Bowls - Beginners Guide |
Etiquette - Beginners Hints |
Understanding the Game of Bowls
For those who are new to the game of bowls or those thinking of taking up the game, the
following pages might be helpful.
Lawn Bowling Glossary of Terms
BIAS
Bias is the amount of curve that a bowl will take during its course to
the jack. Bowls are available with several different biases for use in
different conditions and competitions. As part of the manufacturing
process all bowls are tested against "Master Bowl", which defines the
limits of this bias.
BURNED END
A Burned or "burnt" End is one where the Jack has been moved outside the
boundaries of the rink by a bowl in play. In normal competition Burned
Ends must be replayed.
DELIVER/DELIVERY
Deliver is the term used for throwing or rolling a bowl. The delivery is
the action of delivering a bowl. A bowler with a good delivery can be
compared to a golfer with a good swing.
DRAW
The term draw can have several meanings in bowling. As a noun it can
refer to the type of shot being played. A "dead draw" is an attempt to
deliver the bowl as close as possible to the target (generally the
jack). It can also be used as a verb. You may hear a skip issuing an
instruction such as, "Just draw to the jack".
DRIVE
A drive is
type of shot in bowling where the player delivers the bowl with maximum
force toward the target. Otherwise know in Scotland as a "blooter"!
END
An end of bowls comprises the placing of the mat, the delivery of the
jack and the playing of all the required bowls of all of the opponents
in one direction on the rink.
GUARD
A Guard is a bowl played to a position that restricts the opposition
from getting to the target.
HEAD
The head refers collectively to the Jack and the bowls that have been
delivered and come to rest within the boundaries of the rink.
HEAVY
When a player unintentionally delivers a bowl beyond the jack or the
intended target it is described as being Heavy.
JACK
The Jack is the small white or yellow ball that is the target in bowls.
You may also hear it referred to colloquially as the "White", the
"Kitty" or the "Sweetie".
JACK HIGH
If a bowl is Jack high it means that it has reached a position such that
its nearest part is laterally aligned with the jack. Effectively it
means that the bowl and jack are level.
LEAD
A Lead is the person who plays first in pairs triples or fours (rinks)
game. The lead is responsible for setting the mat and delivering the
jack to start the end.
LINE OR
ROAD
The Line or Road is the curved route taken to the jack. E.g. "You are a
yard short but your line was good."
SECOND
The Second in a triples or rinks (fours) game is the player who plays
second. In the rinks game the second is responsible for marking the
score card.
SHORT
A bowl that does not reach the jack or the intended target is described
as being short.
SHOT
Shot can have several meanings. The shot or shots are the number of
points scored in an end. It can also mean the type of delivery, e.g. a
drawing shot, and during an end, the bowl that is currently nearest the
jack.
SKIP
The Skip is the captain of a team in pairs, triples or rinks play. The
Skip is always last to play and is responsible for directing the play
during an end. The other players in a team must follow the Skip's
instructions.
THIRD
The third is the third player to play in a rinks game. The third is
normally responsible, with his corresponding opponent, for deciding the
result of an end, i.e. who is lying the shot and how many shots have
been scored. The skips however have the final say in this in the event
of any dispute.
TOUCHER
A Toucher is a bowl that during its course touches the jack before
finishing within the boundaries of the rink. A Toucher remains live even
if it finishes in the ditch.
WEIGHT
Weight is the term used to refer to the power applied to a delivery.
WOODS
Before the introduction of plastic composition bowls they were made from
the heaviest most dense wood available, Lignum Vitae. At this time bowls
were often called Woods and some people still use this as a generic term
for bowls.
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