Head still

To get us started with one that all ball games require - 'eye coordination', this is something we lose as we get older but we can still work on it.  It is also something that the younger ones can think about while practicing.  Whether you're kicking a ball, playing snooker, golf, darts, tennis or bowls your eyes need to coordinate where the bowl (in our sport) is coming from and going to.  If your head is moving about, in any direction, it makes it more difficult for the brain to compute distance and direction we want the bowl to go.  Keep your head still!

 We're not all the same and some good bowlers have a lot of head movement from taking up position on the mat to delivering the bowl, but for us simple beings...

Limb & Body Movements  (Do not overstep!)

The principal action in any method of delivery is the pendulum-like back swing and forward swing of the bowling arm along the required delivery line. Bowlers should use the same action to deliver jacks and bowls. In the release posture, bowlers should position:

… the knee of the trailing leg near the heel of the leading foot....… the weight of the body over the sole of the leading foot....    the front knee ahead of the toe.......and, the chin ahead of the knee.  Unless a physical disability necessitates otherwise, bowlers normally advance the foot opposite the delivery arm. The hips and shoulders thereby pivot in similar directions, which minimises twisting of the spine. Further, the outward swing of the hips provides good clearance for the delivery arm.

Follow-Through

Bowlers should smoothly follow through with the arm extended towards the aiming point. This minimises the likelihood of any hand deceleration before the moment of bowl release. The palm of the delivery hand should be uppermost, avoiding any misdirection of the bowl due to turning of the wrist before release.  In the follow-through posture, bowlers should stay down to confirm that the bowl is following the intended line. They should watch the bowl come to rest to assess any correction required, then recover and take a pace forward with the trailing foot.

Delivery arm

The delivery arm is the one holding the bowl.  With shoulders squared, bowlers should align the delivery over the aiming line.  The image below shows forward and downward extension of the forearm.  To avoid shoulder strain and discomfort, the upper arm should be rather vertical with the elbow near the waist.  The centre picture shows this alignment of the upper arm and elbow.  Bowlers should avoid angling the delivery arm across the body.  The picture on the right shows how unwise use of the non-bowling hand puts the bowl directly in front of the body.  Novices should check their delivery arm alignments with one or two trial swings to ensure the arc of movement follows the aiming line.  The bowling hand should have enough initial elevation so that an unforced yet unrestrained pendulum back-swing results.  Bowlers should direct the focus of attention forward towards their aiming point.

Practice 

Don’t have too many thoughts while bowling.  Thinking too much about your game and you’ll end up bowling like the wooden tops.  One game thought.

Practice until it becomes natural.

Now is the time to start practicing for next season

With regular practice, bowlers' movements become less awkward, more precise, and more consistent.  Eventually their delivery technique becomes almost as automatic as blinking or breathing. Their minds are then clearer.  They can give full attention to judging the line and length required for each delivery.   Bowlers should practice a 'grooving of their delivery', which is a rhythmic harmonising of mind and body.  Out of the process come accuracy, consistency, self-confidence, and enjoyment.