TECH INFO & VIDEOS

Many NZ players have called us about the erratic behaviour of their new narrow model bowl--explanation below on how and why.

Introduction...most important if you're buying bowls or had trouble with recent narrow sets playing erratically.
NOTE-in New Zealand our model Corsair has the same on-green bias as the WRB Test Bowl, any model seen to go narrower on the green does not have the Rules stated correct amount of bias. These narrow models carry a compliance stamp due to WB altering the method of bowl testing that allows manufacturers to market non-complying narrow biased models, yet still carry a WB sanctioned stamp. [ p.s. maufactuers are charged approx NZ $20,000 per year for the right to make bowls that carry the WB stamp ]

Many bowl models subtract or reduce bias as they run down the green, i.e. they go narrower than when tested on a table. And be aware there is effectively no "on-the-green minimum bias standard" in the Sport of Bowls as there was in the past and many models sold over past 20 yeras do not take legal green bias owing to the deliberate removal of Part B of the table test. World Bowls deleted the long standing IBB testing proceedure used by the manufacturers and wrote their own which essentially removed the part that shows what bias will be on the green.

The main characteristics seen on the green are: [see videos on the bowls page for further info.]
1. Often play quite well in morning but very poorly in the afternoon due to wind and many tracking marks left by other bowls. These marks are crossed at an acute angle and often pull the bowl off line.

2. Some deliveries turn into the head and others stay out straight. This is due to the percentage of bias-subtraction that is set into that model changing without warning due to very slight delivery changes or green type/conditions, causes the player to constantly make line alterations.
This design flaw cannot be overcome, and is most pronounced on the very narrow models made to defy the rules of minimum bias on the green. The sole shape has to be highly un-balanced to achieve test table pass making a Jekyll and Hyde situation. [ see the test table demo1 video shows balanced sole Professional and highly un-balanced sole Impact model under wobble test]

The "very narrow running" models marketed over recent years are not narrow biased on the test table under the current faulty test, they take as much or more bias as the Test Bowl, known in the trade as the Working Reference Bowl or WRB, and then subtract bias when played on a green, i.e. they take less bias than the Test Bowl on the green. Our greens testing has shown the WRB to take approx 1.75 mtrs of draw over a distance of 30 mtrs on 16.5 sec green, many recent models play narrower than this but are given legal status as World Bowls standardised testing to be only done on a table without the cant/wobble test and deleted any form of green-based testing or comparison.

The result is a double-standard for bias and has had a major impact on the game and bowl models are now sold that were illegal prior to this decsision. It is our considered opinion that any bowl played that does not take at least the bias of the Test Bowl/WRB does not comply with Rule 8.2.1/52.2.1 and is therefore illegal.