Bowls Formats

Lawn Bowls has many format variations, below are just a few. If you have a format you would like to share, please submit it and we’ll get it added and share it with the world.


There are currently 5 Bowls Formats in this directory beginning with the letter S.
Scroungers
Rules may vary from club to club

  • Dress mufti.

  • Prize money to be determined on the day, depending on the number of players.

  • Each player will play with three bowls only, with a maximum of four players per rink.

  • The player drawing the lead position on the first end on each rink will keep the score card for the entire game. Other players to measure and declare the results.

  • On the first end the player drawing the lead position delivers the jack a minimum length of 21 meters, and to be played to where the jack is rolled (don’t move it to the centre). Should the jack be delivered out of bounds or in the ditch, a penalty of two shots shall be deducted from the offending player.

  • On the second and subsequent ends, the player with the highest score on the previous end will lead followed by the player with the next highest score and so on.

  • Game will be 18 ends maximum, or on the bell as decided by the controlling body.

  • On each end, the scoring will be:1st shot-four points, 2nd shot-three points, 3rd shot-two points, 4th shot-one point.

  • No driving is permitted. If a player knocks the jack into the ditch, the end will be declared dead and five points deducted from the offending player. The end will count.

  • A bowl knocked into the ditch or out of bounds will incur a penalty of two points by the offending player.

  • A bowl in course rolling into the ditch or finishing out of bounds will incur a penalty of two shots. This players remaining bowls are included in the final count.

  • Players are not permitted to inspect the head; a penalty of five points will be deducted from the offending player.
    The winner shall be the player with the highest overall score.


Singles
Players each play a set amount of bowls, taking runs one each. Usually played as 4 bowls each, a known variation is 2 bowls singles.

Skins

  • 4 Bowls per player – can be up to 4 players per rink.

  • Played as a normal game of singles with player holding shot establishing mat placement and length to play.

  • On each end the player with the bowl the longest distance away from the jack has their bowl removed for the remainder of the game.

  • Player with the bowl the longest distance away from the jack has last bowl on the next end.

  • Any bowl out of bounds is also removed.

  • Jack killed, the end is replayed or re-spotted, as determined by you prior to the game.

  • Winner is the last player to have bowls in play.


Speed Bowls
Speed bowls is all about going fast (as you can guess from the name!).

Players have a limited amount of time to deliver their bowls.

If they exceed the time limit, they forfeit their turn.

This adds an element of urgency and thrill, as players must make quick decisions and execute shots rapidly.

You can up the excitement further by progressively reducing the time limit for each round, until players are left with only a few seconds to take their turn!

Super Singles

  • 3 bowl singles.

  • 2 sets of 6 ends.

  • 1 end tiebreaker.

  • 1 powerplay per set.

  • 1 nominated kill per set.

  • Average game length 40 mins.

  • 3 players per rink, play 2 games & 1.

  • 3 games per round or mini-tournament.

  • Three bowls singles is an excellent development format as it teaches you not to waste bowls.

  • The nominated kills and powerplays bring added excitement, as does the one end tiebreaker.

  • Just make sure you have a total number of players divisible by three. If you don’t, you can always provide a non-playing marker, or have 2 players agree to use a marker from the next rink when needed.

  • The jack always gets placed on the 2m, and the mat gets moved to any preferred position within the normal legal length.

  • The winner is found using wins > sets > ends > diff. Other prizes can be paid out using this as a ranking method.



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