The Bowls Academy

Episode 74 of What a Load of Bowls is here!

This week DJ and Simon are joined again by the one and only Barrie Lester for a big chat about everything happening in the world of bowls.

Barrie talks about his upcoming Commonwealth Games commentary role, the success of the World Bowls Indoor Championships at Ocean Grove, the growth of World Bowls, and where the sport could be heading next.

The boys also wrap up the major results from Ocean Grove, including:

Australia’s mixed pairs gold
Allison Merrien’s women’s singles win
Ian McLean’s men’s singles title
Corey Wedlock’s standout week
Jack McShane’s Commonwealth Games Australia Emerging Talent Award

Plus, there is plenty of chat about upcoming events, the Australian Open, state championships, World Bowls rankings and a classic Northern Ireland bowls story to finish.

Listen now on your favourite platform and let us know your thoughts.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TyaniS9ZdGNzJv8y1LWA4?si=2110d4d3ad9a438e

Keep that little disc on the inside.

The smallest delivery errors often create the biggest inconsistencies.

And most bowlers don’t even know they’re happening.

📃 NEW BLOG:
“The Hidden Cost of Poor Alignment in Your Delivery”

Inside we cover:
✔️ Why alignment matters
✔️ How errors compound
✔️ Why players break down under pressure
✔️ How video analysis identifies hidden faults

📖 Read now:
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/the-hidden-cost-of-poor-alignment-in-your-delivery

🎁 FREE Weight & Line Consistency Drill:
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/free-weight-line-download

🚀 Join the growing TBA community:
📹 Remote Delivery Analysis
📚 Drill Packs
📈Player Development Resources

👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development

The Hidden Cost of Poor Alignment in Your Delivery Discover how poor alignment in your lawn bowls delivery impacts consistency, line, and weight control. Learn why small setup and release errors compound over time and how video delivery analysis can identify the hidden faults holding your game back.

🎙️🌍 World Bowls President Brett O’Riley is back on the podcast!

This week on What a Load of Bowls, we chat with Brett about the future of the game and there is plenty happening.

We cover the push for bowls to be included in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, the growth of World Bowls around the globe, para bowls, the World Bowls Series, new events, AI, data, player rankings and the World Indoor Championships at Ocean Grove.

Brett also shares some brilliant insight into how bowls can modernise, attract more attention and continue to grow internationally.

This is a must-listen for anyone who cares about where the game is heading.

🎧 Listen now to Episode 73 of What a Load of Bowls.
https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/podcasts/what-a-load-of-bowls/episodes/2149204778

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yrr04jSH0CPoga6zS42QX?si=0acbd911b48d4fb4

73 | World Bowls President Brett O’Riley Returns 🎙️ Episode 73 - Guest: Brett O’Riley – President of World Bowls World Bowls President Brett O’Riley joins us again for a massive update on the global game. In this episode, Brett chats about the ongoing push to get bowls into the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, the rapid growth of World Bowls mem...

What separates good bowlers from average ones?

It’s not just delivery technique…

It’s what they do BETWEEN shots.

The best bowlers:
✔️ Stay mentally engaged
✔️ Read the head constantly
✔️ Observe opposition bowls
✔️ Prepare early for their next shot
✔️ Control emotions under pressure

Most players switch off after delivery.
Good bowlers don’t.

📖 Read the new blog now: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/what-good-bowlers-do-between-shots-that-most-players-never-notice

➕ PLUS — grab our FREE Weight & Line Consistency Drill download:
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/free-weight-line-download

And if you’re serious about improving your game…

✅ Explore our Remote Delivery Analysis
✅ Check out our downloadable Drill Pack Series
✅ Learn more about our Player Development programs

👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development

What Good Bowlers Do Between Shots (That Most Players Never Notice) Discover the hidden habits and mental skills that separate good bowlers from average players. Learn what strong bowlers do between shots to improve focus, decision-making, tactical awareness, and consistency during games.

Bowls needs to evolve… and this episode proves it!

Episode 72 is LIVE and we’re joined by Dean Rudling - a bowler who’s making a massive impact off the green through social media.

From viral content to helping clubs grow, Dean shares how simple ideas can bring new life into our sport.

We also dive into:
👉 Why bowls in the UK is struggling to modernise
👉 What Australia is doing differently
👉 How short-form content (like BPL) is changing the game
👉 What EVERY club should be doing right now

This is one of our most important conversations yet.

🎧 Listen now and be part of the future of bowls...
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6PbmXPUPiS0Br6mlrlVwU8?si=83b472124bfd454d

Don’t forget to FOLLOW What a Load of Bowls on your favourite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

Check out Perfect Line Graphics.... https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579571139050

Be honest…

Do you bowl better in practice than in games?

👍 Yes - way better in practice
❤️ No - I perform the same

If there’s a gap… there’s a reason for it.

We’ve broken down exactly why it happens and how to fix it 👇
📖 Read the blog: https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/blog/why-you-bowl-better-in-practice-than-in-games-and-how-to-fix-it

📩 Plus - grab our free Weight & Line Consistency Drill
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/free-weight-line-download

Why You Bowl Better in Practice Than in Games (And How to Fix It) Struggling to take your practice form into games? Discover why most bowlers perform worse under pressure and learn simple, proven ways to fix it with smarter, more effective practice.

Have you ever actually seen what your delivery looks like?

Most bowlers haven’t.
And that’s exactly why progress stalls.

At The Bowls Academy, we’ve just launched Remote Delivery Analysis 👇

🎥 You send your videos
🧠 We break it down
🎯 You get clear corrections

3 levels available depending on how deep you want to go.

Because the fastest way to improve…
Is to see what you’re really doing.

Ready to take your game seriously?

Find out more.....
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/player-development

PP3 DELIVERED. 🔥Listen now to Episode 71 of "What a load of bowls"

What a finals series…
And What a grand final…

In Episode 71 of What a Load of Bowls, we break down:
✅ The full Platinum Pennant finals series
✅ Warilla’s third-time lucky win
✅ Raymond Terrace’s incredible season
✅ Key turning points & tactical decisions
✅ Overachievers, underachievers & big lessons
✅ Where Platinum Pennant goes next

This is elite bowls at its best.

🎧 Listen now and relive the drama.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WiFZ1w1Ug8dHoQV9OwlWv?si=f828309f4d6b4be7

👉 Don’t forget to follow/subscribe to the podcast on your preferred platform so you never miss an episode.

🎙️ NEW EPISODE – WHAT A LOAD OF BOWLS (EP. 70)

We’re back… and this one is PACKED 👇

🌴 Simon’s Bali trip (and a surprise catch-up with a World Champ)
🏆 Champion of Champions + $100K Everest wrap
🔥 Platinum Pennant Finals Preview
💥 Bowls Queensland controversy unpacked
👀 PLUS… a BIG personal announcement

And yes… we’ve made our predictions for the finals of PP3

🎧 Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CN8PBmSAB29uZZcxJnoJi?si=f4a96b5a799f479b

👉 Follow the podcast on your favourite platform
👉 Share with your bowls mates
👉 Drop your finals predictions below 👇

👉 Join The Bowls Academy community for free coaching content + updates
👉 https://www.thebowlsacademy.com/opt-in

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
🎽 SSA (StarSub Apparel)
Australian-made custom apparel for clubs, teams, and events.
👉 https://www.starsub.com.au
Follow on Instagram:

🏟️ MakMax Australia
The leaders in architectural shade and canopy structures — including iconic bowling club canopies across Australia.
👉 https://www.makmax.com.au
Bowling Canopies: https://www.makmax.com.au/projects/bowling-club-canopies

🚗 Newcastle Car & Truck Rental
Locally owned and operated, providing affordable and reliable vehicle hire for individuals and businesses.
👉 https://www.newcastlecarrental.com.au

When you bump into former blackjack and World Fours Champion in Bali… checking out the “under construction” new lawn bowls club at Sanur, Bali. Great to see a new bowls club opening and will surely be a great hit with the ex-pats in Bali. Hope it all goes well for Belibis Bali Lawn Bowls, both of us happy to do some coaching clinics😁