A great Skip isn’t just the last bowler on the mat . . . they’re the tactician, momentum-shifter, and pressure-handler who ultimately decides how an end finishes. What separates an average Skip from a match-winner is their ability to produce decisive, head-turning shots when the game is on the line.
These are the shots that spectators stop to watch.
The ones teammates remember.
The ones opponents fear.
Below are the 10 most game-changing Skip shots in lawn bowls, why they matter, and how they transform an end.
When the team is down, the head is messy, and only one shot can save the end, the Skip must deliver a pressure-built draw with absolute weight control. The clutch draw is often played when players expect a drive — yet the Skip calmly draws to the jack.
Why opponents fear it . . .
A Skip who can consistently draw under pressure can steal ends, rescue ends, and break mental momentum. When a Skip nails a clutch draw, the match dynamic instantly swings.
Why it turns heads . . .
Because everyone on the green knows the stakes — and the Skip calmly draws to the jack as if pressure doesn’t exist. It’s the purest display of mental toughness in bowls.
This shot asks the Skip to deliver a bowl through a narrow channel, often between two opposition bowls, to land shot or convert the head. It requires perfect weight, flawless line, and total belief.
Why it wins matches . . .
These shots are often “low percentage” for most bowlers — but top Skips turn them into scoring opportunities. A successful rescue draw is morale-shattering for the opposition because it looks impossible right up to the moment it lands.
Why it turns heads. . .
Because it looks like the shot cannot get through . . . until it does. Spectators gasp, teammates cheer, and opponents shake their heads in disbelief.
A wick ’n sit is a delicate draw that brushes a bowl lightly enough to adjust its trajectory without disturbing the head. The Skip uses the opponent’s bowl as a “soft cushion” to redirect into the scoring area.
Why it’s admired . . .
It requires surgeon-level precision. Too much weight destroys the head, too little misses the edge entirely. When a Skip plays a perfect wick, it feels like magic.
Why it turns heads. . .
It requires absolute touch. Too firm and the head is destroyed. Too light and nothing happens. When a Skip gets it right, it feels like they’ve bent the laws of physics.
The Skip deliberately moves the jack 10–30cm onto their back bowls. This is not a drive; it’s a controlled-weight precision shot.
Why opponents hate it . . .
A well-weighted trail can turn a losing head into a multiple-shot pickup instantly. And because the Skip sets up the jack in their own territory, the opponent has limited recovery options.
Why it turns heads. . .
The entire head flips instantly. A losing position turns into a multiple-shot win. It’s the kind of shot that leaves opponents staring at the new head in disbelief.
The wrest is subtle but devastating. The Skip pushes the opposition’s shot bowl out of position with just enough controlled weight for their own bowl to stop in its place.
Why t’s a skill shot . . .
It is the purest demonstration of touch and finesse under pressure. An elite Skip turns a dangerous opposition shot into their own in one effortless movement..
Why it turns heads. . .
The precision is insane. This is not luck — it’s elite touch. A perfectly executed wrest feels like a magician swapping cards without anyone noticing.
A yard-on shot uses firm, controlled weight to adjust the head: tapping bowls, lifting the jack, or removing a risky bowl. Unlike a drive, the bowl remains in play, often staying in the head.
Why it shifts momentum . . .
This shot is the Skip’s “mid-power” option — enough weight to change the head, but not enough to destroy what the team has already built.
Why it turns heads. . .
It shows tactical intelligence and control. Anyone can drive — only a skilled Skip can apply force with finesse and keep their bowl in the head.
The chop-and-stop removes an opponent’s bowl and leaves the Skip’s bowl sitting tight in the head. It’s usually played when the opponent holds shot but the head is otherwise favourable.
Why gets applause . . .
It combines accuracy, power, and perfect timing. Opponents expect a drive — but instead, the Skip removes the threat and stays alive.
Why it turns heads. . .
Because it looks like a drive, but behaves like a draw. The ability to remove danger AND stay in the head is one of the hardest shots in bowls.
A controlled drive is a firm strike designed to remove specific bowls, open the head, or break up an opponent’s cluster — without the reckless “all or nothing” energy of a full drive.
Why it wins ends . . .
Smart Skips use controlled drives to break through a block, clear clutter, or make space for a scoring draw on their last bowl.
Why it turns heads. . .
It’s powerful but calculated — a reminder that a great Skip isn’t just a finesse player; they are a strategist with every tool in the toolkit.
The kill shot is high risk, high reward. If the head is unsalvageable, or the opponent is holding multiple shots with perfect coverage, the Skip opts for the full drive.
When it’s used . . .
Why opponents fear it . . .
Because a successful kill robs them of a big score and hands the mat and momentum to the Skip’s team.
Why it turns heads. . .
Because the stakes couldn’t be higher. Everyone watches. Everyone holds their breath. When the drive connects perfectly and kills the end . . . it’s a match-defining moment.
Any shot . . . draw, tap, wrest, trail or drive . . . that lifts a team from losing to winning in one delivery.
Why these are unforgettable . . .
They show the Skip’s ability to think, decide, calculate and execute under pressure.
Why it turns heads. . .
Because it shows mastery. A great Skip reads the entire head, chooses the one shot that will flip it, and executes flawlessly. This is the moment when spectators whisper, “Now THAT is why they’re the Skip.”
Why These Shots Matter . . .
These 10 shots are more than techniques — they are momentum shifters. They show . . .
A Skip who can deliver these shots becomes one thing above all . . .
'a match-winner'
These are the shots that spectators remember, opponents fear, and teammates rely on. These are the shots that turn heads.
Final Thoughts
Mastering these 10 Skip shots will give any bowler the ability to shift pressure, disrupt opponents, and take control of the match. Whether you’re playing social bowls or high-level competition, these are the shots that make people say:
“Wow… that’s why they’re the Skip.”
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