The Lead.

The Lead.

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The Lead position in any game has a great deciding factor in the end result of that particular end. From the placing of the mat if your team has won the toss or previous end. To whether you throw a short or long jack.

Your first bowl should carry enough weight to come as close to the jack as possible, but if you over shoot the jack and come in behind it, that is alright, as the jack may be hit during the game, driving it closer to your bowl. Bowls that stop short of the jack are what you might call wasted shots.

Remember, always watch what the opposition Lead does. The track of his or her shot whether forehand or backhand should give you useful information on the grain of the grass. In competition with an early morning draw and that there has been an over night dew. Although the groundsman has dragged a lambs wool covered board over the green to dislodge the dew, you will find that the track and distance of the bowl will change dramatically as the sun rises and the green dries out.

If in doubt at anytime, always consult with your Skip any questions you may have. Some people will say you are only a Lead! As if you really don’t count! Believe me as a Skip, the Lead position is just as important as that of any other playing position on the team! That includes that of being Skip!

In the drawing above, figure (1) shows the ideal first forehand shot of a Lead. Figure (2) depicts another forehand shot that ended up behind the jack.