Bowls International — November 2017

34 BOWLS INTERNATIONAL November 2017 http://www.bowlsinternational.com

INSIGHT|Competition and Practice

Unlike many sports, in bowls players compete against other players

of all levels. On the one hand this is a positive, with beginners able

to pick up tips from those with more skill and experience than

themselves, but have you ever stopped to think about the implications

for the better players?

Too much

competition?

W

hen it comes to sport, it is

well known that in order

to improve you have to

play people that are better

than you.

There are a number of reasons for this-

firstly, it is essential that you keep the

bar high in terms of the level that you are

aspiring to reach.

This can only come by observing

others that are frequently hitting a higher

standard, and pitting yourself against

them while knowing that they will

probably beat you.

Whether you realise it or not, all the

time that you spend on the green with

better players, you are learning, both

from them and from the challenging

situations that you are faced with by

playing against them.

You will also begin to learn more about

your own game including strengths and

weaknesses that you have and what

works and what does not when it comes

to shot selection.

Your successes and mistakes are

exposed to a far greater level when the

opposition is better.

The way a better player reads a head

will also rub off on to you over time

and like them, you will begin to play

percentage shots and gain confidence

when they come off.

Pride also comes in to play and you

will naturally play better because you

will feel that you do not want to be

whitewashed.

But be mindful that the gap cannot

be too large- there is simply no point in

playing against an international when

you are in your first season- you will

be beaten and it will be demoralising

for you rather than beneficial to your

mindset or your game.

34-35_BI_INSIGHT_Nov17_cc.indd 34 12/10/2017 15:01