Bowls is a sport for all ages and experience as well as being a great form of exercise activity and a way of meeting new people.
You can learn the fundamentals of bowls in just one day. Playing the game well however requires concentration, determination and practice. The game is fun and exciting but can also be frustrating, so be patient and allow yourself time to establish and practice your skill. Overall it has been proven to be good for your general health and allows you to meet and socialise with people of all ages and abilities.
The sport of bowls, after an initial spend on equipment which has long life usage, and club membership costs, is relatively good economic value in comparison with other sports.
Interested - What next?
To try out the game all you need is a flat soled pair of shoes. Our trained coach will teach you the eye and arm coordination. You are then ready to go. We have spare bowls to start you off in practice sessions so you can try the sport before you invest in the equipment. New players are supported by tuition from our experienced registered coach as well as other experienced players. There is no pressure to play games, although there is plenty of opportunity to play in friendlies once you have the confidence.
Bowls Basics
The game is played on a standard square of closely cut grass called "The Green" which is 34-40m long. The Green is divided into six playing areas called "Rinks". The Green is surrounded by a small ditch to catch bowls which leave the green and a bank upon which markers indicate the corners and centre lines of each rink.
After a coin toss, the first bowler (the Lead) places the mat and rolls the small white ball called "the Jack" to the other end of the green as a target. The Jack must travel at least 23m and when it comes to rest it is moved to the centre of the rink in line with where it has stopped. Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink towards the jack at the other end. The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack. To be successful, the bowls must be delivered with the correct weight along the correct line.
The object is to get one or more of your bowls closer to the jack than those of your opponents on each end. One point is scored for each counting bowl eg. if you have two bowls overall closest to the jack, you will get two points. Bowls that end up in the ditch are removed from play for that end. However, if they touch the jack before heading into the ditch they remain 'alive' and in play. If the jack is knocked into the ditch it remains 'alive' also unless it is out of bounds to the sides of the rink. This is then called a 'dead end' and the game is replayed.
After all the bowls have been delivered and scored the direction of play is reversed and the players who won the game throw the jack.
The most common format of the game in England are singles or in teams of pairs, triplets or fours. In singles, the winner is the first to score 21 points. In other formats, the winner is the team that scores the most points over a set number of ends.
Learn More?
If you would like to learn more about bowls, it is best just to have a go. Please contact Allan Pepper, our Coach, to arrange a free lesson and introduction. Please telephone him on 07899 904079