Welcome To Our Guide For Being An Active Player
Bowls is a very social game and is always played in a very friendly way. It is a deceptively simple game!
It can be played as singles, but is usually played as doubles (pairs), triples or fours.
We want you to be able to enjoy playing Bowls at all levels and this Guide is intended to help you. If you are not sure about anything please ask an experienced member who will be happy to answer your question or find someone who can.
Bowling lessons can be provided for beginners!
Personal Equipment
Bowls
Also known as ‘woods’ because they used to be made from Lignum Vitae wood but nowadays all bowls are a melamine composite. They come in sets of four bowls. There are different sizes, different weights, different biases (i.e. the amount of bend or curl) and many variations in colour.
New sets of bowls can be very expensive although secondhand sets can also be bought. It is better to find your bowl size and weight before you purchase them. You might want to talk to other players about the differences in bowls before deciding on spending out!
Footwear
It is very important that you wear flat sole footwear – there should be no heel or any ridges on the soles at all. This is to prevent damage to the Green.
Clothing
Lawn bowlers must wear white clothing to play in.
Gloves
Some bowlers prefer to use a bowling glove to give them better grip on the bowl. This is a personal preference. An alternative is ‘grippa’ cream that can rubbed on the bowling hand to assist in gripping the bowl.
PLAYING TIPS
The Mat
At the beginning of the first end the Mat is placed lengthwise on the centre line of the Rink, the back edge to be two metres from the ditch. It is important the the Mat is centred and straight.
In all subsequent ends the Mat can be placed anywhere along the centre line as long as the back edge of it is not less than two metres from the rear ditch and the front edge not less than 25 metres from the front ditch.
When playing in a match or competition your Skip will indicate to you the position on the Mat and subsequent placement of the Jack.
The Jack
Delivery of the Jack must be within the boundary of the Rink and at least 2 metres from the front ditch.
If the Jack is delivered outside the boundaries of the Rink or into the front ditch the opposing Lead delivers the Jack. The original player remains the first one to bowl.
During the Game:
The Jack is live if it goes into the front ditch.
The Jack is dead if it goes out of bounds of the Rink.
It is dead if it rebounds on the rink to less than 20 metres from the centre of the Mat line.
Bowls
A live bowl is one which travels more than 14 metres from the centre of the Mat line
A dead bowl is one that travels less than 14 metres from the centre of the Mat line
A bowl is dead if it finishes in the ditch without touching the Jack
A bowl is dead if it comes to rest so that the whole of the bowl is outside the boundaries of the Rink even if it has been marked as Toucher or has been been knocked outside the boundary by another bowl.
Dead bowls must be picked up and placed on the bank of the Rink.
Players must not disturb live bowls. If a player interferes with a bowl in motion or displaces a live bowl at rest on the Green or a Toucher in the ditch the opposing Skip can choose any of the following:
Restore the displaced bowl to its original position
Let the displaced bowl remain where it has rested.
Declare the bowl dead.
Have the end played again in the same direction
PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead (1)
Special responsibility to place the Mat and bowl the Jack.
When an end is finished the losing Lead is responsible to collecting all the bowls and placing them behind the Jack.
Second (2)
Agree number of shots for or against with opposing Second.
Mark Touchers before next player’s bowl comes to rest. (Needs chalk or spray chalk)
Records players names on score card and compares score with opposing Second.
(In Triples matches) Measure all disputed shots. (needs measuring tape)
(In Triples matches) Gives guidance to Skip on bowling options.
Third (3)
Measure all disputed shots. (Needs measuring tape)
Gives guidance to Skip on bowling options.
Skip
Has sole charge of the Rink on bowling options and his instructions are to be obeyed by all players
Agrees with opposing Skip on any disputed points.
Issues directions on players regarding their bowls.
Decides tactics and strategy
Playing out of turn
If a player plays out of turn the opposing Skip can stop the bowl whilst it is running and have it played its correct turn. If the bowl displaced the Jack or another bowl the Skips can decide to accept the situation or have the end played again.
Playing the wrong bowl
A bowl played by mistake shall be replaced by the players own bowl.
Ricochets
Often during a game bowls will hit other bowls and ricochet off them. Bowlers call this a ‘wick’. It’s no good asking anyone because nobody seems to know why it is called this, the origins of the word seem to have been lost in the mists of time!
Position of players during play
All players at the Mat end of the Green, other than the one delivering the bowl must stand behind the Mat.
Possession of the Rink
Belongs to the bowler on the Mat. It does not change until the players bowl comes to rest or if the bowl is a Toucher the bowl if marked.