Lawn bowling, like many sports, has its own unique set of terms and phrases that enthusiasts and players use to describe various aspects of the game. Here’s a guide to some of these specialized terms:
2-Metre Mark – Defines the closest the leading edge of the mat can be to the ditch’s edge and the maximum distance at the other end of the rink where the jack may be positioned.
Back Bowl – Refers to a bowl that stops its motion beyond the jack.
Backhand – For a right-handed player, this is the technique of delivering the bowl with a curve from left to right towards the target.
Bank – The elevated boundary surrounding the green, delineating the outer limits of the ditch.
Bias – The asymmetric shape of bowls, slightly oval, with one side weighted to create a curving path. The smaller circular emblem identifies the biased side.
Blocker – A strategically lighter-than-normal delivery aimed to obstruct an opponent’s pathway or shot.
Bowling Arm – An assistive device for players unable to perform the standard bowling stance, allowing them to deliver bowls while standing.
Bowls – Typically, a set of four bowls identical in design and used by a player.
Centre Line – A line drawn at each end of the rink indicating the central positioning of both the jack and the mat.
Chalk – A marking tool used to identify a bowl that has made contact with the jack during its initial roll. The mark must be applied before the subsequent bowl stops and removed before the marked bowl’s next delivery.
Coin Toss – The pre-game decision-making process to determine the initial bowl delivery rights, involving a coin flipped to land on either heads or tails.
Counter – Any bowl that contributes to a team’s score at the end of an end.
Cover That Bowl – A directive to aim a delivery such that it ends up between the jack and a specified bowl.
Dead Bowl – A bowl that ends up in the ditch without touching the jack, or one that lies outside the active play area.
Declare the Head – A declaration made when a player chooses not to deliver their final bowl, often due to the risk of unfavorably altering the head’s current state.
Ditch – A shallow trench encircling the green, either naturally formed or artificially constructed, that marks the green’s boundary.
Ditch Weight – The required force behind a bowl’s delivery to ensure it reaches the ditch, without intending to enter it.
Do Not Be Short – Encouragement for a bowler to ensure their delivery reaches its target without falling short.
Down – The status of being behind in the count of closest bowls to the jack.
Draw Shot – A precise roll aimed at reaching the jack or a specific spot without disrupting the existing bowls near the jack.
Drive – A powerful delivery with maximum force intended to disrupt the head or remove specific bowls.
Either Hand – The option for a bowler to choose between a forehand or backhand delivery, based on their assessment of the play.
End – The completion of a sequence of play in one direction on the rink; a game comprises multiple ends.
Foot Fault – A violation occurring when a player’s foot is not correctly positioned on or above the mat during the bowl’s release.
Give Away the Mat – The tactical choice made by the coin toss winner to either start the game by delivering the first bowl or allow the opponent to do so, thus reserving the final bowl of the end.
Grass – The intended line of delivery for a bowl, taking into account its bias; too much grass results in a wider path than necessary.
Head – The collection of bowls that have been delivered and the jack at any point during an end, whether on the rink or in the ditch.
Hog Line – Markers indicating the minimum distance the jack must be rolled to establish a valid end.
Jack – The target ball, typically white or yellow, rolled down the rink to set the target for the end.
Jack High – A comparison indicating a bowl’s front edge is level with the jack’s front edge.
Lead – The first player to bowl in an end, responsible for placing the mat and rolling the jack if their team is to start.
Mat – The launching pad from which all bowls are delivered during an end.
Narrow Shot – A delivery that does not allocate enough lateral distance, potentially strategic in certain scenarios.
Plinth – The ditch’s inner wall, typically made of wood or concrete, covered with a protective material to cushion bowls.
Possession – The right of a player or team to bowl, transferring to the opponent once a delivered bowl stops. It includes control over the mat and the head, with the non-possessing side expected to stand clear.
Promoting A Bowl – The action of nudging a teammate’s bowl to a more advantageous position.
Re-Spot – A rule allowing the jack to be placed at a specific location within the rink if it is displaced out of bounds during play.
Rink – The designated area of play on the green, bounded by the ditch and marked for individual games.
Second – The player who bowls immediately following the lead in a team of three or more.
Short Jack – A jack rolled to the minimum permissible distance from the mat, nearing the lower limit.
Skip – The team captain in games of four