Growing up, I would often stand at the perimeter of the local bowling club and watch the games taking place on immaculately prepared greens. Although I never played the game myself, I imagined that the brave men and women who placed everything on correctly guessing how much effort to put into the rolling of a biased ball, knew that their world and the world of others around them, hinged on a relationship they had created with such an unusual pastime.
It was the British who popularised the modern version of the game, and it has been played in its current form since the 13th century. The first recorded bowling green was at Southampton Old Bowling Green, England in 1299. From there, the game spread throughout Europe and eventually to the rest of the world. Today, lawn bowls is played in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada, in addition to its country of origin, the United Kingdom.
How the game works and why it’s like life
Life is often compared to a journey, with twists and turns, ups and downs, and unexpected obstacles that we must navigate along the way. Just as in lawn bowls, individuals must make strategic decisions, navigate biases and obstacles, and ultimately aim to achieve their objectives.
In lawn bowls, each bowl has an inbuilt bias that causes it to curve as it rolls about 40 metres towards a small white ball called the Jack, which is the target object. Similarly, in life, individuals may face biases (those of others and their own) or obstacles (other balls) that influence their path or trajectory. These biases can take many forms, including societal expectations, discrimination, or personal challenges such as illness or disability. Just as the bias of a lawn bowl can be utilised strategically to reach the jack, individuals can use their own strengths and talents to navigate encountered challenges and move closer to their goals.
Another aspect of lawn bowls that can be applied to life is the importance of strategy. In lawn bowls, players must carefully consider the angle and force of their throws, as well as the position of their opponents’ bowls, in order to get as close to the jack as possible. Similarly, in life, individuals must develop strategies for achieving their objectives, whether it be through education, networking, career planning, or personal growth.
In lawn bowls, players must also be adaptable and flexible, as the conditions of the green can change over time, affecting the trajectory and speed of the bowls. Similarly, in life, individuals may encounter unexpected challenges or changes that require them to adapt and adjust their plans in order to stay on course towards their objectives.
It can also be necessary to be aggressive and knock opponents balls asunder, thus leaving the way clear for yourself or team members to get close to the Jack. This can be dangerous, because if the Jack is knocked out of bounds, the game is lost.
One key aspect of lawn bowls that can be particularly relevant to life is the importance of persistence and determination. In lawn bowls, players may make numerous attempts before finally achieving their goal of getting a bowl close to the jack. Similarly, in life, individuals may face setbacks or failures before achieving success. Just as in lawn bowls, persistence and determination can help individuals to overcome such obstacles and continue moving towards their objectives.
The analogy of life as a game of lawn bowls can help individuals to better understand the challenges they may face and the strategies they can use to overcome them. By embracing the principles of strategy, determination, adaptability, and persistence, individuals can navigate the twists and turns of life and ultimately achieve their objectives and this can include the biases of others as well as their own, inherited and developed biases.
Finally, I must admit that when I watched these games, sometimes from beginning to end, I found myself fascinated with the Jack, the noble Jack with no bias, the object of everyone’s attention, a neutral and agenda free ball, yet so integral to the game being played.