The Imposing Effects of Wind
PROFICIENCY
Training Program: Becoming proficient in perfect conditions is not enough. There is usually some other factor affecting the run of the lawn bowl and a major one is the imposing effects of wind. During the game, bowlers are often confronted with wind conditions that have a disastrous effect on the path of the bowl. This is mainly caused by the force of the wind on the bowl surface and the frictional effect of green surface, which constantly alters the course and speed of the bowl. To become proficient, lawn bowlers must first understand what the imposing effect of wind has on their bowls and introduce into their training program regular practice on windy days. The best motto is; “Don’t be afraid of the wind, learn to trust it and work with it not against it!” Trust is the operative word as follows.
ADJUSTMENT
Establishing the Drawing Angle: To find the drawing width of your bowl it is better to draw your first bowl to the jack on the narrow hand which is the leeward side. The lawn bowl then has every chance of remaining within the confines of the head or rink. Where this bowl has come to rest, just measure the width distance from the bowl to jack. If the bowl has travelled across the centre line of the rink e.g. mat to jack, add that distance to the width of the original line of sight. Should the lawn bowl have come to rest wide of the jack, subtract that distance and adjust the new line of sight. Once this width has been established it can then be used to adjust the wide and narrow hand as follows;
- The general rule is to double the width on the leeward side to obtain the angle on the windward side, or halve the drawing angle on the windward side to find the drawing angle on the leeward side,
- On slow or holding greens light winds have little or no effect on the drawing angle but stronger winds will widen or lessen the drawing angle to a lesser degree then that of a fast green.
Movement of the jack: Should the jack be moved away from its existing position, just measure the width from its previous position to where it comes to rests and apply the same principles of adjustment e.g. adding or subtracting the width distance to the aiming line as stated above.
Alignment: Keep the eyes focused on the aiming point and ensure with each delivery the follow-through finishes with precise eye, hand and aiming point alignment. Avoid the round arm or hook action in the swing of the delivery arm, or skidding the bowl at the point of release.
Length: Avoid flicking the delivery hand or pushing the bowl. It should be noted that when the length of the end is extended most lawn bowlers inevitably increase the delivery speed of the forward swing and subsequently push the bowl. It is advised that all bowlers should check their pendulum swing action and timing e.g. a flowing back and forward pendulum swing action with the ratio of same speed back same speed forward.
WIND SPEED
Wind can be defined simply as air in motion. This motion can be in any direction, and it varies from absolute calm to speeds as high as 380 kilometres per hour. Wind develops as a result of spatial differences in atmospheric pressure and tends to be at its greatest during the daytime and it’s effects can be depicted as follows;
| Force Code |
Speed MPH |
Speed KPH |
Wind Description |
Effects on the Environment and Bowl Deviation |
| 0 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
Calm |
Smoke rises vertically |
| 1 |
2 - 3 |
1 - 5 |
Light Air |
Smoke drifts slowly |
| 2 |
4 - 7 |
6 - 11 |
Light Breeze |
Leaves rustle, wind can be felt, wind vanes move & bowls slightly deviate occasionally |
| 3 |
8 - 12 |
12 - 19 |
Gentle Breeze |
Leaves and twigs on trees move & bowls slightly deviate |
| 4 |
13 - 18 |
20 - 29 |
Moderate Breeze |
Small tree branches move, dust rises from the ground surface & bowls will deviate |
| 5 |
19 - 24 |
30 - 38 |
Fresh Breeze |
Small trees move & bowls will deviate greater distances |
| 6 |
25 - 31 |
39 - 51 |
Strong Breeze |
Large branches move, telephone and power overhead wires whistle & bowls will deviate continuously |
| 7 |
32 - 38 |
51 - 61 |
Near Gale |
Trees move, difficult to walk in the wind, bowls will deviate dramatically & be difficult to play |
| 8 |
39 - 46 |
62 - 74 |
Gale |
Twigs break off from trees. cancel bowls & seek shelter |
| 9 |
47 - 54 |
75 - 86 |
Strong Gale |
Branches break off from trees, shingles blown off roofs |
| 10 |
55 - 63 |
87 - 101 |
Whole Gale |
Trees become uprooted, structural damage on buildings |
| 11 |
64 - 74 |
102 - 120 |
Storm |
Widespread damage to buildings and trees |
| 12 |
> 75 |
> 120 |
Hurricane |
Severe damage to buildings and trees |
THE RUDIMENTS OF WIND
The True Hand: Wind can be across the green giving a wide and narrow hand, diagonal, giving heavy conditions delivering into the wind and faster when finishing with it, or straight up and down giving variation of pace. It can be steady or gusty and naturally it is not possible to master the unexpected. It is therefore essential that you select and play the true hand. If you do this you will find these variations much easier to overcome. Should you be playing on a side rink with a cross wind blowing over the side bank towards the green centre try the side sheltered by the bank it may have a more stable delivery path for the lawn bowl.
The Narrow Hand: This is the leeward side (opposed to windward, it is the quarter or region towards which the wind blows). When playing as a team the narrow hand gives your team the best tactical advantage; the conditions are more consistent on one side for one and all, bowls take a more direct and shorter track, and there is greater stability. When the wind spasmodically reduces its speed the bowl has a lesser percentage of drifting across the front of the head. Should the wind under the same conditions increase its speed the bowl will track to a lesser position wide of the head.
The Wide Hand: This is the windward side (the point or quarter from which the wind blows). When playing as a team the wide hand gives your team less advantages; the bowls take a longer and wider track, stability is less, and when the wind spasmodically increases its speed, the bowl has a greater percentage of drifting across the front of the head and travelling to a greater distance past the target. Should the wind under the same conditions decrease its speed the bowl will track to a position wide of the bowling head.
Shape, Weight, Wind and Surface: The shape and weight of the bowl, the force of the wind and the firmness of the ground surface all combined effect the stability and delivery speed of the bowl as follows;
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