Bowls Glossary

A custom designed instrument, based on a telescope, used by Umpires to determine if a jack or bowl is within the boundary (see boundary peg) of the rink during play. Often used in conjunction with a mirror when making judgements from one end of the rink to the other.

In a team of 3 or more, the player who delivers his bowl immediately after the lead is known as the second. The second has specific duties, including keeping score, updating the rink and overall scoreboards in a multi-rink team competition. In recent years, some associations have directed that the skip must keep the scorecard.

In Pennant games, associations may create tiered competition made up of separate sections of teams. Often there are multiple sections to form part of a broader Division. Section winners then play against other section winners in that division to determine the overall division champion.

A number of games where you play all other teams or players in a grouping, and the winner goes on to play other sectional winners. Group sizes will be variable, designed to ensure that the number of winners enable a play-off to reach a final of two section winners.

A game made up of 2 or more sets, with each set made up of a number of ends. World Bowls sets play format is two (2) sets of nine ends, with a 3-end tie break if drawn at 1 set all, but this can be varied by a local controlling body.

Describes the result of a bowl delivered such that it touches the jack or another bowl without changing its current position.

A bowl that has stopped short of its intended target. (End) describes a relative assessment of the length of the end in comparison with the maximum length end possible (Jack) a jack when delivered that stops at a point less than the minimum length allowed within the rules of competition for the game underway. Minimum lengths are varied by national associations as outlined in the Crystal Mark edition of the rules or World Bowls.

Can have several meanings The bowl nearest the jack. The shot or shorts are the number of points scored in an end The type of delivery (eg Draw Shot) The bowl that is nearest the jack during the end (holding shot).

A group of players that make up a team. In pennant play, a side will be made up of 12 to 16 players, divided up into groups of four, also known as a rink.

A game played between two players.

In a team of 3 or more, the player who delivers his bowl last is known as the skip. The skip has specific duties, including directing the head for all other players in the team, and making decisions in co-operation with the opposition skip in the event of a dispute, and calling for an umpire if a dispute cannot be resolved within the teams.

A green is described as slow when the bowls travel at a slower pace over the surface compared to a quick green relative to the amount of effort required when delivering a bowl.

A call made when determining which player will deliver the first bowl at the start of a game. One player will roll a bowl end over end and calling “smalls” refers to the bowl stopping with the side where the smaller rings are facing upward. See also bigs.

A measurement, in seconds, of the time it takes for a bowl to come to a rest after being delivered by a player. See also timing the green.

A measurement, in seconds, of the time it takes for a bowl to come to a rest after being delivered by a player. See also timing the green.

When the jack is rolled and comes to rest beyond the 2-metre mark, but withinthe boundary of the rink, then it is moved to that mark, such that the front of the jack is aligned with the back of the mark.

Used to indicate a bowl that has touched the jack as part of its initial delivery during an end. A player in charge of the head will use a pressurised can of chalk spray, to place a mark, which must be done before the next bowl comes to a rest, and must be removed before the bowl is delivered on the next end. See also chalk.

The position a player adopts in preparation for delivering the bowl. Some players adopt a fixed stance, where legs and feet are moved into position and then “locked”, and the delivery is completed using upper body movement, whereas others will position their feet, then an action involving upper and lower body elements is commenced.

See artificial.