The object of the game is to get your BOWLS as close as possible to the JACK. Simple!
The basic equipment and terminology isdescribed below.A more thorough explanationis found in the Introduction To Lawn Bowlsbrochure.The rules are detailed in theLaws of the Sport of Bowls.
Bowls can be played indoors or outdoors, on grass or a synthetic surface. In Milwaukee,we play outdoors on grass.
Play occurs on aGREEN, which is flat and usually square-shaped.Thelength of the green in the direction of playis standardizedwithina specified range. The diagram to the left shows a green with a length of120 ft.
The green is divided into sections called RINKS. The width of rinksis standardized within a specified range. The diagram to the left shows a rink with a width of 14 ft.
A DITCH surrounds the green and is usually filled with sand.
The ditch has a BANK against its outer edge. Banks are constructed to prevent the jack and bowls from leaving the area of play.
Vertical MARKSalong the bank identify thecenter and boundary lines of each rink.While the diagram has dashed and dotted lines to indicate the center and boundary lines, greens do not havethese lines drawnon them.
The MAT is what the player stands upon to deliver thejack or bowl. While the mat must be placed lengthwise along the center line of the rink, it can be placed at varying distances from the rear and front ditches.
The JACK is a solid sphere and either white or yellow in color. It is delivered by rolling it to a minimum distance from the mat andthen centering it. The jack becomes the target of the bowls. The jack can be moved by bowls during play andis ALIVE as long as it remains on the green or in the ditch within therink boundaries.
BOWLS are solid and round, but not spheres.They have a circular running surface, but if you look closely at the sides, you’ll see that one side is flat and one side is tapered. This results in a “bias” and causes the bowl to curve towards the tapered and weighted side while it rolls. Bowls are delivered by rolling them along their running surface towards the jack.A player may use a forehand or backhand delivery. Depending on the bias, bowls may exit and re-enter the side rinkboundaries. A bowl that come to rest outside the rink boundary is removed from play. If a bowl goes into the ditch, it is usually removed from play, but, if the bowl touches the jack prior to going into the ditch, then it is known as a TOUCHER, andremains in play.Bowls come in sets of four andeach bowl of a set is identical to the others. Sets of bowls are distinguished from other sets of bowls by the unique emblem on the sides. The emblem is large on the flat side and smallon the tapered side, which helps indicate whichway the bowl will curve when rolled.Sets also come income in different sizes, weights, colors and biases. Bowls can be made of wood, rubber or plastic resin. A set of bowls willlast for decades.
Before play, the opponents toss a coin. The winner of the coin toss choosesto a) place the mat and deliver the jack and first bowl or b) tell the opposing player to place the mat and deliver the jack and first bowl. After the first bowl is delivered, the players alternate turns delivering their bowls. Like the jack, bowls canbe moved around by knocking them with other bowls. If a bowl is knockedoutside therink boundaries, it is declared DEAD and removed from play. If a bowl is knocked into the ditch and has not been previously designated a TOUCHER, it is declared DEAD and removed from play. If the bowl is knocked into the ditch and has been designated a TOUCHER,it remains alive and in play. Whenall the players have delivered their bowls, they count the SHOTS (points) in the HEAD (arrangement of bowls around the jack). Onlyone player/team scores and gets onepoint for each bowl that is closer to the jack than the opponent’s closest bowl.If there is aquestion ofwhose bowl 
is closerto the jack, the players use a MEASURE. If the players still can’t decide who has the shot or the number of shots, an UMPIRE is called to make the determination. Once the shots are awarded, the END isconsidered complete. Theloser of the end collects the bowls into a pile while the winner picks up the jack and retrieves the mat. The next end is played in theopposite direction that was just played. The winner of the prior end places the mat,setsthe jack, and delivers thefirst bowl of the next end.
Games can be played for predetermined lengths of time (e.g. 90 minutes)or number of ends (e.g. 12) or until the first team reaches a minimum number of shots (e.g. 18). The number of bowls used by each player in a game is also predetermined. All players use the same number of bowls. Games can be arranged as singles, pairs, triples, or fours games.
- A SINGLES gameis played between two opposing players. Players may use two, three, or four of a set of bowls.
- APAIRS game is played between two opposing teams, each with two players.Each player on the team plays a certain position, LEAD or SKIP.The opposing lead players take turns delivering their bowlstowards the jack. When the leads are finished,the opposing skipstake turns delivering their bowls towards the jack.Each player may use two, three, or four of a set of bowls.
- ATRIPLES game is played between two opposing teams, each with three players. Each player on the team plays a certain position, LEAD, VICE SKIP or SKIP.The leads play first, followed byvice skips, and then the skips. Each player may use two orthree of a set of bowls.
- AFOURS or RINKS game is played between two opposing teams, each withfour players. Each player on the team plays a certain position, LEAD, SECOND, VICE SKIP or SKIP. The leads play first, followed by seconds, then the vice skips, andfinally the skips. Each player may use twoof a set of bowls.
Bowls is a dynamic game requiring a minimum level of physical fitness and mental toughness to play. The sport is easily learned, but can take years to master. Are you ready for the challenge?
