This bowls glossary offers straightforward explanations of common bowls terms, helping new players quickly understand the language of the sport. Whether you’re just starting out or refreshing your knowledge, these simple definitions will support your confidence and enjoyment on the green.
Back Bowl: A bowl that has come to rest beyond the jack or the main body of bowls in the head.
Backhand: When (for a right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so the curve of the bowl is from the left to right.
Bank: The outer wall of the ditch that surrounds the green. It is raised above the playing surface.
Bias: The shape of the bowl which causes it to curve.
Blocker: A bowl delivered with the correct pace to stop short of the objective, in the hope that it will prevent an opponent being able to play a certain shot.
Bowls: Usually, a set of four identical bowls, manufactured under strictly controlled specifications. It is essential that bowlers choose a set which they can use with the greatest ease and comfort.
Centre line: An imaginary line that runs lengthwise down the centre of the rink.
Counter: Any bowl which contributes to the score at the completion of the end.
Dead bowl: Either a bowl which comes to rest in the ditch or is knocked into the ditch and is not a toucher, or a bowl that comes to rest outside the confines of the rink, either in its course or by being knocked there.
Dead end: An end which is considered not to have been played and so no score is recorded. It can happen as a result of the jack being driven out of the confines of the playing area.
Delivery: The moment the bowl leaves the hand when bowling.
Ditch: The gully around the green. If a bowl ends up in the ditch and it is not a ‘toucher’ then it doesn’t count.
Draw: A bowl delivered at the correct weight, and with correct line, to arrive exactly where you want.
End: The sequence of play from the moment the mat is placed down until all bowls have been delivered and you know who has won.
Fire or Drive
This is a shot where the bowl is delivered at a very fast pace.
The object is to remove an opponent’s bowl or the jack from an unfavourable lie, or maybe to split a group of the opponents’ bowls.
It is one of the most exciting and intimidating shots in bowls. When executed well, it can change the course of an end in an instant, removing opposition bowls, opening a head up, or even converting the head in your favour. But with speed comes risk, and a poorly played drive can take out your own bowls and leave you many points down.
Follow through: This should be the natural movement forward of the delivery arm following the line or path of the bowl.
Foot fault: If you don’t deliver the bowl with part of your foot on or above the mat.
Forehand: When (for the right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from the right to left.
Green: The total playing area. This is divided into ‘rinks’ which are rectangular strips approximately 4.6 meters wide.
Jack: The small white or yellow target ball that you aim to get your bowls as close to as possible.
Jack-High bowl: A bowl which, when it comes to rest, is at the same distance from the mat as is the jack.
The head: The group of bowls that have come to rest around the jack during an end.
Lead: The player who lays the mat, rolls the jack, and delivers the first bowl in an end. He may sometimes toss the coin at the beginning of the game to determine which team has the right to start play.
Live bowl: Any bowl that comes to rest within the confines of the rink and is acceptable under the conditions laid down by the laws of the game, or any toucher in the ditch.
Long jack: A jack positioned near the maximum distance from the front edge of the mat.
Mark it (chalk it): To mark a toucher with chalk.
Marker: A person who undertakes to see that a game of singles is played according to the rules. He marks all touchers, centres the jack, measures, and keeps the score. During the playing of an end, it could be wiser for the marker not to talk to the players unless asked a direct question.
Mat: The rectangular shaped mat from which the bowler must deliver the jack and/or bowl.
Measuring: The process of determining which bowl is nearest the jack.
Narrow shot: Where a player has not allowed enough green. This shot can sometimes be played intentionally.
Pace or Weight: The amount of force with which the bowl is delivered to execute a particular shot.
Pairs: Two players against two, each using (usually) four bowls for a period of twenty one ends (dependant on competition). Their position in order of play: lead and then skip.
Promote a bowl: An instruction to a bowler to play his bowl onto a bowl belonging to his side, so that the bowl that was stationary is pushed closer to the jack.
Rink of players or fours: A group of four players against four, each bowling two bowls for a period of twenty one ends (dependant on competition) . Their positions in order of play: lead, second, third and skip.
Second bowl: The bowl which finishes closest to the jack, other than the shot bowl.
Second or number two: The player who plays after the lead in a game of fours or triples. He may be asked to mark the score card and keeps the score board up to date.
Shot
The shot bowl is simply the bowl that sits closest to the jack at any point during an end.
Years ago, when almost everyone played with traditional black bowls, it could be surprisingly tricky to judge which bowl was actually holding the shot—especially from a distance or in poor light. Today’s brightly coloured and patterned bowls make life much easier, allowing players and spectators alike to see the head more clearly and identify the shot bowl with far less uncertainty.
The term ‘shot‘ can also refer to the various types of deliveries used in the game. Players may play a draw shot, a running shot, a yard‑on shot, or a firm drive, each chosen to achieve a particular tactical outcome.
So in bowls, ‘the shot’ can mean either the bowl currently lying closest to the jack or the style of delivery a player chooses to play.
Shoulder of the green: That point on the green where the bowl begins to curve inwards towards the head.
Short bowl: A bowl that has not been delivered with sufficient pace to reach the jack.
Side or team: An agreed number of players whose combined scores determine the result of a match.
Singles: One player against one player, usually each using four bowls (dependant on the competition).
Skip: The captain of a game of fours, triples or pairs. He is last to bowl and is responsible for dictating the tactics of the game.
Stance: Position adopted on the mat prior to delivery.
Take it out: An instruction to a bowler to bowl with sufficient pace to push an opponent’s bowl away.
Taking green: On forehand or backhand, the bowler bowls to the shoulder so that his bowl will curve and come to rest as near as possible to the point he desires (usually the jack).
Third: A position in a game of fours. He will act for his skip when needed and may handle measuring.
Tied end: When the nearest bowls of both sides are exactly the same distance from the jack at the completion of the end (e.g. when both have a bowl actually touching the jack). Neither side scores but it is a completed end and is entered on the scorecard.
Toucher: A bowl that hits the jack during its original course. This bowl still counts even if it ends up in the ditch.
Toucher in the ditch: A toucher (see below) which has fallen into the ditch. This is a ‘live’ bowl, unless it has come to rest outside the confines of the rink.
Toucher on the green: A bowl which, during its course, has touched the jack, or a bowl which has come to rest and falls over to touch the jack before the next bowl is delivered, or a bowl that is the last to be delivered and falls and touches the jack within the period of half a minute. All the above will be marked with a chalk mark.
Trail the Jack
To play a bowl in order to move the jack to another position on the rink, and to follow the jack with your bowl.
Trailing the jack in lawn bowls is an advanced tactical shot. You use a weighted (heavier than normal) draw to hit the jack and push it, or ‘trail’ it to a new position deeper in the head, often dragging your trailing bowl with it.
This shot can go wrong if you overhit and put the jack out of bounds or push the jack toward your opponent’s bowls.
Triples: Three players against three, usually each using three bowls for a playing period of 18 ends. Their positions in order of play: lead, second and skip.
Using the mat: The movement of the mat (within the limits of the rules) for the purposes of lengthening or shortening the length of the jack.
Wick off: A bowl which comes into contact with another bowl at an angle, thus causing the course of the moving bowl to be altered.
Wide bowl: Where the player has allowed too much green for his bowl.
This glossary provides most of the terms used in bowls. As you continue to play, many of these terms will become second nature, helping you follow the flow of each end, communicate effectively with teammates, and appreciate the tactical depth of the game. Keep this guide handy, revisit it often, and enjoy growing your confidence and enjoyment in finding out all About Bowls.
Please also have a look at the Beginners Guide and Etiquette of Bowls.