In lawn bowls, forehand and backhand describe the two delivery routes available around the head. Neither is automatically better. The right choice is the side that gives your bowl the clearest, most repeatable path with a comfortable line and weight.
What changes between forehand and backhand?
A biased bowl curves toward its bias side as it slows. Turning the bowl for the opposite hand mirrors that curve. For a right-handed player, the forehand and backhand labels describe different sides than they do for a left-handed player, so it is safer to think in terms of the bowl's path rather than memorising left and right.
Check both hands during trial ends
Use early deliveries to learn the rink. Send one controlled draw on each hand at a similar length and watch the whole journey: the starting line, where the bowl begins to turn, how much pace it keeps and where it finishes. The Bowls Australia Activities Handbook supports varied, purposeful drills for players at different levels.
Five questions before choosing a hand
- Is the route open? Prefer a clean path over threading through traffic.
- Which side is more consistent? Wind, surface wear and rink pace can make one hand kinder.
- Where is the danger? Avoid a hand that brings the ditch, a short bowl or the opponent's target into play unnecessarily.
- What happens if you miss? A bowl one metre heavy in a useful back position may be better than one metre short in the draw line.
- Can you repeat it? Under pressure, trust a known line and a simple routine.
Do not change line and weight together
If the bowl finishes wide and short, decide which error was larger. Change one variable on the next delivery, then learn from the result. A digital scorecard can preserve the match context, while a camera view can help you review the final head instead of relying on memory.
Take your practice evidence with you
WGTS combines camera-assisted close-head comparison and digital scorecards on compatible phones. Download WGTS for iPhone or WGTS for Android.