Is there an optimal pace for bowling greens?
For indoor greens: perhaps; but for outdoor grass greens: not really. Recurrent maintenance work, including watering, mowing and rolling, changes green pace every few days. Heavy rain greatly and quickly reduces the pace. Slower greens have softer surfaces that are vulnerable to the impact of carelessly grassed bowls. Faster greens have harder surfaces that, within limits, may better withstand wear and tear of normal use. They might also experience less dew, and perform better during use at night. Conditions of play sometimes specify an optimal green pace for the finals of major events, but inclement weather can prevent attainment of that pace. Bowlers who are unable to adjust to variations in green pace from time to time may have uncorrected technical faults in their delivery action.
