I’ve been involved in bowls for over 30 years, and I can tell you, there's a special kind of tension that falls over the green when an end is too close to call. All eyes are on the head as the measure comes out. It’s the moment where a game can be won or lost by a single millimetre! It’s what makes bowls a game of such incredible precision.
For new players, the process of marking, measuring, and scoring can seem a little daunting. Who does what? What happens if the jack goes in the ditch? How do you use those strange-looking callipers? Don't you worry! It’s all very straightforward once you understand the principles.
This step-by-step guide will give you the confidence to walk up to the head and know exactly what’s going on. We’ll cover everything from chalking a toucher to filling out a scorecard.
The Preliminaries: Setting Up the End
Before you can score, you have to play! It all starts with setting the mat and the jack correctly.
- Placing the Mat: The player who won the previous end (or the coin toss at the start) places the mat. It must be centred on the rink and have its front edge at least 2 metres from the rear ditch.
- Delivering the Jack: The same player, the Lead, delivers the jack. For it to be in play, it must travel at least 23 metres from the mat and come to rest on the rink without falling into the ditch.
- Centring the Jack: The Lead then ensures the jack is centred on the rink before delivering the first bowl.
Understanding Key Terms: Live, Dead, and Touchers
Not all bowls are created equal once an end is underway!
Live vs. Dead Bowls
- A Live Bowl is any bowl that is in play on the rink.
- A Dead Bowl is one that is no longer in play. A bowl becomes dead if it goes into the ditch (unless it was a "toucher"), is knocked out of the rink's side boundaries, or is delivered when it's not your turn. Dead bowls are removed from the green immediately.
The Jack: Live vs. Dead
- A Live Jack is in play. If it's knocked into the ditch within the rink's boundaries, it remains live! The game continues towards the jack in the ditch.
- A Dead Jack means the end is void. This happens if the jack is knocked out of the side boundaries of the rink or over the bank. The end is then replayed (unless local rules state otherwise).
Touchers: The Magic of Chalk
This is a crucial concept! A "toucher" is a bowl that touches the jack during its original delivery.
- How to Mark a Toucher: If you're at the head and see a bowl touch the jack, you must stop it before the next bowl is delivered. You then mark it clearly with chalk or a specialist spray chalk. A chalk cross is the traditional mark.
- Why it Matters: A toucher that ends up in the ditch is still a LIVE bowl! It can still count for shot, making it a very powerful weapon. Any non-toucher that goes in the ditch is dead.
The Measure: Deciding Who Gets the Shot
When the last bowl has been delivered, it's time to decide the score. In a team game, this is usually the job of the "Number 3" from each team. In pairs or singles, the players do it themselves.
Essential Measuring Tools
Every serious bowler should have a measure in their bag.
- Tape Measure: This is your primary tool. A good bowls measure has a locking mechanism and a fine string or wire for accuracy.
- Callipers: These are used when two or more bowls are extremely close to the jack. They can accurately determine which is nearer without disturbing the head.
- Feeler Gauges: A set of thin blades used by umpires to decide between bowls that are seemingly touching the jack.
How to Measure: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Wait for the End to Finish: Never start measuring until the final bowl has come to rest.
- Agree Who Measures: Only the designated measurers (e.g., the two "threes") should enter the head. Everyone else must stand well back to give them space and a clear view.
- The Golden Rule: Always measure from the jack! Place the end of your tape against the jack.
- Find the Obvious Shot: Identify the bowl that looks closest. Measure it first.
- Compare with the Opposition: Now, measure the closest-looking opposition bowl. Compare the two measurements to confirm who holds the first shot. Do not move any bowls yet!
- Count the Shots: Once the first shot is agreed, the winning team then measures their other bowls to see if any are closer than the nearest opposition bowl. For every bowl they have that is closer, they score one point.
Common Measuring Scenarios
- What if it’s a tie? If two bowls from opposing teams are exactly the same distance from the jack (equidistant), neither bowl counts. The next closest bowl would then be the shot. If there are no other bowls, the end is drawn and scored as 0-0.
- No Shot Bowl: If the nearest bowl to the jack belongs to Team A, but that bowl is resting against one of Team B's bowls that is further away, Team A cannot claim it as shot until the opposition bowl is removed. Be very careful when separating them!
Scoring the Game: How You Win
Once you've agreed on the score for the end, you need to mark it down. The format of the game determines how you win overall.
Scorecard Basics
The scorecard has columns for each end. The skip of each team is responsible for maintaining the card.
- "Shots For" and "Shots Against": Each team records the shots they scored in an end in their "For" column, and the shots their opponents scored in the "Against" column.
- Running Total: A cumulative score is kept so everyone knows the state of the match at a glance.
- Checking the Score: The skips should verbally agree on the score and check the running total on the main scoreboard against their cards every few ends to avoid any mistakes.
Common Game Formats
- Singles: Usually played first to 21 shots. The game ends as soon as one player reaches 21.
- Team Games (Pairs, Triples, Fours): These are typically played over a set number of ends (e.g., 18 or 21). The team with the highest total score at the end wins.
- Sets Play: Often seen in professional tournaments. A match is played over the best of, say, three sets. Each set is played over a certain number of ends (e.g., 7 or 9). The player/team with the most shots in a set wins that set. The first to win two sets wins the match.
What to Do in a Dispute
Disagreements are rare, but they do happen. Good etiquette is crucial here.
- Stay Calm: Never get into an argument over a measure.
- Ask the Skips: If the measurers cannot agree, the two skips should come in to have a look.
- Call an Umpire: If there is still no agreement, do not move the bowls! Call for a neutral third party or an official umpire. Their decision is final.
Mastering the arts of marking, measuring, and scoring is a huge part of your development as a bowler. It gives you confidence, ensures fair play, and deepens your appreciation for the incredible skill involved in our sport. So grab your bowls accessories, get on the green, and enjoy the challenge!