A Simple Guide on How to Play Bowls

A coin is tossed to decide which player or team bowls first. The first bowler places the mat centrally, and then rolls the jack to whatever distance they like.

The jack must come to rest at least 23 metres from the front of the mat to a maximum length indicated by the ‘T’ at either end of the rink. Once the jack has come to rest, it is placed centrally by the marker or the bowler.

Teams alternate taking shots, and each member of the team will take all of their shots before the next one takes over. When playing any shot, the player bowling must always have one foot on, or over the mat.

Any bowls that are in play can be moved by another shot, and they stay active to where they finish, (as long as they remain within the rink boundaries).

A bowl that touches the jack before it comes to rest after being delivered by the bowler is known as a ‘toucher’.  This bowl is marked with chalk and should this bowl subsequently be knocked into the ditch, it remains ‘live’.

Any bowl apart from a ‘toucher’ that finishes in the ditch is considered out of play. Any bowl that finishes outside the area of play as shown by the rink markers is also considered out of play. Any bowl that is deemed out of play is removed from the rink immediately.

If the jack is knocked into the ditch though still within the side boundaries of the rink it is still “live” and in play. A white marker is placed at the back of the ditch to indicate the position of the jack in the ditch. However, if it passes over the side boundary of the rink (whether in the ditch or not), it is placed on the appropriate re-spot if being used, otherwise a “dead end” is declared and the end is replayed with no scores being counted.

It is permissible – and often quite amusing – to strike other players’ bowls with your own with the aim of gaining points and/or a strategic advantage.

Once all players have finished their shots, the game is scored.

Scoring and Winning

The winning team gets one point for each bowl that is closer to the jack than their opponent’s nearest bowl. The winning team gets to roll the jack first for the next end.

The number of points required to win a game varies from game to game or competition to competition, but commonly the first player or team to reach 21 points or to have accumulated the greater number of points after 18 (or 21) ends is declared the winner.

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