About Matt Clark
Hi, I'm Matt Clark, founder of Lawn Bowls Coach.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, I've spent more than 40 years involved in sport as both a player and coach. While lawn bowls has become a major focus of my life over the last decade, my passion for coaching and helping people improve started long before I stepped onto a bowling green.
For more than 20 years, I coached junior basketball and lawn bowls, helping players develop their skills, confidence and understanding of the game. One thing I've always enjoyed is seeing people improve and achieve things they didn't think were possible. Whether it's a beginner learning the basics or an experienced player refining their technique, helping others progress has always been one of the most rewarding parts of sport for me.
My Journey Into Lawn Bowls
Like many bowlers, my journey into lawn bowls wasn't straightforward.
After returning to the sport following a 20-year break, I quickly realised there were very few structured coaching resources available to help the average bowler improve. Most players relied on occasional advice from club members, trial and error, or information that wasn't always easy to understand or apply.
I found myself in the same position.
I spent countless hours learning the game, studying technique, experimenting with different approaches and trying to understand what actually helped bowlers improve. The more I learned, the more I realised there were many other bowlers facing exactly the same challenges.
Five years ago I completed my lawn bowls coaching accreditation so I could help other bowlers avoid some of the frustrations I experienced when learning the game myself.
That experience continues to influence the way I coach today. I believe coaching should be practical, easy to understand and focused on improvements that can be applied immediately on the green.
Why I Created Matt's Jacks and Balls
One of the biggest challenges I saw within lawn bowls was the lack of quality coaching content available online that spoke directly to everyday bowlers.
Many resources focused on elite-level players or assumed a level of knowledge that newer bowlers simply didn't have. There was very little content that broke the game down into practical, relatable advice that club bowlers could immediately put into action.
That's why I created Matt's Jacks and Balls.
The goal was simple: provide coaching content that beginner and intermediate bowlers could access regardless of where they lived or whether they had access to coaching at their local club.
What started as a small YouTube channel has grown into one of the most recognised online lawn bowls coaching resources available. With more than 550,000 views in the past 12 months and a growing audience of bowlers from Australia and around the world, the channel has become a trusted source of coaching advice, drills, technique breakdowns and practical tips designed to help players improve their game.
The success of the channel reinforced something I had believed for a long time: bowlers are hungry for coaching that is simple, practical and focused on real improvement.
Many of the players I work with today first discovered my coaching through Matt's Jacks and Balls before progressing to personalised coaching and video analysis through Lawn Bowls Coach.
Combining Coaching and Technology
Away from lawn bowls, I have spent more than 30 years working professionally in the Information Technology industry as a software developer and programmer.
Throughout my career, I have developed a strong appreciation for systems, processes, structure and continuous improvement. Technology has always evolved rapidly, and I have made it a priority to stay current with new innovations and find practical ways to apply them.
When I looked at lawn bowls coaching, I saw an opportunity to combine my passion for coaching with my background in technology.
That thinking ultimately became the foundation of Lawn Bowls Coach.
Rather than relying solely on observation and memory, I wanted to use modern technology to provide bowlers with more detailed, objective and actionable feedback. Through video analysis, frame-by-frame reviews and structured coaching systems, players can often identify improvements that would be difficult to see during a traditional coaching session.
The goal has never been to replace traditional coaching. Instead, it is to combine proven coaching principles with modern technology to help bowlers learn faster, understand their own technique more clearly and make meaningful improvements to their game.
My Coaching Philosophy
Over the years I have studied and learned from some of the greatest coaches and athletes in world sport.
Names such as Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal have all influenced the way I think about coaching, leadership and player development.
While their sports may be different, many of the principles that create successful athletes are universal:
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preparation
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consistency
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confidence
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accountability
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continual improvement
Those same principles influence the way I coach lawn bowls today.
I believe improvement comes from understanding the cause of a problem rather than simply treating the symptom. That's why I focus on helping bowlers understand their technique, decision-making and practice habits rather than simply telling them what to change.
My aim is to provide practical coaching that bowlers can understand, apply and build upon over time.
Lawn Bowls Coaching in Melbourne and Beyond
Today, Lawn Bowls Coach combines personalised coaching, detailed video analysis and modern technology to help bowlers improve wherever they are located.
For bowlers in Melbourne, coaching is available through personalised sessions designed to identify and address the areas that will have the biggest impact on performance.
For bowlers elsewhere in Australia and around the world, remote coaching provides access to the same level of detailed analysis and personalised feedback through video review and structured improvement plans.
Whether you're new to lawn bowls, returning after a break or looking to take your game to the next level, my goal remains the same:
To help you become a more confident, consistent and successful bowler.
Ready To Improve Your Game?
Whether you're looking for coaching in Melbourne or personalised video analysis from anywhere in the world, I'd love the opportunity to help you take the next step in your lawn bowls journey.