TACTICS IN LAWN BOWLS

In our sport of lawn bowls we are often confronted with the term "TACTICS" but
the actual or true meaning is perhaps difficult to define.

A dictionary definition might be:

"The art or skill of employing available means to accomplish an end"

Much has been written and expressed by many of those who have offered their personal views and experiences on the subject and this is a modest endeavour to condense and to correlate those various findings.

Any consideration of tactics must also be related to other factors which may cause you to all short of your defined objectives and expectations;

       "The mechanical skills (practised ability) of yourself or your team members letting you down."

       "Your under-estimating the risks or degree of difficulty."

      "The skill of your opponents in countering your tactics or in limiting your options to manoeuvre."

Tactics, of course, like any other aspect of our game, cannot stand alone, but tactical opportunities permeate through other areas besides the jack and the head.

Our dictionary definition " employing available means to accomplish an end" must also encompass the wider aspects which might include:

       The individual strengths and weaknesses of your own team members.

       The ability of members to function as a TEAM - NOT AS INDIVIDUALS IN A TEAM.

       The ability of your opposing players.

The art of being a good tactician is to contain the opposition to a minimum of shots, always remembering that any tactic employed must embody a legitimate and sportsmanlike approach.

So let us look at some specific areas of play and consider some of the tactics that might be employed.