It's been 50 years since I last bowled and I have to say thank you so much for all the time you have taken to do these videos. They are absolutely invaluable to me and I can't wait to get back into the game .
Another really helpful video. This was going to be my first season as an absolute beginner, and you've answered most of my questions. Just don't want to look out of place. Thank you
Hi Alex thank you for another good video. As you know I've only just started playing bowls and it's a pity that my club is closed at the moment. Although I did manage to get 5 coaching sessions before it closed. One thing we did get shown was how to fill out a scorecard unfortunately I have forgotten most of what they showed us with the card. So perhaps you could do a video on how to fill in a scorecard. It would be very helpful as a reference for new players like myself. It's possibly something you can do from home while we are in lockdown.
I just came across your videos Alec and find them extremely well done and informative. I'm looking for a game (once the damn Covid is over and things open up again) to take the place of Curling. Very similar strategies, but Curling is now way too difficult for me with my lack of balance. And ice really hurts when you fall on it! I have a question or two. When you say "grays" does this specifically mean gray color only? Or does that also include other dark colors such as black? I know for sure it DOESN'T mean anything close to Olympic Curling trousers. Thanks for your videos. Keep them up!
Hi Eamon, thanks for the reply. I have watched curling and agree, the strategy is important. Personally, I would not be able to stand on ice, let alone balance. LOL Re dress code, we call it greys, and just applies to the trousers/skirt colour which is supposed to be a mid grey, a bit like school uniform grey, but to be honest it varies quite a bit, I have seen very light grey and very dark. I think most clubs are flexible as to the shade, as long as it is not too different. I would like to see other colours introduced at club level. We are allowed to now, but it will take some time before that happens. I may see if I can persuade our club to change to something else, you never know. :)
@@LawnBowlsforFun Howdy Alec.....Yesterday I was able to go to the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club facility in Palo Alto, California (I was in the area so I figured I'd go take a look). There was one gentleman practicing his delivery. He saw me looking over the gate (only club members allowed in), and game over and talked with me. He said as he was the club President, and one of the club instructors, he invited me in, found me a set of bowls (and he used the hand measurements you have in your video....evidently I use a #1), and got me on the green. Great fun it was!!!! We even played a couple of Ends. He beat me 4-0, but he said had we had a small wager on it, the result would have been more in my favor. We did distance, use masks, and cleaned the bowls of before putting them away. Thanks for your videos. Keep them up!
Thanks for that Alex. I was invited to play in a match against another club and told to wear greys. At the club in nice weather I wear shorts. Should I buy both white and grey shorts and is it ok to play matches in shorts? I've certainly watched inter-club games where players have worn shorts, but is it frowned upon, or okay?
Shorts are accepted in England and in fact you can buy them from Bowls England. I went to the Nationals two years ago, and most men wore them. We see them all the time at club level, even on cloudy days. Greys are used more than whites, but check your club, some just use grey, others use both.
Hello Alec. I'm just starting out. 6week introductory classes. I've found your videos extremely on many topics. Clothes, I've watched your dress video. I fully understood the grey and whites. However.... how strict is the dress code. For example, I've no proper grey trousers. I have grey jeans(no holes in of course), I also have grey tracksuit bottoms. Are these allowed?
I replied to your email Darren, so check my longer answer there. Short answer is each club views dress differently, so best check with them. Hopefully they are very flexible. :) Thanks for the question and good luck with your bowls.
I play golf which traditionally has had similar dress codes to bowls. I'm a strong advocate for absolutely no dress code, both on the greens and in the club house. It's such an antiquated and frankly, stupid concept. I believe people can and should wear what ever they bloody well like because it has zero impact on the game itself and it's one of the reasons younger people tend to stay away from games like bowls and golf. I'm not talking about things like team shirts for inter-club matches by the way, that's fine, I'm talking about people just being at the club and playing for fun. It's a shame, they are both amazing games that everyone should have access to. We should be removing barriers to entry, not enforcing them.
I could not agree more. I do think more and more people feel the same, so in time bowls dress code will move into the 21st century. The sooner tha better.
I totally agree with you. Having had a strange two years because of covid, and since I made that video a lot of the clubs local to me, my own club included, have now changed to a much more colourful team strip. Some have ditched grey and white trousers too, so great news and well over due. Those clubs who refuse to change will struggle to find new members, but most will be dragged into the 21st century, wether they like it or not. 😀
It's been 50 years since I last bowled and I have to say thank you so much for all the time you have taken to do these videos. They are absolutely invaluable to me and I can't wait to get back into the game .
You are very welcome Thank you for your kind words.
Another really helpful video. This was going to be my first season as an absolute beginner, and you've answered most of my questions. Just don't want to look out of place. Thank you
You're very welcome! So nice to hear your comments. Thanks.
Hi Alex thank you for another good video. As you know I've only just started playing bowls and it's a pity that my club is closed at the moment. Although I did manage to get 5 coaching sessions before it closed. One thing we did get shown was how to fill out a scorecard unfortunately I have forgotten most of what they showed us with the card. So perhaps you could do a video on how to fill in a scorecard. It would be very helpful as a reference for new players like myself. It's possibly something you can do from home while we are in lockdown.
That is a very good point, I will do one asap. Thanks for the input. Alec
I just came across your videos Alec and find them extremely well done and informative. I'm looking for a game (once the damn Covid is over and things open up again) to take the place of Curling. Very similar strategies, but Curling is now way too difficult for me with my lack of balance. And ice really hurts when you fall on it!
I have a question or two. When you say "grays" does this specifically mean gray color only? Or does that also include other dark colors such as black? I know for sure it DOESN'T mean anything close to Olympic Curling trousers.
Thanks for your videos. Keep them up!
Hi Eamon, thanks for the reply. I have watched curling and agree, the strategy is important. Personally, I would not be able to stand on ice, let alone balance. LOL
Re dress code, we call it greys, and just applies to the trousers/skirt colour which is supposed to be a mid grey, a bit like school uniform grey, but to be honest it varies quite a bit, I have seen very light grey and very dark. I think most clubs are flexible as to the shade, as long as it is not too different. I would like to see other colours introduced at club level. We are allowed to now, but it will take some time before that happens. I may see if I can persuade our club to change to something else, you never know. :)
@@LawnBowlsforFun Howdy Alec.....Yesterday I was able to go to the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club facility in Palo Alto, California (I was in the area so I figured I'd go take a look). There was one gentleman practicing his delivery. He saw me looking over the gate (only club members allowed in), and game over and talked with me. He said as he was the club President, and one of the club instructors, he invited me in, found me a set of bowls (and he used the hand measurements you have in your video....evidently I use a #1), and got me on the green. Great fun it was!!!! We even played a couple of Ends. He beat me 4-0, but he said had we had a small wager on it, the result would have been more in my favor. We did distance, use masks, and cleaned the bowls of before putting them away. Thanks for your videos. Keep them up!
Thanks for that Alex. I was invited to play in a match against another club and told to wear greys. At the club in nice weather I wear shorts. Should I buy both white and grey shorts and is it ok to play matches in shorts? I've certainly watched inter-club games where players have worn shorts, but is it frowned upon, or okay?
Shorts are accepted in England and in fact you can buy them from Bowls England. I went to the Nationals two years ago, and most men wore them. We see them all the time at club level, even on cloudy days. Greys are used more than whites, but check your club, some just use grey, others use both.
Hello Alec. I'm just starting out. 6week introductory classes. I've found your videos extremely on many topics.
Clothes, I've watched your dress video. I fully understood the grey and whites. However.... how strict is the dress code. For example, I've no proper grey trousers. I have grey jeans(no holes in of course), I also have grey tracksuit bottoms. Are these allowed?
I replied to your email Darren, so check my longer answer there. Short answer is each club views dress differently, so best check with them. Hopefully they are very flexible. :) Thanks for the question and good luck with your bowls.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I play golf which traditionally has had similar dress codes to bowls. I'm a strong advocate for absolutely no dress code, both on the greens and in the club house. It's such an antiquated and frankly, stupid concept. I believe people can and should wear what ever they bloody well like because it has zero impact on the game itself and it's one of the reasons younger people tend to stay away from games like bowls and golf. I'm not talking about things like team shirts for inter-club matches by the way, that's fine, I'm talking about people just being at the club and playing for fun. It's a shame, they are both amazing games that everyone should have access to. We should be removing barriers to entry, not enforcing them.
I could not agree more. I do think more and more people feel the same, so in time bowls dress code will move into the 21st century. The sooner tha better.
And this is one of the main reason the sport struggles to attract younger players. The dress code in bowls is ridiculous
I totally agree with you. Having had a strange two years because of covid, and since I made that video a lot of the clubs local to me, my own club included, have now changed to a much more colourful team strip. Some have ditched grey and white trousers too, so great news and well over due. Those clubs who refuse to change will struggle to find new members, but most will be dragged into the 21st century, wether they like it or not. 😀