The Fundamentals

If you are new to lawn bowling, a little bit of knowledge will help you look, speak, and participate like a seasoned bowler.

Bowls Explained

Bowls is a strategic, challenging and fun sport that can be enjoyed by anyone.  It is played on a large smooth grass surface called a “green”. 

Lawn bowls are large, hard resin balls with a bias to them, so that they travel along a curved path, rather than going straight. The object of the game is to roll your bowls closer to the target than your opponents.

​The target is a small white ball called a “jack” and it is rolled the length of the green to start play.  Then players from each team take turns rolling their bowls down the green toward the jack. 

When all all the bowls have been played in one direction the players have completed an end.

Photo courtesy of Tacoma LBC

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to deliver bowls closer to the jack (target) than your opponent.  

​The player or team with the closest bowl to the jack earns one point for each bowl closer to the jack than the nearest opponent bowl.

Photo courtesy of Portland LBC

The Green

The game of Bowls is played on a 120 foot square of closely cut grass called the green.

​The green is divided into playing areas called rinks.  Each rink is 14' wide and with the rinks placed side by side, multiple games can occur at the same time.

The green is surrounded by a small ditch to catch bowls which leave the green, and a bank which has marks indicating the center side lines of each rink.

Image courtesy of Frick Park LBC

The Equipment

Bowls come in sets of four and each set has its own unique symbols engraved on the sides to identify the owner.  Bowls are perfectly smooth and round in one direction, but slightly flattened in the other.

​The bowls are weighted on the side of the small emblem, causing them to curve in that direction when rolled. This is known as the bias and allows you to curve your bowl around others. Bowls come in different sizes, weights, colors and biases.

The "jack",  a small white ball similar to a pool cue ball,  is the target in the game. The object of the game is to roll your bowls as close as possible to the 'jack'.

To roll or deliver their bowl, each player stands on a mat at one end of the rink.  The 1'x 2' mat ensures that all players in the game roll their bowls from the same point on the rink.

Photo courtesy of Frick Park LBC

Game Format

There are two key things to decide before the game begins:

​1) How many players will be on each team;​
2) How how many ends will be played, thus determining how long the game will last.

Players

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 centers it before bowling as close as possible to the jack.
  
• The second keeps the score card and scoreboard up to date. The second normally improves or consolidates the position achieved by the lead.
  
• The third or vice 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 vice also advises the skip on choice of shots, and agrees the number of shots scored, measuring if required.
• The skip is the team captain, directs the other players on choice of shots, and tries to build the ‘head’ of bowls the team's advantage
  

Ends

An end is when all players on both teams have delivered their bowls toward the jack in one direction.

​At this time the points are counted and the end is complete.

The next end, all bowls are delivered in the opposite direction and so on.

Photo courtesy of Jefferson Park LBC

Scoring

Keeping score with either a score card or scoreboard looks the same.

The ends are usually numbered down middle and each team's score is on either side.

After each end is finished the score is entered in the team's left column and added on to the right column.

This is the scorecard between Team A and Team B in the Club Rinks Championship game.  They played on Rink 4 in June of 2021.
 
It looks like Art and Betty are the leads for their teams, they’ll roll their bowls first.  While Ariana and Barnie are the team Skips, so they have the final bowls.
 
Team A got off to a good start by scoring 2 points on the 1st end , for a total of 2 points.
 
In the 2nd end Team A scored 1 point, after two ends the team had a total score of 3.
 
In the 3rd end Team B came on strong and scored a 4.  At the of 3 ends the total score was Team A = 3 and Team B = 4.
 
The game continued for 10 ends.
Team A scored in 6 of the ends while Team 4 scored in the 4 of the ends.  The game finished in a tie at 9 points for each team. 
 
The skips agreed the score was correct and signed the scorecard.

Etiquette

A combination of good sportsmanship and good manners.

General Tips

• Keep track of play and be ready to bowl when it is your turn
• Stand quietly and still when a player is about to bowl
• Assist in collecting the bowls to keep the game moving 
• Walk in the middle of the rink when changing ends
• Usually the team or player conceding shots does the measuring
• When an umpire is called, move away from the head; respect the decision of the umpire
• Put the equipment away at the end of play

Photo courtesy of SWD

FAQ's

And our most frequent answers.

How many people can Play in a bowls game?

Anywhere from 2 to 8 players can play a game together in a bowls game. 
However you want to divide up to compete as two teams works just fine.

How long does a game last?

A typical pairs game lasts about an hour and a half.
As long as everyone agrees you can make the game any length of time you want.

Do women and men every play against each other?

Yes, often men and women play against each other in social games.  Some tournaments are mixed though most national and international tournaments are women's or men's events.

Don't Lawn Bowlers Have to wear white clothes?

The days are long gone when "whites" were required for daily bowling, except for a very few clubs or special occasions..
Bowling tournaments do have rules about clothing but they are easy to accommodate.
Most important is to wear flat soled shoes to protect the green.

I'D JUST LIKE TO TRY LAWN BOWLS BEFORE I JOIN A CLUB, CAN I DO THAT?

Sure, either drop by your nearest club or contact them to find out their schedule for "open bowling" or instruction.

I DON'T HAVE ANY LAWN BOWLS OR EQUIPMENT AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GET ANY?

The club has all the equipment needed for the game and it's free to use it.

IF I LIKE LAWN BOWLING CAN I DO IT BY MYSELF?

Anyone can bowl by themselves for practice, all of the better bowlers do exactly that!
Once you're a member of a club you usually have unlimited or generous access to the green and facility.

HOW CAN I JOIN BOWLS USA?

Only bowls clubs can join Bowls USA, so to become a BUSA member just join a club near you.  
If there's no clubs nearby you can become an "at-large" member of your division (geographical area).
Contact your division officers through their website and they'll help you get involved.

CAN YOU HELP ME FIND A LAWN BOWLING CLUB NEAR ME?

Go to the division page and determine your division (by geographical area). Browse the division website for a list of clubs, or contact one of the division officers listed and they will help you find a club.