Terminology Used in the Game of Bowls

Be Up - Means, don't be short, short bowls are wasted bowls.

Bias - The small button side of the bowl.

Bowl in its original Course - a Bowl from the time of its delivery until it comes to rest, regardless of how many times it may be deflected before coming to rest.

Controlling Body - the body having immediate control of the conditions under which a match is played. The order shall be:
(i) The World Bowls Board (W.B.B.), the World Indoor Bowls Council (W.I.B.C.), the International Women's Bowling Board (I.W.B.B.) or the World Indoor Bowls Council Ladies Section (W.I.B.C.L.S.).
(ii) The National Bowling Authority or grouping of National Bowls Authorities.
(iii) Divisions within National Authorities
(iv) The Club on whose Green the Match is played.

Delivery - means when the Jack or Bowl is released from the hand.

Displaced - as applied to a Jack or Bowl means disturbed by any agency that is not sanctioned by these Laws.

Domestic - any play under the control of a Controlling Body other than the World Bowls Board, World Indoor Bowls Council, International Women's Bowling Board or the World Indoor Bowls Coach Ladies Section.

Draw shot - A bowl delivered with just the right weight to reach the jack or sometimes to match the opponent's bowl.

Draw to - The amount of swing the bowl takes from the centre the green allowing it to curve or bend into the jack. A narrow green requires less than average amount of grass while a wide green requires more.

Drive Shot - Also called a runner this is similar to the takeout in curling causing other bowls and sometimes the jack to scatter. It is delivered at a high rate of speed.

End - the placing of the Mat, the delivery of the Jack and the playing of all the Bowls of all the opponents in the same direction on a rink. The number of ends played is decided by the games chairperson.

Four - a team of four players whose positions in order of playing are named, Lead, Second, Third, Skip.

Grass - Direction line the bowl takes in order for it to curve or bend into the jack at the finish of its run.

Green - The normal green is 120' x 120'

Hand - The side the bowl is delivered either the right of the left side. (Depends on whether the payer is right or left handed) - Fore-hand & Back-hand

Head - The Bowls which are grouped around the jack; such Bowls as have come to rest within the boundary of the rink and are not dead. (See Laws 35 and 40).

Holding Surface - a product to stop the Jack or Bowl from running along the ditch.

Jack - The white ball, which all bowlers wish their bowl would lay against when it comes to rest.

Jack High (Jack Level) - The nearest portion of the Bowl referred to is in line with and at the same distance from the Mat Line as the nearest portion of the Jack.

Mat Line - the edge of the Mat which is nearest to the front ditch. From the centre of the Mat Line as necessary measurements to Jack or Bowls shall be taken.

Narrow - Sometimes called tight, means that you didn't take enough grass.

Pace of - This is the number of seconds it takes the bowl to travel from the front of the mat to a distance of approximately 27 metres.

Port - An opening between two bowls which is large enough to allow another bowl to roll through.

Reference Bowl - a Bowl which has been approved by the W.B.B. as having the minimum bias required, as well as in all other respects complying with the Laws of the Game and is engraved with the words "Reference Bowl".
(i) A Reference Bowl shall be kept in the custody of each National Authority.
(ii) A Reference Bowl shall be provided for the use of each official Licensed Tester.

Rink - A normal rink is a 5.5 to 5.8 metre wide area running from one end to the other.

Set - a pre-determined number of shots or ends, forming part of the overall match.

Set of Bowls - four Bowls all of a matched set which are of the same manufacture, and of the same size, weight, colour, bias and where applicable serial number and engraving. In all games each player shall play with the appropriate number of Bowls from the same set.

Shot Bowl - The bowl lying closest to the jack.

Side - any agreed number of Teams, whose combined scores determine the results of the match.

Skip - the player, who, for the time being, is in charge of the head on behalf of the team.

Team - either a Four, Triples or a Pair.

Toucher - A shot that touches the jack. This bowl will be marked and will still be in play even if it comes to rest in the ditch.

Weight - The amount of power applied in delivering the bowl to the jack.

Wick - Is when the bowl being delivered hits another bowl and changes direction. It is described as having "wicked off" a bowl.

Wide - You started your bowl out too far from the centre line to the jack,"took to much grass".

Wing Shot - This is a bowl that comes to rest to the right or left of the jack. The disadvantage of a wing bowl is that sometimes the opponent will use them to wick in to the jack.

Yard On - To apply enough power to your delivery to make the bowl go at least a yard passed the jack.

Return to the Clubhouse