Rules and Helpful Hints

Definitions

 and

Glossary

BACK BOWL          

A bowl which is a distance behind the Jack

BACKHAND

 to the right‑handed player it is a delivery to the left hand side of the centre block.                             

to the left handed player it is a delivery to the right hand side of the centre block.                                                

BEST BACK

the bowl which is directly behind the jack and closest to the ditch

BIAS

is the curved line of direction in which a moving bowl travels, caused by the special shape of the runningedge of a wood.

CENTRE BLOCK  

means the wooden obstacle measuring 15" long    3 " high which is placed on the centre block line.

BLOCKING       

means protectinga  lying shot or jack with another bowl in order to hinder an opponent.

Refers to a wood marked with chalk or white spray to indicate it as being a toucher

CONTROLLING BODY  

the body having overall  control of the conditions under  which a match is played.

when the Jack or Wood is protected by another wood situated in front

means the central section of the rink mat which is between the dead lines. 12.5 Ft max 10.0 ft min

DEAD DRAW

a precise draw to the Jack

DEAD END      

an end which is consided not to have been bowled, - the Jack being driven off the mat

DEAD JACK

a jack which has been moved into the ditch by a toucher. (can only be moved by existing toucher)

White lines set at 9 feet from the ditch line which marks the beginning and end of the DEAD AREA

DEAD WOOD

A Bowl which has either, passed into the ditch, failed to wholly pass the DEADLINE, touched the centre block, or left the mat.

DELIVERY

the releasing of a bowl on to the mat from the players hand

DELIVERY LINES 

means the markings within which players' feet must be placed during delivery 

DELIVERY MAT

means the foot mat upon which the stance is taken when bowling 

DISPLACED/DISTURBED

means accidentally moving a bowl or jack other wise than by a bowl in play.

The 1 foot deep area, marked at each end of the playing mat.

means delivering a bowl with sufficient impetus to reach its objective with the necessary green to allow the bias to take effect

DRIVE

a bowl delivered with force

DUMPING

The act of bowling high, resulting in the wood delivered striking the mat heavily, usually with a loud sound. This act reduces the accuracy, and speed of the delivery

END

means the placing of the delivery mat, and a  jack, followed by delivery of all  players' bowls, in any one discipline in the same direction on the rink  mat. An end is completed when the last player's final bowl comes to rest.

FAST MAT

A playing mat which is constructed of material of a low contact resistance, allowing the bowl to  travel with little effort from the bowler.

FENDER          

means the wooden surround that encloses the rear of the ditch area.

FIRING/FORCING SHOT

bowl which is delivered at a very fast pace

FOLLOW THROUGH  

completing fully the delivery arm action of the bowl along the line of delivery

FOOT FAULT

when a bowler fails to have one foot completely on or over the delivery mat. Or the other foot within the delivery lines

FOREHAND

The delivery of a wood by a right handed bowler to the right of the centre block, and left by a left handed player.

FOUR

teams of four players on each side whose positions in order of play are called Lead, Second, Third and Skip.

The distance between a centre block and the outer edge of a mat, used to allow a projected wood to turn and finish near a target area.  A wood passing near to the centre block is called Narrow, near the outer edge of the mat Wide

HEAD

means the jack and  all the bowls that have come to rest within the boundary of the rink mat and are not dead.

JACK HIGH      

means that the a wood comes to rest exactly on the same plane as the jack

JACK LINE       

The 3 foot long line which is marked on the centre of the mat, commencing 3 feet from the ditch and finishing 3 feet from the Dead Line. The jack may be placed at any point on this line prior to the start of play.(see LONG/SHORT JACK)

LEAD

this is the player on each side who bowl's first

LIVE AREA

means that section of the rink mat between the dead line and the ditch, delineated by the inside edge of the half inch marking strip, and the edge of the mat.

LIVE WOOD

 a bowl, which on delivery, reaches the live area without touching the centre block, and remains within the parameters of the lines marking that area. If it makes contact with the jack, it remains live even if it finishes in the ditch.

LONG JACK

A Jack which is placed on the Jack Line as far as possible, from the delivery mat.

MARKER

The person who keeps score in a singles match.

MEASURE

is the act of checking the distance between the Jack and any wood in the head. This must be done with an approved tape. No use of foot, hand, or delivery mat is permitted.

ORIGINAL COURSE

is the curved line that the bowl takes from the delivery mat to its objective

PAIRS

Teams of two players on each side whose positions in order of playing are called Lead and Skip.

RINK MAT

means the whole rectangular playing surface.

RUNNING WOOD

means a bowl delivered with sufficient impetus to prevent its bias from taking effect. (used for removing a bowl or breaking a head).

SKIP

is the player who leads the team and controls the play on be half of his side on any rink mat.

SINGLES

means one player competing against another

SECOND WOOD 

The bowl which is next nearest the jack after the shot wood.

SHOT WOOD

The wood which is nearest the jack at any one time.

SHORT JACK

A Jack placed on the Jack Line at the point nearest to the delivery mat.

SLOW MAT

A Playing Mat which is made of material with a high surface contact resistance causing a delivered wood slow down quickly, requiring more effort from the bowler.

STANCE

The position adopted by a bowler standing on the delivery mat.

TEAM

means any agreed number of players on one side.

THIRD

this is the third player in a group of four. The third measures, determines the score, takes over at the head when the Skip is on the delivery mat.

TOUCHER

is the term applied to a bowl which touches the    live jack while the bowl is in motion on the rink mat    and before it comes to rest. It shall also be a toucher if it is deflected off a bowl at rest on o the jack, or if the jack is sprung to touch the bowl whilst it is still in motion, or if it falls and touches the jack before the next bowl has been delivered. The toucher will remain in play until the end is completed, even when in the ditch. It shall be indicated by a chalk mark, which should be placed on it before the following bowl comes to rest. If this is impractical because there is a danger of the bowl falling over or moving, it shall be nominated and Chalked when the danger has passed.

TRAILING

means contacting the jack with sufficient momentum so as to move It and follow it to a new position.

TRIPLE

teams of  three players on each side whose positions in order of playing are called Lead,  Second and Skip.

UMPIRE

a person appointed to oversee a match and adjudicate in matters of dispute

WEIGHT

The amount of force applied to propel a wood up the mat

WICK    

 when a bowl glances off another bowl or bowls during delivery, so as to change its natural line of travel.

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