and part 2 of 3!!!!

Core Shots Every Player Needs

Once you have a handle on the fundamentals, you can start building an arsenal of different shots.

5. The Draw to the Jack (Forehand and Backhand)

This is the bread and butter of lawn bowls. 90% of shots you play will be some form of a draw shot. The objective is simple: to roll your bowl with the perfect line and weight so that it comes to a gentle stop as close to the jack as possible.

• How to do it: Using all the foundational techniques above, you execute a smooth delivery aimed at letting the bowl curve and settle next to the target. It's essential to master this on both your forehand (curving towards your non-bowling hand) and backhand (curving towards your bowling hand) to navigate around bowls already in the head.
• Pro Tip: Don't be afraid of being "up." It's almost always better to be a foot past the jack than a foot short, as a short bowl is out of the game completely.

6. The Trail Shot

This is an attacking draw shot. The aim is to hit the jack with just enough weight to move it towards another one of your bowls positioned at the back of the head.

• How to do it: You play a draw shot but with slightly more weight—just enough to carry through to the jack and nudge it. The weight has to be perfect. Too little and you'll just block your own shot; too much and you'll send the jack to your opponent.
• Pro Tip: This is a great shot for a skip to play when their team is already holding second and third shot, but the opponent is holding the first.

7. The Yard-On Shot (or Firm Draw)

Sometimes, there's no path to draw around a blocker bowl. The yard-on shot is played with just enough weight to push an opponent's bowl out of the head and have your bowl take its place.

• How to do it: This requires a faster pace than a draw, but it is not a full-blooded drive. You still need to use the bias. Aim to hit the target bowl on the "inside" edge to roll it away and allow your bowl to spin into position. It's a shot that combines aggression with touch.
• Pro Tip: Practice this by placing a single bowl a few feet in front of the jack and trying to remove it cleanly.

8. Blocking and Positional Bowls

A smart bowler knows that not every bowl has to go to the jack. Sometimes the best shot is a defensive one.

• How to do it: A blocking bowl is played intentionally short and on a line to stop your opponent from being able to play their preferred shot. A positional bowl might be played past the jack to act as a back-stop, ensuring that if the jack is moved, it will likely be moved to your bowl.
• Pro Tip: As a lead, if you've played two great bowls near the jack, your third bowl could be a positional one just behind the head. This gives your skip options later in the end.