Overview of the Game of Bowls

• Bowls is truly the sport for all – all ages, all sexes and all abilities. People of ALL AGES all over the world enjoy lawn bowling. You can start at any age in life, but the sooner you start the more you are going to enjoy the game. It doesn’t take long to learn the basics and there are a substantial number of our members who are more than happy to teach and coach new members in our sport. In fact our members include one Senior BLI coach and 3 assistant coaches. The game takes only a few minutes to learn but a lifetime to master. In relation to a lot of other sports it is relatively cheap to play. The following is a very brief introduction to the game.

• Like many games, the object of bowls is essentially simple. It can be played by anyone, but to play consistently well demands determination, concentration, and practice.

• The game is played on a Green. The green is further subdivided into playing areas called ‘rinks’. Normally a green will have 6 rinks. The green is surrounded by a small ditch to catch any bowls which may leave the playing surface. There is also a bank upon which markers indicate the corners and centre lines of each rink.

• Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink to a small white ball called the ‘jack’ at the other end. The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack. This is referred to as the ‘Bias’. To be successful the bowl must be delivered with the correct weight along the correct line.

• The object of the game is to get one or more of your bowls closer to the jack then your opponents. After all bowls have been played one point is scored for each bowl that is nearer the jack then your opponents nearest bowl.

• There are many different formats of the game. The most common are singles, pairs, triples, or fours. In a singles match the winner is the first to score 21 points. In the other three formats the winner is the team that scores the most shots over a set number of ends .

• The length of time to play a match can vary but typically will take between 2.5 and 3 hours. 

A brief description of the 4 roles in Rinks bowling. 

It is essential that each player on a rink understands they are part of a 4-man team with a specific role & responsibilities within and to their team. Only when playing as a cohesive unit, not as four individuals doing their own thing, can a rink expect to get the best from its members and be an effective winning unit? If every rink member understands their assigned roles & responsibilities they will be better placed to provide purposeful, effective & winning bowls.         

Lead: The key requirement of a Lead is to deliver their bowls on either hand as close to the jack as possible, or as instructed by their skip. They should remain focused on that and know that a close second bowl may be just as important as the shot bowl and short bowls are rarely of any use. The Lead also places the mat and delivers the jack, as instructed by his skip; it is vital that he is able to deliver the jack to any length requested by his skip. It is not the prerogative of a Lead to move the mat around, vary the jack length or drive at a head.                                    

2nd:  the 2nd must be a versatile player for defence, attack, and recovery; able to draw on either hand to the jack or to a position chosen by the skip. He must also be able to play yard-on shots to trail the jack to a designated position, rest on or wrest out a bowl in the head, and when the head is against him, re-establish a sound position. When, as will happen occasionally, the Lead fails to get a bowl near the jack the 2nd is responsible for delivering good bowls, ensuring his 3rd is not 3 or 4 down when he comes to the mat.

3rd: the 3rd is in charge of the head when the Skip is bowling or absent from the rink so he should know and be able to identify his teams and opponent’s bowls. He must be able to answer queries from the Skip quickly succinctly and be able to indicate the state of the head or position of bowls when asked. He is typically delegated to measure for shot at the completion of each end, agree the number of shots with his opponent and communicate that score to his Skip & 2nd. The 3rd should be experienced in all the shots and needs to have a sound knowledge of the laws and etiquette of the game. He must work well with the Skip and other rink members and should not attempt to control the Skips play -offering advice only when the Skip seeks it.

Skip: the skip is in charge of the rink; he determines strategy and tactics, delegates duties and decides the mat position & jack length for each end. He speaks with and notifies the opponent as required. An effective skip leads by example, has the full support of his rink, and should be in control of the team. He detects and counters the opposition’s tactical moves. He needs to be able to play all the shots as and when required. In a team game he should be aware of the total score across the green and his rink must not endanger the overall result.       

The above is a brief description of rink roles & responsibilities. Understanding what is required of you as a member of your rink should encourage you to practice and develop the skills needed to execute your role effectively and support your rink.

And remember, you won’t win every game, nobody does.

Local Rules

1. No smoking while on the green, we have provided ash trays at the side of the green and would appreciate if members and visitors help keep our green looking as good as it does by abiding by this.

2. Only flat footwear at all times on the green.

3. Please refrain from dropping bowls from a height onto the green.

4. Please respect other players and keep the game friendly at all times.

Here is a Q&A on Bowls Rules - Courtesy of Peter Knight.

1. What is the minimum distance for the front of the mat to be from the rear ditch? - 2 metres. (6.1)

2. What is the minimum distance that a jack must be from the front of the mat? - 23 meters. (App B4)

3. What is the minimum distance that a bowl must come to rest from the front of the mat, to be valid? - 14 metres. Otherwise it is dead and removed. (17.1)

4. When is a match deemed to have started? Is it the placing of the mat or the delivery of the jack in the first end or the delivery of the first bowl? - Delivery of the jack. (5.3)

5. When should a bowler leave the mat after delivering their bowl? - When the bowl has come to rest.

6. If a bowl touches the jack on its original journey and is a “toucher”, what should you  do? - Mark it with spray or chalk (or nominate). (15)

7. If a bowl touches the jack on its original journey and is a “toucher”, and then goes into the ditch, is it still a live bowl? - Yes. (14.1) 

8. If the jack goes into the ditch, is it still live? - Yes the jack is live and the end continues. (18.1) 

9. If a bowl finishes off either side of the rink, what happens? - It is declared dead and is removed. (14.1) 

10. If the jack finishes off either side of a rink, what happens? - The end is declared dead and is replayed (unless special competition rule). (56.5)

11. Can an object be placed on a green or on the far bank to assist bowlers with their line of play? - No. (34) 

12. Does the winner of the toss naturally take the mat/jack for the first end? - No, they can choose to give them to the opposition. (5.2)  

13. Does the winner of an end naturally take the mat/jack for the next end? - Yes. (5.4)

14. What is the minimum distance for the front of the mat to be from the front ditch? - 25 metres. (6.1) 

15. If during a head, the jack rebounds towards the mat, what is the minimum distance that it should be from the mat, before the end is declared dead? - 20 metres. (19.1) 

16. When bowling, other than stepping forward a couple of paces with your momentum, if you follow the bowl down the green, what should you do? - Arrive at the head before the bowl. 

17. How do you identify the position of a jack or toucher bowl when they are in the ditch? - Coloured markers on the face of the bank. White marker for jack. (18.2) 

18. Why would you nominate a bowl to be a toucher, rather than mark it? - It may still fall or affect another bowl. (15.2) 

19. How much of a bowl must be off the side of a rink before the bowl is out of play? - All of it. (14.1) 

20. If a moved jack is sitting on the sideline of the rink and a bowl finishes touching the jack but outside the rink, what is the ruling? - The bowl is dead. (17.1)

21. When a bowl rebounds off the face of the far bank back onto the rink, is it still in play? - No, unless it is a toucher. (17.1)

22. When a jack rebounds off the face of the far bank back onto the rink, is it still in play? - Yes. (21.1)

23. When using the 2m stick to reset a jack in front of the front ditch, do you place the jack in front of the end of the stick or alongside the end of the stick? - Alongside. (9.2) 

24. Each Bowls Club has a 25 metre (+) measure tape. Why? - To check if a short jack is at least 23m from the front of the mat. 

25. If your opponent has already played on that day, does this give you the right to practise before your match? - Yes, but on a different rink to your match, and not delaying the start of the match. Your match should also be played on a different rink to the one your opponent played earlier. (4.1)