What
is it?
The game is
known around the world as Bowls, Lawn Bowls or Bowling on the Green.
It is played
on a bowling green which is 120 feet square.
The green
is marked off into 8 rinks so that 8 games can be played at once.
Rinks are
14 feet wide.
Are there teams?
Certainly.
It wouldnt be much fun without competition. Each team is made up of between
one and four players. They are designated as:
Singles
One against one. Each player delivers four bowls.
Pairs
Two against two. Each player delivers four bowls.
Triples
Three against three. Each player delivers three bowls.
Fours
Four against four. Each player delivers two bowls.
What equipment do we need
to play?
Playing equipment
consists of:
A set of
4 matched bowls each of which weighs between 3 to 3 1/2 pounds.
The jack.
A small white ball approximately 2.5" in diameter.
A mat. Approximately
14" wide, by 24" long, no more than 1/4" thick.
The Club owns
bowls which are available for use by beginning players for a limited time.
When players determine they will continue participating in lawn bowling
they purchase a set of new or used bowls which become their personal property.
Jacks and mats are furnished by the club. Flat rubber soled shoes
are required and each player must furnish his own.
Whats the object of the
game?
The object
is simple and straightforward. Each player takes turns rolling his
or her bowls down the rink in such a manner as to come to rest as close
as possible to the jack. After everyone on both teams bowls, the
team with the bowl nearest the jack scores one point for that bowl and
an additional point for each bowl closer to the jack than the nearest bowl
of a player on the other team.
The bowls curve as they
roll. Why?
A bowl curves
because of the way it is made, not because of the way it is delivered by
the bowler. The bowl is not uniformly shaped and since it is smaller on
one side, it naturally curves in that direction. This is called "bias."
How long does a game last?
Baseball has
innings, Football has quarters. Hockey has periods. Lawn bowling has ends.
After all
players on both teams have delivered their bowls on the green, this completes
the play of an end. A game consists of a number of ends decided upon before
the start of the game or tournament, or sometimes, as in a singles
match, to a predetermined number of points. 12 to 14 ends are the usual
lengths of a game. A typical 12-end game lasts about two hours.
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How
does the game proceed?
The game of
triples is most commonly played in the United States. In triples each player
delivers three bowls. The three bowlers on each team are called the:
Lead
Vice skip
or vice
Skip or
team captain.
Before the
game; the leads flip a coin to determine which team will deliver the jack
on the first end. The game starts with the lead placing the mat at one
end, and then rolling the jack from the mat toward the other end. The jack
is then centered on the rink. The leads and vices stay at the mat
end and the skips are positioned at the jack end, or "Head." The
leads then deliver their 3 bowls alternately. Then the vices deliver theirs.
The leads
and vices then proceed to the opposite end of the green and the skips go
to the mat end and bowl their three bowls. Then the score for the end is
determined and entered onto a score card or score board. The team winning
the end has the choice of either setting the mat and rolling the jack to
start the next end or going second and having the last bowl called
the hammer.
What if the bowl hits
the jack?
During play
the jack may be hit and moved by one or more bowls. There is no penalty
for hitting the jack. A change in position of the jack may put it closer
to the bowl of the person who is bowling or it may put it closer to a bowl
of an opponent. If the jack is knocked out of bounds, the end is played
over. If the jack is driven into the ditch, the play continues unless the
jack is at the same time knocked outside the boundary line of the rink.
The bowl that hits the jack is marked with chalk and is a live bowl if
it is subsequently knocked into the ditch.
How are the bowls identified?
Each set of
bowls has a unique insignia or marking for easy identification. Bowls
have traditionally been black or brown in color, but in recent years, they
have been manufactured in many colors, such as blue, red, yellow, and pink.
Who can bowl?
Men and women.
Young and old. Bowls is a game that can be played and enjoyed by people
of all ages. The game is a constant challenge because of the ever changing
position of the jack and bowls which have come to rest. While most bowlers
play for fun and recreation, many others participate in the many competitions
held within and between clubs. Many lawn bowling tournaments are held throughout
the year, at district and national levels and even between countries at
the International level.
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