Bowls Glossary

See speed

A team game where each team consists of two (2) players, a lead and a skip.

See boundary peg.

A team-based competition run at a county or state-based level.

The vertical trim in a ditch, usually constructed of wood or concrete, and often has a covering of carpet or rubber to dampen the impact of bowls when they travel off the green into the ditch.

A type of thick liquid compound applied to the surface of a bowl, which is then rubbed into the surface using a hand, cloth, or polishing sleeve. The application of polish is designed to clean the surface of the bowl, provide a resistant surface to assist it travel more easily when a bowl is delivered, and provides additional grip between the bowl and the hand.

The player or team who is turn it is to deliver a bowl is said to be in possession of the mat. Possession passes to the opposition when the bowl has come to rest after a delivery. Possession also includes the possession of the head, and opposition players should remain away from the head when not in possession of the mat.

(a.k.a. roll up) a warmup end, without scoring, to enable players to test their bowls in the conditions before a game start.

Pushing up one of your team’s bowls to a better position.

Where the score of bowl is proportional to the number of bowls you have closest to the jack, typically in a game where each player in a singles game has 4 bowls, the closest is worth 4 points, the next closest 3 points and so on.

An expression advising the last player on the mat to not deliver his bowl. It is called for if the player or team is holding shot, or that there is significant danger of changing the head to the detriment of the player/team if the bowl were the change the current situation.