Rules of the game

The following rules are an interpretation of those laid down and ratified by the World Bowls Board. As such, all extraneous material pertaining mainly to top-flight tournament play has been removed, making it easier for casual players to understand and get started. For more detailed information, particularly on the multi-faceted displacement rules, you can check out the official rules in full here:

Bowls in short

Bowls is a game played on a large rectangular green divided into playing strips (known as ‘rinks’). Competition can be between single individuals, pairs or teams of up to four players. It begins with the bowling of a smaller spherical object known as the ‘Jack’, which is centred when at rest and serves as the target. Thereafter, players alternate turns delivering bowls from a mat, attempting to place each one as close as possible to jack using a curved trajectory.

After all bowls are delivered, the player with the closest bowl to the Jack scores a point (or a ‘shot’). If more than one bowl is closer to the Jack than any of the opponent’s bowls then more points are awarded. This then concludes one end, which is followed by another end from the other side of the green. The winner of the match is the individual with the highest shots total after 21 ends, or the first to reach a pre-arranged target.

Definitions

Players - Range from single players to teams of four. In a team situation, roles are split into the ‘skip’ (the leader), the ‘lead’ bowler and the second and third if applicable.

Centring the Jack - Placing the Jack on the rink’s centre line when at rest, but retaining the same distance from the mat line.

Delivery - Releasing the Jack/bowl using an underarm movement.

Disturbing the head - Altering the position of the live Jack or any live bowls on the playing field.

End - Period of play completed when the jack and all bowls are delivered and points have been awarded.

End ditches - There are two ditches on the field, the ‘front ditch’ (at the end of the green directly in front of the mat) and the ‘rear ditch’ (at the end of the green directly behind the mat).

Groundsheet - A piece of protective canvas placed approximately 2 metres from the rear ditch and 25 metres from the front ditch, guarding against damage caused by any delivery.

Holding surface - Natural or synthetic material used to stop anything running along the ditch.

Line Jack/Line bowl - A bowl/Jack which comes to rest inside and outside the side boundary of the rink.

Pace of the green - Time taken from delivery to rest from the mat line 27 metres away.

Boundaries - Refers to both the side boundaries and the end boundaries on the field of play.

Shot indicators - Otherwise known as lollipops or paddles, these are signs with coloured heads matching the colours found on the side of each player’s or team’s bowls. Number held up indicates how many shots are awarded and to whom after each end.

Bias - Curved path in delivery. The bias side is the more rounded side of the bowl, signified by a series of small grooved rings in the centre (there are large rings on the other).

Type - Set of bowls should all be or have the same make, model, size, weight, colour, bias, engraving and serial number.

The green, ditch and banks

Green

Rectangular or square, level surface measuring 31 to 40 metres in length. Can only be synthetic if approved by the proper authorities.

Ditch

Surrounds the green with dimensions of 200-380mm wide and 50-200mm deep. The holding surface must not damage the Jack or the bowls.

Bank

Situated against the outer edge of the ditch, 230mm above surface level at its highest. The bank is either set at a right angle to the green or sloped no more than 35 degrees from the vertical.

Division of the green

Rinks

Measure either 4.3 to 5.8 metres (outdoors) or 4.6 to 5.8 metres (indoors) wide. Centre of each is marked at both ends by a peg and the four corners are also marked by ‘boundary pegs’.

Centre Lines

On the surface of the green 2 metres from each end ditch, typically forming a ‘T’ shape (although this cannot finish less than 25 metres from the opposite end ditch). Can also have a suitable piece immediately below the green surface.

Side Boundaries

A green thread connecting the boundary pegs (not essential).

Equipment: Mat, Jack, bowls and measures

Mat

Measures 600mm long by 360mm wide.

Jack

White or yellow sphere weighing approximately 225-285 grams and 63-64mm in diameter. Typically heavier when using synthetic surfaces (382-453 grams).

Bowls

Made of either lignum vitae wood, rubber or plastic resin and may have indentations to help with grip. If made from wood it can be 116-134mm and can weigh a maximum of 1.59 kilograms. If made from either rubber or plastic resin, the dimensions can only be 116-131mm, but the maximum weight is identical.

Bias

Standard in competition is decided by a Working Reference Bowl. If a bias is suspected, a player may challenge its use after the match.

Measuring equipment

Includes a tape measure, callipers, wedges (for supporting leaning bowls) and any devices to measure the distance between the Jack and the bowls.

Arranging a game

General form or length

Played on a rink or rinks with a pre-arranged number of shots or ends.

Practice

If anyone has played on the same day, all those who have not are permitted to practice as long as there is time.

Sets play

The recent development of sets as a way of determining the winner of a game. A set is composed of 9 ends or a pre-arranged target score. The victor is the player with the best shots tally at the end of the 9th end or who reaches the target shots figure.

A further innovation has been the tiebreaker, which takes place when players are tied in sets. This is a best of three ends affair, with the winner being the victor in two of the three ends. A fourth end can be played if the score after the three is one each and a tie.

Re-spotting the jack

If outside the boundaries at rest, the Jack is placed with the nearest point of the Jack to the mat-line. The same applies if the Jack is at rest less than 20 metres from the mat-line.

If outside the right side boundary, it must also be 2 metres from the front ditch and 1.5 metres to the right of the centre-line. If outside the left side boundary, it must be 2 metres from the front ditch and 1.5 metres to the left of the centre-line. If over the bank face then it is spotted 2 metres from the front ditch and on the centre-line.

Starting the game

Trial Ends

Can be played before the actual game.

Toss

Winner decides either to deliver the Jack and the first bowl or force his opponent to do the same.

Placing The Mat

The mat is placed with the mat-line on the rink centre-line, 2 metres from the rear ditch and 25 or more metres from the front ditch. Should not be moved for the rest of the end.

Delivery

Player should deliver the bowl with at least one foot on the mat or a foot-fault will be called. A warning will follow and the bowl will be considered dead. In these circumstances, the opponent can choose whether to replace the head, declare the end dead or leave the head as altered.

Movement of bowls

Touchers

A bowl that hits the Jack in its natural course and ends up in the ditch, or if it falls after coming to rest and touches the Jack. Touchers are considered live bowls.

Does not count if the Jack is in the ditch already. The position in the ditch should be marked with a coloured indicator or chalk. Once there, it may only be moved by a Jack in play, another toucher or a non-toucher overhanging the ditch but partly on the rink.

Dead Bowl

A bowl is considered dead in the following circumstances:

• Falls in the ditch without touching the Jack.
• Rebounds off the face, the Jack or a toucher in the ditch.
• Rests less than 14 metres from the mat-line.
• Falls outside all the boundaries.
• Falls outside the side boundary on a bias which prevents re-entry (even if it hits the outside of the line Jack).

Dead bowls are removed as soon as possible from the field of play.

Displacement of a bowl by another player

If a bowl by the same team does not disturb the head after, it is simply declared dead. If there is disturbance, then the head is replaced.

If displaced by an opponent and the head is undisturbed, the choice lies with the playing team either to replay, place the bowl where it would have rested or leave it. If the head is disturbed, the end can be called dead, the head can be replaced and the bowl can be replayed or an estimate can be made of where the bowl would have fallen.

Displacing a bowl that disturbed the head

Considered valid.

Displacing a bowl in motion

If it has not disturbed the head then the end is declared dead or the ball is placed where it would have come to rest. If it has disturbed the head, the same options are available along with the possibility of replacing the head and continuing.

Displacing a bowl at rest

If it has not disturbed the head then the bowl is returned to its former position. If it has disturbed the head, then the head is similarly replaced.

Displacement of a bowl by a dead bowl

The live bowl is returned to its former position.

Movement of the Jack

Live Jack

Still live if hit by a bowl into the ditch and in the side boundaries. It is subsequently marked and can only be moved by a toucher or a partly overhanging non-toucher. If any other type of bowl hits the jack, it is replaced in its former position.

Dead Jack

A Jack is dead in the following circumstances and the end becomes a ‘dead end’:

• Moved by a bowl and passes above the bank face.
• Falls outside the side boundaries.
• Rests in a hollow in the bank.
• Rests less than 20 metres from the mat-line.

Dead End

Means no scores are counted and a total replay of the end is required.

Play, players and their duties

Skip

The leader of the team, who gives instructions and decides disputes with the opposing skip. If the latter cannot be achieved then the umpire assists and enforces the Laws of the Game.

The skip’s role can be switched to someone else if the opposition is immediately informed.

Third

Measures disputed shots for the team.

Second

Responsible for the score card.

Lead

Plays first and delivers Jack when required.

Order of Play

Leads take the first bowl, followed by the rest of the team. However, delivery is only permitted once all bowls have come to rest and the team order must remain the same for the match.

The bowling team is considered to have ‘possession of the rink’ and cannot be disturbed by the opponent, meaning players must stand either 1 metre behind the mat or behind the Jack and away from the head.

Playing out of turn

If one side delivers a bowl when it is his/her opponent’s turn, the opposition decides the consequences. If it has not disturbed the head then the side can leave it and play two bowls consecutively, or return to the regular order and return the bowl. If the head has been disturbed, the end can be declared dead or the head can be replaced in its former position.

Result of an end

Shot

Given to the bowl(s) closest to the Jack and nearer than any on the opposing team. Measuring takes place to properly work out the distances. This is done according to the nearest points of the bowl and the Jack.

Tied End

When both sides have bowls touching the Jack, there are no live bowls or the distance is the same between both side’s bowl(s) and the Jack.

Officials and spectators

Marker

Takes over the umpire’s duties in his or her absence. Also centres the Jack, checks its position, answers players’ questions about the head (showing position of Jack or shot bowls), marks touchers, measures disputed shots, removes all dead bowls from the playing field and records scores on the score card.

Umpire

Generally enforces all the Laws of the Game and is involved in measuring disputed shots.

Manager/Coach

A member of either side who can lend advice, if registered with the umpire and outside the boundaries of the green.