Membership > Bowling Instruction - Terms and Videos

Bowling Instruction - Terms and Videos

Bowling Terms

Green - the overall playing surface
Rink - the part of the green on which each game is played
Mat - the small mat (36 cm by 60 cm) that must be contacted by at least one foot when delivering a bowl
Groundsheet - the large mat that is regularly used to protect the grass during the delivery
Jack - a small solid ball rolled down the green as a target
Head - the group of bowls that have come to rest and are in play
Bowl - an almost round ball of different sizes and weights
Bias – the "almost round" part of a bowl that causes it to travel a curved path
Emblem (large and small) - used to determine the bias direction of the bowl
Forehand - for the right-handed player, the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from right to left
Backhand - for the right-handed player, the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from left to right
Weight - the speed of the bowl as it is delivered
Toucher - a bowl which has contacted the jack and is "chalked" to indicate this status
Back Bowl - a bowl that has come to rest beyond the jack or the main body of bowls in the head
Measure - device used to determine which bowl is nearest the jack.
Skip - the person who directs play for the team
Vice - directs the play when the skip is on the mat and also measures the bowls in the head when required
Lead - the first player on the team