‘Talking Tactically’

with Lachlan Tighe..... 

(a weekly edition, commenced 12/9/2001, of thoughts, observations and commentaries on developments for bowls coaching and competition)

‘ Composure – how to keep it’  

(edition 139  - 2005 of thoughts & observations on lawn bowls)

Why does Tiger Woods look to be doing it so easily on the fairway in a tournament….because when he chooses his 2 iron twice in 18 holes of golf he knows he has hit 500 times this week at training and 475 (95%) struck were perfect.

In column #99 June 2004 I headed the article ‘coping with competition pressure’ and having watched state and national events this past month I reckon the topic needs revisiting.

Here are the realistic experiences we confront. For example players wondering how the unpredictable wind will affect the delivery of their bowl, a real nightmare though not to all you ‘soft’ bowlers who play indoor bowls. 

Let your eyes and your senses determine the necessary adjustment, not the noises made by other rattled and nervous player teammates. (And we wonder why elite bowlers struggle, get out from the indoor venues and contend with these uncertain conditions).

When competing in an event, given how you are performing this day, your own assessment rating has to be realistic.  Value that knowledge as a skill.  A yardstick range as a draw shot in yesteryear events was a valid state level rating.  

If today that’s as good as you are competing compete to that level with the mind that once achieved then step up the expectation of a better standard.  So move to Mat Length in your expectation, then Mat Width once it is all coming together, that is if it does.  

Expecting a resting toucher every time as a standard when that skill is obviously absent in todays game is a nonsense.  Both to you and for and to your teammates.

Bowls can be a potentially frustrating game if you allow it to be. 

Mental toughness or composure can be seen, or maybe not seen in your reaction to say

Ø      Mates wanting to join in your specific and individual training session

Ø      When club practice is not suitable training

Ø      Flukes and bad deliveries going the oppositions way and the body and verbal language from our team.

You need to practice what you do in training every time it has to be the same, as much the response to awful deliveries so moving away from negativity. 

For example any elite level aspirant bowler who delivers a bowl on the wrong bias needs accept you are a LONG way from a trained mentally skilled and toughened player.

Bowls is like a financial investment

Ø      It has highs and lows that you need to ride out

Ø      If you fail to plan then you plan to fail

Ø      Set the goals and monitor the goals progress.

Other pointers to assist you in developing a heightened level of composure

Ø      Old habits die hard so bad habits equally die hard, consider the change

Ø      The habits you practice or practice habits

Ø      Memorise your teammates bowls

Ø      Know your bowl and you, your body action

Ø      Seeing is believing especially in fickle playing conditions

Ø      Three playing lengths are minimum, maximum and mediocre medium.

Composure starts at training so develop the mental skills that include

Ø      Pre game preparation

Ø      Game planning

Ø      Concentration tools, pre delivery routines, visualization etc

Ø      Limit emotional frustration which means know your own control factors

Ø      Confidence in your preparation

Ø      Experience the learning

Ø      Game analysis so as to take it into the next training session.

Lachlan Tighe

ATTITUDE: ALL ABOUT PRACTISING HABITS