Bowls Glossary

Describes the direction of play for the rinks, which run in parallel with each other on any given day. Most bowling rinks are built to accommodate play alternately in a North–South, or East–West direction.

Green keepers and Greens Directors will alter the direction of play to assist in managing the quality of the greens over a season. Most competitions play North–South, to avoid players looking directly into the sun. East-West play is often used for social games.

This does not apply to the Crown Green game of bowls which utilises the entire green surface and is not divided into rinks.

When a bowler delivers a bowl, they can choose to play either a forehand or backhand shot. During play the Skip in charge of the head may advise the player on the mat that they can play “either hand” rather than directing a particular hand to play.

The playing of the jack and all the bowls of all players (or teams) once in a single direction, resulting in either a number of shots for one of the teams, a dead end, or a drawn end. Some forms of the game have a set number of ends played, others play an unlimited number of ends until a particular score is reached or exceeded.