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THE SPORT OF LAWN BOWLS: The game is played on a level surface, which is called a Green. Greens can consist of finely cut grass or synthetic material. Each green is divided into strips approx.4.5m wide which are called Rinks. The length of rinks can vary from 31 to 40 metres. Most greens consist of either 7 or 8 rinks.
Bowls are biased and the object of the game is to get the closest bowl or bowls to a small spherical ball, which is called a Jack. The sport is one of skill and also tactics. For example, a player with skill to do so, may move an opposition bowl or the jack with his or her bowl to gain an advantage. All of the shots that can be played in Billiards or Snooker can be played in bowls.
In so far as tactics and types of shots that can be played, bowls could well be described as Billiards or Snooker on a lawn.
The method of scoring is at the completion of each end (an end is completed when all players participating on the rink have delivered all their bowls) the player or team who have the nearest bowl to the jack score one shot. If that player has 2 bowls closer to the jack than the opponents nearest bowl then 2 shots are scored and so on. In Singles play up to 4 shots can be scored each end, whereas in Fours play up to 8 shots can be scored each end.
At the start of a game the players toss to determine who rolls the jack and delivers the 1st bowl. In subsequent ends the player or team who won the previous end roll the jack and delivers the 1st bowl. Players deliver their bowls in alternating order. The player or team who rolls the jack has the advantage of choosing their preferred length of play.
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