You can improve without playing a full match every time you visit the green. A short solo session works best when each bowl has a target and you record what happened. This plan uses just a mat, jack, bowls and a notebook.
Minutes 0–5: establish a reference
After any club-required warm-up and green check, deliver a few relaxed bowls on each hand. Note the green’s pace and your comfortable aiming point. These are observations, not scored attempts. Check that the rink is available and that you are following club practice rules.
Minutes 5–15: draw-zone test
Set a legal medium jack. Deliver eight bowls, alternating hands if both are part of your game. Count a success when the bowl finishes in a target zone roughly one mat length around the jack. Record short, long, narrow and wide misses separately.
Minutes 15–25: change length
Move to a shorter or longer legal jack. Deliver eight more bowls with the same scoring zone. Resist compensating for every miss with an entirely new action. Decide on the weight change you want, then compare the result with the last bowl.
Minutes 25–30: pressure finish
Set a simple head with one opposition bowl near the jack. Give yourself four bowls to win or reduce the count. Record the choice and result. At the end, select one thing for the next session: a length, a hand or a particular shot. The notes make future practice specific.
Sources: Bowls Australia Activities Handbook, Bowls North West coaching drills.
For a clearer look at a close club head, explore WGTS on iPhone or Android. Follow your competition's official measuring procedure for the result.