Lawn Bowling, also known simply as “bowls,” is a precision sport where players roll biased balls (bowls) towards a target ball called a “jack” (or “kitty”). The objective is to get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponents. It’s a strategic game played on a rectangular green, with the bowls curving due to their bias.
Lawn Bowling Rules:
The basics of lawn bowling
The area in which you bowl is called a rink, and a rink is 14 feet wide and 120 feet long. The balls used by the players are called bowls and are not spherical but almost disc-shaped and they are weighted on one side causing them to curve as they roll.
You can play singles, pairs or triples. Singles and Pairs are played with four bowls. Triples are played with three bowls. Players roll their bowls from a mat at one end on the rink. The game starts when one side rolls a small white ball, called a jack, down the rink. Then players from each team take turns rolling their bowls down the green toward the jack. When all bowls have been played in one direction the players have completed an end. They walk to the jack and count the score and then roll back the other direction starting with the jack and then the bowls.
Each bowler/team is awarded points for the number of bowls which are closer to the jack as compared to their opponents. For example, if a team has two bowls closer to the jack than the opposing team, then they are awarded two points. A singles match is decided by whoever reaches 21 points first. Pairs and triples matches are decided after 18 ends while a fours match is decided after 15 ends.
Lawn Bowling Rules
Rink specifications:
- Definition: A rink is the area in which you bowl
- Width: 14 feet wide
- Length: 120 feet long
- Surface: Flat, well-maintained grass or synthetic surface
- Playing direction: Players can bowl from either end, alternating directions after each end
Lawn bowling ball characteristics:
- Name: The balls are called "bowls" not bowling balls
- Shape: Not spherical but almost disc-shaped
- Weight distribution: Weighted on one side
- Curve effect: The uneven weight causes them to curve as they roll
- Strategy: Players must account for this natural curve when aiming
- Control: The amount of curve depends on the speed and delivery of the bowl
Game formats and bowl allocation:
- Singles: 1 vs 1, each player uses 4 bowls
- Pairs: 2 vs 2, each player uses 4 bowls
- Triples: 3 vs 3, each player uses 3 bowls
- Fours: 4 vs 4, each player uses 2 bowls (mentioned in some variations)
Equipment needed: Players roll their bowls from a mat placed at one end of the rink to start each end.
Starting the game:
- The jack: A small white ball that serves as the target
- First roll: One side rolls the jack down the rink to establish the target
- Alternating turns: Players from each team take turns rolling their bowls toward the jack
- Objective: Get your bowls as close as possible to the jack
- Mat placement: Bowls are delivered from a mat positioned at the appropriate end of the rink
Understanding ends and game flow:
- Completing an end: When all bowls have been played in one direction, players have completed an end
- Counting scores: Players walk to the jack area and count the score for that end
- Direction change: After scoring, play reverses direction
- Starting the next end: The jack is rolled back the other direction, followed by the bowls
- Continuous play: This back-and-forth pattern continues until the match is complete
Scoring system:
- Proximity rule: Points are awarded for bowls closer to the jack than your opponent's closest bowl
- Counting method: Each bowler/team gets points for the number of their bowls that are closer to the jack
- Example: If a team has two bowls closer to the jack than the opposing team's closest bowl, they score two points
- Only one side scores: Only the team with the closest bowl(s) can score points in each end
- Maximum possible: The maximum points per end depends on how many bowls you have closer than all opponent bowls
Winning conditions by format:
- Singles matches: First player to reach 21 points wins
- Pairs matches: Decided after 18 ends (most points wins)
- Triples matches: Decided after 18 ends (most points wins)
- Fours matches: Decided after 15 ends (most points wins)
Key difference: Singles is played to a specific point total (21), while team formats are played for a set number of ends with the highest score winning.
Essential beginner strategies:
- Understanding the curve: Learn how your bowls curve and adjust your aim accordingly
- Consistent delivery: Develop a smooth, consistent rolling technique
- Target the jack: Focus on getting close to the jack rather than knocking opponent bowls away
- Blocking tactics: Position bowls to protect your good shots from opponent attacks
- Weight control: Learn to vary the speed of your delivery for different tactical situations
- Reading the green: Observe how bowls behave on different parts of the rink
- Patience: Lawn bowling rewards precision and patience over power
