Bowls - The Basics

Bowls is a simple game that takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.

At Rugby Thornfield Outdoor Bowing Club we play ‘Lawn Bowls’.  The surface we play on is called the ‘green’ and it is split up into ‘rinks’ (usually up to six). You play the game on a rink.  

To ensure even wear on the green we vary the direction of play (away from the clubhouse or parallel to the clubhouse) and the colour we set the rinks up on (white, yellow or blue).  

The outdoor bowling season starts in April and runs until September. As we go through the summer, the green generally quickens up, as the sun dries it out and the grass gets shorter. This means it can take less effort to send your bowl up the rink, later in the season.

The aim of the game is simple; get more of your bowls (sometimes called woods) nearer to the ‘jack’ (small white or yellow ball) than your opponent.

There are four formats to the game:

• Singles: one person versus another using four bowls each
• Pairs: two people on each side using four bowls each
• Triples: three people on each side using three bowls each
• Fours (also known as ‘Rinks’: four people on each side using two bowls each

There are similarities in how you play each of these formats:

• Placing the mat: The team going first (usually decided on the toss of a coin) places a small mat on the green in line with the rink number. The front of mat must be at least 2 meters and no more than 22 meters from the edge of the green (the ditch). NB. In friendlies the mat is often given to the visiting team.
• Setting the jack: The jack must be bowled from the mat. The player bowling the jack must have one foot on or above the mat. Once the jack has been bowled, has travelled at least 23 meters and is lined up with the rink number, each team takes it in turn to bowl their bowls (again the bowler must have one foot on or above the mat). If the jack leaves the rink either to the right, left or goes in the ditch at the end of the rink, it is returned to the player on the mat and the opposing team can move the mat and bowl the jack. When a bowl is delivered it must travel at least 14 meters to be legal. Once everyone has bowled, the winning team is the one with one or more bowls nearest the jack. 
• Scoring: In a singles game the maximum number of bowls you could have nearest the jack is four, in pairs it is eight, triples nine and rinks it is eight. The bowls nearest the jack are often called ‘shots’ won. The aim is to score more ‘shots’ than your opponent at the end of the game. Sometimes it is the first to score 21 shots; sometimes the game is based on the number of ends to be played. Each time the jack is set and the bowls are bowled that constitutes an ‘end’ played. Pairs, triples and rinks are usually 18 or 21 ends.
• Measuring: It is very important that both teams agree on how many  ‘shots’ have been won before the bowls are moved. This ensures both teams agree the score and there are no disputes later. Most of the time you can tell which bowl is closest to the jack by eye, but sometimes it is too close to tell. On these occasions a ‘measure’ is used. This is like a tape measure and is used to show the distance from the jack to the bowls in question. Again, both parties should agree which bowl is nearest, before the bowls are moved. In Pairs, triples and rinks a specific player on each team has the role of measuring. No other player should get involved in the measuring. In fact all none measuring players should walk away and wait to be told the result.
• Live bowls: For a bowl to be in play it must have travelled 14 metres from the mat and be on the rink. The exception is when it has touched the jack directly after leaving the bowlers hand. In this case it is called a ‘toucher’ and is marked with chalk before the opponents next bowl has stopped. If the bowl is then knocked or drops into the ditch it is still considered live. When a bowl or jack goes in the ditch a marker is placed on the bank so the bowlers at the mat end know where they are. If a bowl is knocked right or left on to another rink it is ‘dead’ and is removed irrespective of whether it is a toucher or not. 
• Where to stand when not bowling: If you are not on the mat bowling you should stand behind the mat out of the eye line of the person on the mat. You should stay quiet and not do anything that would distract them. If you are at the jack end you should stand behind the jack (at least 2 metres) and not move, keeping arms and legs still. This again is to not distract the person on the mat, bowling. 
• Visiting the head: During a game when the bowls start gathering around the jack this is called a ‘head of bowls’ or ‘the head’. The only time a player can look at the head is when their team is on the mat. If the opposition has the mat you should step away and wait until it is your turn. At the end of each ‘end’ both teams can visit the head to agree the number of shots scored. In singles the two players agree the score, in pairs it is the leads (players who went first), in triples it is the number two’s and in rinks it is the number threes. All other players should step away from the head. 
• Roles of players in 'rinks’: There are four players in a rinks team. (a) Lead (first player): Their job is to get the bowls as close to the jack as possible putting pressure on the opposition. They also set the mat and bowl the jack following winning the toss or the end. They will also gather the bowls up at the end of each end, often using a pusher, done by the Lead that lost the last end. (b) Number 2: Their job is to build the head and strategically position the bowls to prevent the other team from getting shot. They also record the score on each end and keep a running total for the game. (c) Number 3: May be required to move bowls out of the way, draw to the head (get bowls close to the Jack) or strategically place bowls in case the jack is moved. They also agree the number of shots scored each end with the opposition and measure any disputed shots. It is common for the person who thinks they are closer say to their opposition, “I am asking for … e.g. 2”. The opposition will then either agree or say something like, “I think we need to measure for the second”. The number 3 would also direct the Skip on where to bowl if the head has changed after they went up to bowl. (d) Skip: Bowls last. Their job may be to draw to the jack, move bowls or strategically place bowls to prevent the opposition play a shot. They also direct the bowling of the other members of the team overseeing the strategy of the game. Often the skip will have a good idea of how their team’s bowls run and adapt their instructions accordingly.