Club Days
Club days are Thursdays and Saturdays. Play is mixed. Names must be in by 12.45pm. The emphasis is on triples and pairs play.

Dress
Mufti is allowed on all occasions except when Championship, Inter-club fixtures, or Centre representative matches are being played at the same time. On these days all bowlers must wear whites. Bowling shoes only (flat soles/no heels) are to be worn on our greens. 

COACH - our club coach is John Hanlen. Coaching begins with Daylight Saving 4.00pm - 6.00pm every Thursday

Here are some points which may assist you with your training

TRAINING TIME - should be regular and have a specific goal.
ON THE GREEN - generally an hour session on the green is one of the best ways to improve.
GOALS - set specific goals and targets to achieve improvement. Use the forehand for two bowls then the backhand for the other two bowls. Train yourself to feel comfortable using either forehand or backhand.
SUGGESTIONS - practice might include some of the following:

DO-IT-YOURSELF
Don't forget to avail yourself of coaching information found in books or on the internet.
1. Napier Public Library - has "bowls books" under 796.31 (eg. "Think and Play Better Bowls" by Mark de Lacy and Peter Belliss)
2. Internet - here are a few websites to get you started
 

REGULATIONS REGARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND TOURNAMENTS

BUYING NEW BOWLS
Local sports shops stock sets of bowls - or they will order them for you. Please support those shops which sponsor Bowls Taradale
 

	For information on the Henselite range and location of the nearest supplier email belindah@britwyn.co.nz
Taylor Bowls	Try the following website www.taylorbowls.co.nz
Drakes Pride	Try this site www.bowlsdirect.co.nz
	This is an English website www.bondbowls.co.uk

Bowls Specialists Ltd is situated in Lower Hutt. Information is available at http://www.bowlsspecialists.co.nz/
They stock bowls and a wide range of bowling accessories.

BUYING SECOND-HAND BOWLS
Some members use the Club noticeboard to sell bowls
Local newspapers (For Sale)
Trade Me - has a website at  http://www.trademe.co.nz/ Go to the site and (under "Search") type in lawn bowls then press "Go"
(the last time I looked there were about 12 sets of bowls for sale)

BOOKS ON BOWLING
'Books on Bowls' - is a comprehensive resource of books (and videos) on flat and crown green bowls.  http://www.booksonbowls.co.uk/ The site contains detailed information on no less than 232 books on lawn bowls that, with the help of visitors, will hopefully expand to become an even more comprehensive resource. The site is entirely non-commercial and is purely for the information and curiosity of bowlers around the world.

COMPUTER GAME

Computer enthusiasts might like to spend time playing bowls on their computer screens. One such game is called JACKLOW. A free trial copy can be quickly downloaded from the following website http://www.coxplaza.com/coxsoftware.html

The Green
The game of lawn bowls takes place on a 120 ft. square of closely cut grass called a green.
A green is divided into rinks 14-16 ft. wide, generally 8 rinks to a green.

Four types of games can be played:
Singles: one player against another, each using four bowls.
Pairs: a team of two against two, each playing using four bowls.
Triples: a team of three against three, each player using three bowls.
Fours: a team of four against four, each player using two bowls.

First, a small white ball called a "jack" is delivered down the surface of the rink and centred. Then, standing on a mat and going alternately, players deliver (roll) their bowls, the aim being to have their bowls come to a stop as close as possible to the "jack". The trick is that the bowls are biased (eccentrically balanced) and, therefore, do not roll in a straight line, but curl towards the "jack". A player must decide where the bowl should come to rest and then deliver the bowl along this visualized "line of aim". The "feel" of the green is another important element in the game and dictates the "weight" with which a bowl should be delivered: e.g., less weight for a fast green or short distance, more for a heavy green or long distance. The "jack" can be knocked and moved away (if lucky!) from the opponent and closer to one's own bowls.

The Game
The game is made up of a predetermined number of "ends" which consist of the playing of all the bowls of both sides in one direction on the rink. The first player lays the mat and, standing on it, rolls the jack up the green where it is centred by the "skip" (or, as in singles, the "marker"). The player then rolls the first bowl which is followed by one played by the opposition until both teams have played all their bowls. When the last bowl of the end has been played, the players decide who has the winning "shot(s)", how many, and the number is entered on the scorecard. A game generally lasts about two hours.