Tulip Navigation (Ball & Arrow), an explanation
The name of this type of navigation comes from the Tulip Rally, which first used it in the 1950s.
Tulip, or ball and arrow instructions, are simple diagrams of the route junctions with the ball indicating where you come from and the arrow indicating where you are going. Normally they are given in order.
Tulips may be orientated as on the map or turned around so that the ball is always at the bottom, or most of the balls and arrows may be left off deliberately. Sometimes they may be squared up. Here are a few variations on the same route described with tulips:
Tulip Roadbook Example
Commonly used to describe the route of non-competitive link sections, the Tulip Roadbook uses tulip symbols to detail a route, but provides additional information on distances, road signs etc. Here is an example for the same route:
We have chosen to have the ball always at the bottom as this journey is just for fun and for people with no experience of how the system works.
| Intermediate Distance | Total Distance | Tulip | Comment | Distance To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0.00 |
0.00 |
TC3 |
Time Control |
3.97 |
|
0.52 |
0.52 |
 |
Swan Lane |
3.45 |
|
0.36 |
0.88 |
 |
Newtown 3 |
3.09 |
|
0.95 |
1.83 |
 |
Give Way Join A286 |
2.14 |