This page provides new members of the club basic information about Lawn Bowls.

 

The Basics and Equipment

• Jack: The small white or yellow target ball that players try to roll their bowls closest to.
• Bowl: The asymmetrical ball rolled by players, shaped to curve as it slows down.
• Bias: The intentional shaping of the bowl that causes it to curve rather than roll straight. (bias chart)
• Mat: The rectangular rubber pad that a player must stand on when delivering their bowl.
• Rink: The rectangular strip of grass or synthetic turf on which a single game is played.
• Green: The entire square playing area, which is divided into multiple individual rinks.
• Ditch: The shallow gutter surrounding the green that catches bowls or jacks driven off the playing area.
• Bank: The raised wall or barrier on the outer edge of the ditch.
• Rink:   is a single, rectangular lane marked on a flat grass or synthetic green where an individual match is played.

 

Gameplay and Scoring

• Delivery: The physical action of rolling a bowl or the jack down the green.
• End: A complete round of play where all players have delivered all of their bowls in one direction.
• Shot: The bowl that is currently closest to the jack; also refers to the unit of scoring.
• Head: The cluster of bowls and the jack at the finishing end of the rink during play.
• Live Bowl: Any bowl that stops within the boundaries of the rink and remains in play.
• Dead Bowl: A bowl that goes out of bounds or into the ditch without touching the jack first.
• Dead Jack: A jack that is knocked completely outside the side boundaries of the rink, usually resetting the end.

Tactical Shots 

• Draw: A standard, controlled shot delivered with just enough speed to curve and stop near the jack.
• Drive: A high-speed, powerful shot meant to smash into the head to scatter bowls or displace the jack.
• Yard On: A shot delivered with slightly more speed than a draw, aiming to displace a bowl or change the head slightly.
• Trailing: A shot that deliberately hits the jack to move it backward toward your own team's bowls.
• Blocker: A bowl intentionally placed short of the head to block the opponent's path.
• Toucher: A bowl that hits the jack during its initial delivery, marked with chalk and remaining "live" even if it falls into the ditch.

Rules of Scoring

In lawn bowls, scoring is determined at the end of each "end"—after all players have played their bowls.

Only one team or player can score points in a single end. The team with the bowl closest to the jack wins that end. They receive one point for that closest bowl. 

They also receive one additional point for every other bowl they have that is closer to the jack than their opponent’s nearest  bowl. For example, if Team A has the closest bowl, and their second-closest bowl is also nearer to the jack than any of Team  B's bowls, Team A scores two points. Team B scores zero for that end. 

Bowls that fall into the ditch are usually out of play, but "touchers" (bowls that hit the jack during delivery) remain alive and can still score. 

Games are played until a specific target is reached. In singles, the winner is usually the first player to reach 21 points. In team formats (pairs, triples, or fours), games are played over a fixed number of ends, typically 18 or 21, and the team with the highest total score wins.

scoring Example

The Scenario: Head Layout

Imagine the jack is in the center. Four bowls are clustered around it at different distances:

• 1st Closest: Team A (Red Bowl) — 10 cm away
• 2nd Closest: Team A (Red Bowl) — 30 cm away
• 3rd Closest: Team B (Blue Bowl) — 50 cm away
• 4th Closest: Team A (Red Bowl) — 60 cm away

Scoring Calculation

1. Find the winner: Team A has the closest overall bowl (10 cm), so Team A wins the end. Team B gets 0 points.
2. Count the points: Team A counts all of their bowls that are closer to the jack than Team B's very best bowl (50 cm).
3. The result: Team A has two bowls (at 10 cm and 30 cm) inside that 50 cm boundary. The third Red bowl at 60 cm is too far away and does not count.
4. Total Score for this end: Team A scores 2 points.

Team roles

In lawn bowls team games (Pairs, Triples, and Fours), each player is assigned a specific position. Here are the roles and responsibilities for a traditional four-player team, listed in the order they play. 

The Lead

• The Lead is the first person to play and sets the foundation for the end
• Place the mat: Place the rubber mat at the start of the end.
• Deliver the jack: Rolls the jack down the green and dictates the playing distance.
• Draw close: Rolls their bowls to get as close to the jack as possible to build a strong foundation.

The Second

• The Second plays next and provides versatility based on how the Lead performed.
• Consolidate or adjust: Draws more bowls close to the jack if the Lead missed, or guards the Lead's good bowls.
• Keep the scorecard: In formal matches, the Second usually maintains the official scorecard for the team.

Skip:

• The captain of a team who plays last, directs strategy, and guides teammates on which shots to play.

SUMMARY.

In lawn bowls, scoring is determined at the end of each "end"—after all players have rolled their bowls. Only one team or player can score points in a single end. The team with the bowl closest to the jack wins that end. They receive one point for that closest bowl. They also receive one additional point for every other bowl they have that is closer to the jack than their opponent’s nearest bowl. For example, if Team A has the closest bowl, and their second-closest bowl is also nearer to the jack than any of Team B's bowls, Team A scores two points. Team B scores zero for that end.

Bowls that fall into the ditch are usually out of play, but "touchers" (bowls that hit the jack during delivery) remain alive and can still score. Games are played until a specific target is reached. In singles, the winner is usually the first player to reach 21 points. In team formats (pairs, triples, or fours), games are played over a fixed number of ends, typically 18 or 21, and the team with the highest total score wins.