks to Dan "The Delivery Doctor" Milligan for his coaching and support for bowls in Canada!
The Delivery Doctor KZbin: / thedeliverydoctor
MVP Sports: www.mvpsports.ca/
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Music by Senpai Records - Midnight - Dull Objects
#grip #delivery #lawnbowls

[@CanadianBowler]

Did this video help? Get any useful tips to try and work kinks out of your own delivery? Let us know what you think!

[@MichaelJones-eh1vn]

Yes try and put it to good practice tomorrow, I'll let you know the outcome

[@Kattsbooty]

These videos and in person training with Darryl has made me a better bowler. Thanks Darryl for all your help!! More confidence as a new bowler.

[@CanadianBowler]

Glad to hear that both the videos and the on green coaching is making a difference!

[@malcolmrothery9861]

Thank you so much for this. I have never liked the claw grip, so I tried your more relaxed grip, and the results were spectacular. Suddenly the release was much better and I had much more feel for the weight of delivery. I had the most consistent game for a long while and we won the match! Thanks again.

[@CanadianBowler]

Glad it helped! Hopefully it keeps getting better.

[@billmccollam]

Great production work... sound was clear, graphics super and advice seemd sound

[@michaeloreilly6217]

Great video, Darryl. Can’t wait to see the rest in the series. We will definitely re-share these going forward. 👏👏👏🙌🙌🙌👍👍👍

[@CanadianBowler]

Awesome, thank you!

[@malcolmwhyte9028]

That was great Darryl! Looking forward to watching the series.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks Malcolm! We are furiously working on the rest of the videos!

[@piaajango2484]

I thank you for your prompt answer to my problem. My knee was operated on in 1980 after a tobogganing accident - ligament repair and partial meniscectomy. I had to stop playing tennis all together and have just started coaching sessions for lawn bowling. As it is a permanent injury I may be better off trying bowling left-handed as crouching while putting weight on the left knee hurts. Thanks again.

[@tonykiely3061]

Great video just began playing last year and love your style of presenting.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks Tony! Glad you liked it and hope that it helps you on your bowls journey! Make sure you come back and let us know how you are doing!

[@DN-kz7xl]

Thanks. I am a beginner. I felt uncomfortable with the "regulation" grip and this felt much more comfortable.

[@CanadianBowler]

Great to hear!

[@NiallMartin1]

Been playing short may bowls for years and only realised from this video my grip has been wrong this whole time! Found a much more comfortable grip thanks to this and hopefully it improves my results 👍

[@CanadianBowler]

Great to hear! Hope you see some great results!

[@NiallMartin1]

@@CanadianBowler first tournament I played since this (One of the biggest tournaments of the season) I got to the 4th round(Last 16) and just missed out on finals day when before I was in a bad slump barely getting passed the first round of tournaments 😅

[@CanadianBowler]

Love to hear it! Good luck and hopefully that big win is just around the corner.

[@sagiegovender6011]

I am starting bowls, excellent videos. Thank you Sir

[@CanadianBowler]

Good luck and hopefully these videos help you out.

[@symmachus898]

Thanks, mate.

[@jinkertsun]

Good video. I’m using a size three but with my small hands I think I need to change to a size 2.

[@CanadianBowler]

Sometimes the size of the bowl we play with is the last item we look at when we are having delivery issues, but it can be the easiest to correct! You'll likely notice that dropping from a 3 to a 2 will not be a huge difference, but enough that you can play and grip the bowl better. Hope it works for you!

[@panthergpss]

Darryl, very well done. I posted it on our Facebook page last night and already have one member wanting more! Will continue to keep everyone informed.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thank you, Dave! We appreciate the support!

[@2460speedy]

Great learning curve for me. I have been doing it incorrectly for a long time.

[@CanadianBowler]

We are glad to hear the video tutorial are helping players asses their own delivery! Let us know if it helps you find a better one!

[@MichaelJones-eh1vn]

Just started playing my first time on grass and found it very hard, couldn't get any distance on the bowl, I was jumped on because of my problems, hoping to put that right now with your help thank you.

[@CanadianBowler]

That happens Michael! I hope these videos help and please let us know how you go once you get some more practice in!

[@joehurley8199]

Very good and helpful video

[@CanadianBowler]

Glad you liked it

[@philfresle2836]

Very useful video. I've just started bowling and have found both the claw and cradle unsatisfactory and had reverted to something similar to your suggestion. I'll give your suggestion a crack at the weekend. Looking forward to the rest of the series, particularly your thoughts on bowl size.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thank you Phil -- our aim is to help anyone looking to learn a solid delivery or tweak their existing one if they have problems. Hope you find a simple grip that suits your needs and good luck!

[@johanvoss2317]

Thank you, i see now i held it wrong, will try your way. Thanks.

[@CanadianBowler]

Let us know if it worked for you!

[@markharvey1041]

Thanks for this…great vid. New player here in the Uk and still playing about with grip to find something I feel I can move forward with through the winter here and into next year. Hated the claw, prefer something more natural and tend to hold the bowl slightly off to one side (right as right handed player). Feel super comfy but can’t help but feel this can’t be a good thing long term. Will try out your suggestions next practice! Looking forward to the release video! Cheers

[@CanadianBowler]

Glad you found the video! Hope it helps and keep an eye on the channel for future videos talking about more parts of the delivery!

[@jamessilverthorn2320]

For some reason I need to work on this better

[@CanadianBowler]

There is always something every bowler can work on. Hope it helps!

[@nicolenew1708]

THANK YOU

[@CanadianBowler]

You are very welcome!

[@kazzy9000]

That was so helpful, thank you! I’m very new to bowling but loving it so far. 🥰. You mentioned in the video about choosing the correct size and weight of bowl. I can’t see a video on it on your channel - can you give me any advice on how to decide on the right size and weight please? Thanks in advance. X

[@CanadianBowler]

Hi Kazzy! Thanks for checking out the video. We are planning a video on bowl size and how to choose what's right for you. It's in the worka so hopefully sometime soon we can get that up on the channel!

[@tomclough5394]

Hi, I’ve been playing for 23 years and I started off with a very consistent delivery, but overtime my delivery became very Inconsistent. I play outdoors and short Mat and have 2 different stances when playing the 2! I was looking at my game yesterday and watched your video and realised my little finger was disrupting my delivery. I also noticed that I haven’t been releasing off my 2 fingers.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks for the comment Tom! I hope you find they consistency you had previously and that this really helps your game! Let us know how it goes.

[@geoffbrassington9702]

Hi great videos. You mention about doing a video about bowls size and knowing if they are too big or small. Any chance you can do one? Kind regards Geoff.

[@CanadianBowler]

Hey Geoff! Thanks for the comment and request! We will be working on a few new videos about picking the right style and sizing bowls and finding the right one for you. It likely will end up under our equipment series "Bowls, Bowls, Bowls" -- so keep an eye out for that!

[@crashaddict1]

Really good video! There is still a school of thought in the U.K. that to determine correct bowls size you should hold the bowl in your preferred grip and then turn your hand upside down and if the bowls drops out then you should continue going down one size at a time until you can hold the bowl upside down. I really like the grip you have described in your video but if I use this upside down test I can’t hold on to the bowl even though it feels very comfortable in the hands up bowling position. Do you have any views on this?

[@CanadianBowler]

We've also seen various styles of bowls tests to determine size, but in the end it comes down to comfort and effectiveness. The grip we show in our videos isn't meant to be used with the bowl upside down in your hand. If you see our example of the arm motion you really don't have much movement behind the leg, it's all forward body motion and follow-through. This helps prevent the need to really grip a bowl in order to deliver it and your bowl should never be in danger of falling off your hand unless it's just not the right size (too big). Hope that helps.

[@crashaddict1]

@@CanadianBowler many thanks for your reply which is much appreciated. I have recently reduced the size of my bowls and adopted the grip you feature and my consistency has improved dramatically so thanks for the video!

[@CanadianBowler]

@@crashaddict1 That's amazing! We are so happy that it helped!

[@richardbarrett4104]

With the cradle grip, I find it difficult to straighten my arm. If I hold my arm out straight without a bowl (so it's comfortable) my arm is ever so slightly canted to the left, turning the wrist over that fraction to have the bowl dead straight is tiring. Should I slightly adjust the bowl angle with this grip, please?

[@CanadianBowler]

Hi Richard, we've answered similar questions in other videos, please see the replies in the release video and gold ticket video. Thank you for all your questions.

[@patrickmcdermott8223]

Hi, Darryl. I have seen the Bowls Doctor series, and you both do a brilliant job of coaching. The grip still eludes me. I'm doing what the doc called 1970's style - middle finger on the center of the bowl. I hear what you say about that style being inconsistent in that the bowl can be released off one side of the finger. But isn't it a similar problem with two fingers on the running surface, given the index is longer than the ring finger? Anyway, I've been trying the grip you suggest. I find it uncomfortable when the bowl is at the end of the "backswing" even though it's not really much of a backswing. It feels as though the bowl is slipping off my fingers which leads me to hurry my delivery. Is this a problem with my wrist or something else? How do I become more confident in the bowl's stability from pre-matt to delivery?

[@CanadianBowler]

Hi Patrick -- This might be something to do do with the bowl or how you are executing the "backswing". Having the feeling of losing the bowl will really play games with your overall delivery and should be reviewed. It's hard to really diagnose that without seeing it in action, but a few options are -- adjust the grip slightly to make it a little more secure for yourself (like moving the pinky and pointer into the grip grooves), possibly move a size down in bowl. Your wrist shouldn't break from being in line with your arm, so that could be something to look at as well. If you have the opportunity, have someone review your delivery with you or even try to get some video and take a look at the process you are going through -- sometimes seeing it yourself from a new perspective can be a big help!

[@tuanvo1538]

How about on the rolling step I use 3 middle fingers and instead of the middle one and ring finger ? What do you think ?

[@CanadianBowler]

It's hard to say without seeing the whole setup together. If you find it balances well and you get a clean release with not drop or wobble then I'd stick with it as it must be working for you.

[@piaajango2484]

Hi. I am right-handed and have a left knee injury. I notice that on delivery the weight goes on the left knee and that hurts my knee. Any suggestions ?

[@CanadianBowler]

This is a tough one to answer as if it's a temporary injury it might be best to rest until it's healed, but if it's a permanent part of your life then either a set stance (no motion, just a low stance and arm motion) or trying to use an aid to deliver like a bowls arm or an Ubi-Launcher to allow you to play with minimal to no pain. For anyone with mobility issues, injuries or just from age that cannot deliver a bowl in a full motion manner or needs more than just minor tweaks, I always suggest using an aid. Each situation is different, so if you are able -- seek out a coach who can assess your situation (pain, mobility, etc.) and can really work on an alternate style of delivery or can ultimately say you should go for an arm/aid of some type. Hope that helps.

[@Shadowfox964]

what if you are missing a finger like me (born without thumbs with the index fingers moved over into the thumbs position) so i only have 4 fingers on each hand, would the grip change slightly, as well as a fused wrist which i think helps me in some way

[@CanadianBowler]

Hey Shadowfox -- This is definitely something you'd have to modify the grip for. Very unique situation, but you'd have to find something that really helps balance the bowl in your hand. It may even be a situation of the palm delivery. It's very hard to say without really seeing how you typically hold a bowl.

[@Shadowfox964]

@@CanadianBowler i would say my grip is somewhere between the claw grip and the natural grip, with my thumb sitting higher up near the dimples and pinky finger spread out just a tiny bit since my hand is narrower, i have been told that my delivery is quite smooth but that's debatable since no one is perfect, but having a fused wrist has definitely helped (at least my coach couldn't threaten to tie a stick to my wrist to keep it straight like he did with my dad).

[@CanadianBowler]

Awesome! We are glad you've got a solid working delivery. So many struggle to get those basics and that's a key item to a consistent roll.

[@alancarlyon3928]

Great tuition, but the music in the background can do ones head in! I did not tune in on your blog to listen too music!

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks Alan -- we apologize if the background music is an issue. It won't be in future videos. We appreciate the feedback!

[@angelh8262]

Oh no! You haven’t mentioned the most important element which is your little finger, in preventing throwing a ‘pinnacle’ or wobbly bowl. If the little finger is placed too high, your bowl will not leave your hand smoothly. You mentioned the thumb and fingers, but not where to place the little finger?! The little finger rests lightly on the side of the bowl.

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks @AngelH! That's a good point, we may demonstrate it a bit when showing the front, but it wasn't part of the overall instructions. Thanks for the comment and for checking out the video!

[@Scottychainsaw]

Not sure about that pal

[@CanadianBowler]

What aren't you sure about Scott?

[@timfoster9697]

Nice video to watch am new to bowls so will give it a go

[@bobburroughs6241]

That's a lot of flannel. Put a bowl on the ground, pick it up and turn it over, your grip comes natural.

[@CanadianBowler]

Appreciate the comment. We know plenty of bowlers who do just that, but it doesn't work for everyone. Hope you enjoyed the video.

[@alancarlyon3928]

Great blog, but background music was so annoying!

[@CanadianBowler]

Thanks Alan -- we apologize if the background music is an issue. It won't be in future videos. We appreciate the feedback!

[@gillwil]

Hi...agree background music made me sleep..lol 😅

[@brianmason8597]

He's so boring. Not the best that I've seen.