Gullivers Bowls Club

Gullivers Bowls Club - The laws of bowls


The Laws of Bowls

The laws of bowls are governed by World Bowls
 
The game's objective is to roll biased bowls toward a small target ball called the jack, with the goal of having your bowls rest closer to the jack than your opponent's.
Key Laws and Concepts
.  Objective and Scoring: The winner of an "end" (a round of play in one direction) is the player or team with one or more bowls closer to the jack than the opponent's nearest bowl. One point is awarded for each such bowl. Games can be won by reaching a specific score (e.g., 21 shots in singles) or having the highest score after a set number of ends.
  • Equipment: Players use a mat to deliver their bowls. Bowls are weighted (biased) to ensure they travel in a curved path, a key tactical element of the game. Each set of bowls must have an official stamp and be of the same size, weight, colour, and bias.
  • Jack Delivery: At the start of an end, the first player (lead) places the mat and rolls the jack. The jack must travel a minimum distance (e.g., at least 23m in flat green bowls) and remain within the rink boundaries to be "live". If not, the opponent re-rolls it.
  • Live and Dead Bowls:
    • A bowl that stops within the rink boundaries after delivery is "live".
    • A bowl that touches the jack during its course (a "toucher") remains "live" even if it ends up in the ditch, and is marked with chalk.
    • A bowl that goes into the ditch without touching the jack is "dead" and removed from play.
    • A bowl that runs completely outside the side boundaries of the rink is also dead.
  • Possession of the Rink: The team whose turn it is to bowl has possession of the rink. Players not in possession must stand behind the jack or behind the mat, to avoid interfering with the other team's play or view.
  • Foot Faulting: At the moment of delivering the jack or a bowl, the player must have at least one foot entirely within the confines of, or over, the mat. A warning is usually given for a first offence, with potential penalties for repetition.
  • Roles in Team Play: In pairs, triples, or fours, players bowl in a set order. The "skip" (team captain) directs play and makes final decisions on disputed shots with the opposing skip. The "third" often handles shot counting and measurements.
  •  Official Resources
  •  For a comprehensive guide, click on the link below for the official "Laws of the Sport of Bowls – Crystal Mark Fourth Edition" 
  • https://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Laws_of_the_Sport_Fourth_Edition.pdf