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

Bowling Instructional Videos

This video is an introduction to the game of lawn bowls.

This video explains the rules of lawn bowls.

If you would like to learn more about the procedures and rules for lawn bowling or if you have heard a lawn bowling term being used and you are not sure what it means take a look at this Scottish club's webpage.

The videos below explain key aspects about playing the game of bowls.