Opening times
The green closes for the season on September 10th
During the season, the green is open for practice sessions:
Monday to Saturday 1pm until 4pm
A guide to the sport
Bowls is played on a square of grass called a green, which is divided into lanes called rinks. Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink towards a small white target ball, often referred to as the ’jack’, situated near the other end.
The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack, known as the bias.
The aim of the game is to get your bowls closest to the jack. One point is given for each bowl nearer the jack than the nearest bowl of your opponent.
For example, if you or your team has three bowls closer to the jack than your opponent’s nearest bowl then you will score three for that end.
Each game is split into individual ends. After playing all the bowls in one direction and agreeing the score, the next end is played back down the rink in the opposite direction. The winner of the previous end will cast the jack on the next end.
Bowls can be played as singles, or in teams of pairs, triples, or fours (a team of four is also known as a ‘rink’).
In fours or rinks games, each team member has a particular role to play: • The first, or lead, places the mat, delivers the jack and centres it before attempting to bowl as close as possible to the jack. • The second or two keeps the score card and scoreboard up to date. The two will normally be required to improve or consolidate the position achieved by the lead. • The third or three may be called upon to play different types of shots in order to score more, or to place bowls tactically to protect an advantage. The three also advises the skip on choice of shots, and agrees the number of shots scored, measuring if required.
• The skip is in overall charge of the rink, directs the other players on choice of shots, and tries to build the ‘head’ of bowls to his or her advantage. The normal game formats are as follows: •
In Fours or Rinks play, the lead, two, three and skip each deliver two bowls for 21 ends. • In Singles, the two opponents deliver four bowls alternately. The first to reach 21 shots is the winner. •
For Pairs, the players deliver four bowls each. The team scoring the most shots after 21 ends is the winner. •
In the Triples game, the lead, second and skip deliver three bowls each, for 18 ends. Although these are the most common formats, variations are allowed by the controlling bodies. Matches may be mixed or single-sex.
All sports have their own language but not to worry!
Now you’re ready to get started, here are a few terms that will help you chat about the sport.
o Backhand | When (for a right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so the curve of the bowl is from the left to right.
o Bias | The shape of the bowl which causes it to curve.
o Delivery | The moment the bowl leaves the hand.
o Ditch | The gully around the green. If a bowl ends up in the ditch and it is not a ‘toucher’ then it doesn’t count.
o Draw | A bowl delivered at the correct weight, and with correct line, to arrive exactly where you want.
o End | The sequence of play from the moment the mat is placed down until all bowls have been delivered and you know who has won. A bit like a game in tennis!
o Foot fault | If you don’t deliver the bowl with part of your foot on or above the mat.
o Forehand | When (for the right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from the right to left.
o Green | The total playing area. There are usually 6 rinks on each green.
o Jack | The little round target ball to which you’re trying to get your bowls closest.
o Mat | The rectangular shaped mat from which the bowler must deliver the jack and/or bowl.
o Pace of Weight | The amount of force with which the bowl is delivered to execute a particular shot.
o Rink | The rectangular strip of the green, between 4 and 6 metres wide, on which the game takes place. o Stance | Position adopted on the mat prior to delivery.
o Shot | The bowl that is nearest the jack at any stage of play.
o Toucher | A bowl that hits the jack during its original course. This bowl still counts even if it ends up in the ditch.
The sport of bowls takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. The action required to deliver a bowl is based on a fairly natural physical movement and your first shot could be every bit as good as a world champion’s. Every bowler’s delivery is slightly different but you can’t go too far wrong, and no-one’s going to laugh at you whilst you’re getting the hang of it. Once you have got the basic delivery sussed, you’ll be hooked on getting consistently close to the jack.