Just what is this game anyway?
The game of Lawn Bowling is played on a prepared GREEN (rink). The green is at least 120 feet square. There are eight rinks on each green, each at least 14 feet wide. The rinks are numbered 1 through 8, with boundaries defined by a black stripe on each side of the rink number.
The general object of the game is for participants to roll each of their BOWLS as close as possible to a single small white ball called the JACK. Bowls may hit the jack, but the jack must remain within the boundary markers or the END will be declared "dead." Bowls are likely to hit other bowls, and may propel them into a position that is perhaps nearer to the jack, or perhaps to a distant position outside the boundary marker line that will take them out of play.
Games are played between opposing teams, each with from one to four players
SINGLES games are played between two players,
DOUBLES between two pairs,
TRIPLES between teams of three, and
FOURS (also named"Rinks") between teams of four players.
After all members of each team have rolled a set of bowls (the completion of an END), the bowl closest to the jack counts one point for its team, and every other bowl belonging to that same team that is closer to the jack than the nearest one of the competitors’ counts 1 additional point. Game is made up of a series of these completed ends.
Each BOWLER has a matching set of four bowls. Each bowl in a set has a matching pair of distinguishing decorations on opposite sides. The number of bowls that each player uses is dependent on the number of team members.
Bowls are not perfectly spherical, and will not roll straight. One side is slightly flattened, and it is toward that side with its BIAS that will draw the path of the bowl in a sweeping arc. The mastery of this phenomenon is at the heart of the challenge and excitement of the game.
A game is started by flipping a coin to see which team will bowl first. A member of that team will set the MAT 6 feet, 6 inches (2 meters) from the ditch, and while standing on the MAT, will roll the jack a minimum distance of 74 feet 9 inches (23 meters) from the front edge of the mat.
Next, that person gives directions to position the jack on a center of the rink. Then, players on each team alternate rolling a bowl until all bowls have been delivered towards the jack. Each bowler must keep one foot on or over the MAT until the bowl has been released. When all bowls have been rolled, it constitutes the completion of an end. On successive ends, the mat may be placed as much as 45 feet from the ditch.
The team that wins the end starts the next end by positioning the mat and rolling the jack. If the jack falls short or lands out of bounds, the opposing team gets the privilege of rolling the jack. If the second try fails, one more jack delivery cycle is attempted. If that also fails, the jack is positioned 6 ft., 6 in. (2 meters) from the ditch and centered. Part of the strategy of the game depends on the advantage gained by controlling the position of the mat and the jack.
The general object of the game is for participants to roll each of their BOWLS as close as possible to a single small white ball called the JACK. Bowls may hit the jack, but the jack must remain within the boundary markers or the END will be declared "dead." Bowls are likely to hit other bowls, and may propel them into a position that is perhaps nearer to the jack, or perhaps to a distant position outside the boundary marker line that will take them out of play.
Games are played between opposing teams, each with from one to four players
SINGLES games are played between two players,
DOUBLES between two pairs,
TRIPLES between teams of three, and
FOURS (also named"Rinks") between teams of four players.
After all members of each team have rolled a set of bowls (the completion of an END), the bowl closest to the jack counts one point for its team, and every other bowl belonging to that same team that is closer to the jack than the nearest one of the competitors’ counts 1 additional point. Game is made up of a series of these completed ends.
Each BOWLER has a matching set of four bowls. Each bowl in a set has a matching pair of distinguishing decorations on opposite sides. The number of bowls that each player uses is dependent on the number of team members.
Bowls are not perfectly spherical, and will not roll straight. One side is slightly flattened, and it is toward that side with its BIAS that will draw the path of the bowl in a sweeping arc. The mastery of this phenomenon is at the heart of the challenge and excitement of the game.
A game is started by flipping a coin to see which team will bowl first. A member of that team will set the MAT 6 feet, 6 inches (2 meters) from the ditch, and while standing on the MAT, will roll the jack a minimum distance of 74 feet 9 inches (23 meters) from the front edge of the mat.
Next, that person gives directions to position the jack on a center of the rink. Then, players on each team alternate rolling a bowl until all bowls have been delivered towards the jack. Each bowler must keep one foot on or over the MAT until the bowl has been released. When all bowls have been rolled, it constitutes the completion of an end. On successive ends, the mat may be placed as much as 45 feet from the ditch.
The team that wins the end starts the next end by positioning the mat and rolling the jack. If the jack falls short or lands out of bounds, the opposing team gets the privilege of rolling the jack. If the second try fails, one more jack delivery cycle is attempted. If that also fails, the jack is positioned 6 ft., 6 in. (2 meters) from the ditch and centered. Part of the strategy of the game depends on the advantage gained by controlling the position of the mat and the jack.