For Bowlers - Playing Tips
	Identify the style of player that you wish to be (Singles or Team player). If playing in a team, try to be consistently placed in the same playing position and learn the art. If inconsistency occurs try to identify areas of weakness and make a simple assessment in order to develop your own personal game plan. Bad habits do not disappear on their own. There is only one cure and that is by making a programme of action to improve. Do not use competitions or matches in order to practise or to sort out problems. This will lead to the destruction of self confidence and a curtailment of enjoyment.	Tony Allcock MBE
	Never be too proud to revert back to basics. Major problems can usually be sourced to fundamental faults in techniques.
	When playing in team games, remember that communication BEFORE a game is an excellent way of team building. Never be afraid to discuss weak areas of your game with other team members. Help and support from them will enable you to build self and team confidence.
	Be honest and realistic with one's self. Try to identify what contributed to a defeat rather than saying "I just had one of those days". Instead of feeling upset, use this negative result to create a positive approach and ask the following questions: - What have I learnt which may help me next time? Or more importantly- What do I need to practise or to do differently before next I play?
	When successful still ask the question "Was my game perfect?"
	A realistic approach is far better than a scientific or detailed analysis. Always keep the programme plan for improvement simple and practical.
	Ask for information, guidance and help from those players who YOU feel are duly qualified or experienced to impart information which will be valuable and constructive.
	Acknowledge that too much competitive and social play can culture bad habits and uncontrolled discipline traits. Try to keep playing purposeful. It could be that a playing session is designated as relaxation, exercise, or for social purposes only. This is excellent planning as the session has a specific purpose and has its own an identity.
	Advanced Players
	The advanced player will certainly be the competitive one. Having been a student of the technicalities of the game, there will be a desire to apply other knowledge to increase performance and consistency, leading to a higher degree of overall success. There will be a danger however, in exercising these skills too often, due to the opportunity to enter every conceivable competition. It is during this time, when the competitive player is experiencing a high degree of success, that many players will experience what is commonly known as "a bad patch". It does not help that lady luck is always absent during this time and good results are few and far between. This is exactly the opportunity to take a rain check on basic skill qualities which are essential for top class competition. Just to continue playing will not be sufficient. Improvement will require honesty and a realistic assessment of where the base line has fractured. To this end, players will need to go right back to the beginning and observe every aspect of the basic game in turn and practise to the degree of monotony. This applied practice will build the whole, allowing the player to gain confidence and return to the status quo. During these times it will be an opportunity to exercise true grit and determination, which is perfect mental conditioning for those detrimental score lines and frustrating occasions which occur more often than we would like.
	1. Be totally honest about areas of strength and weakness within your own game. A realistic approach to improvement is positive and constructive.
	2. Practise areas of weakness in a meaningful way. Set objectives and goals of achievement. Programme self improvement in a simple but positive manner. Do not leave practice solely to social games. Skill related exercises are an essential part of the requirement to perform consistently.
	3. Outdoor bowls demands greater understanding of natural living playing surfaces. Complicated technical shots should be limited. Success on British surfaces is acquired through sympathetic perception of the natural surfaces and their limitations peculiar to themselves.
	4. Acknowledge that natural elements will have a greater impact on the game and pre match organisation and preparation is requisite.
	5. Physical fitness in moderation assists concentration and performance.
	6. Mental preparation and focus needs to be applied BEFORE the trial ends start.
	7. Formulate a greater understanding of yourself by learning about what type of preparation or playing style works for you in certain circumstances.
	8. Remember a team game demands support from each other. Try to establish a team unit BEFORE the game starts and never be too proud to admit to colleagues the reality of the situation.
	9. Do not forget the golden rule that seeking the aiming point is always the essential requirement for success. Search for the correct line before considering weight. Weight is always dependent upon the ability to be consistent in aiming.
	10. Always remember that the game of Bowls, like all ball games, will always be vulnerable to LUCK, despite the level of skill applied.
	These notes have been compiled by Tony Allcock MBE