How to play Bowls, a beginners guide

If you are new to the game of bowls, here are a few points by way of introduction

Lawn Bowls is played outdoors in the summer and often players convert to an indoor game in the winter months. Most outdoor bowls is played on a flat green, although there is an alternative game, Crown Green, which is played on a slightly bevelled surface. The most popular form of bowls is played outdoors on grass  "Lawn Bowls"

The game is played in rinks about 5 metres wide. A small white ball but can be yellow called a Jack or sometimes referred to as a cott around Suffolk is played down the centre of the rink. Each team then bowls in turn to get as close as possible to the jack. The bowls used are weighted so as to run in a curved line when bowled down the green. After each player or team has bowled in turn, the score is given to the side with its bowls closest to the jack

A match will consist of a set number of "ends" or up to a predetermined score.

The skills of the game are being able to get up to the jack and bowl tactically to block your opponents or knock their opponents bowls away from a scoring position. The competitive nature of match play will appeal to all sportsmen and women of any age.

Woodbridge Bowls Club organise a number of club competitions, social games, and play in several local competitive leagues. We have members from beginner standard up to county players. We have 3 nationally qualified coaches, new players may reasonable expect to reach a sufficent standard to participate in these events within a season or two.