When you first start playing lawn bowls, you'll quickly realise it has its own language. From the "jack" to the "ditch" and the "head," a whole host of unique terms are used on the green. Hearing players talk about "touchers" and "dead ends" can feel like listening to a secret code.
This simple glossary is designed to be your pocket guide to the language of bowls. It covers the essential terms you'll hear during a friendly roll-up or a competitive match. We recommend saving this page for later so you can quickly reference it whenever you hear a new phrase.
Core Gameplay Terms
These are the fundamental words that describe the game, the playing area, and the equipment.
- Jack (or Kitty): The small white or yellow ball that serves as the target. The objective of the game is to get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent's.
- End: A segment of play. An end consists of all players delivering their bowls from one end of the rink to the other. Once all bowls are delivered and the score is agreed upon, the end is complete. A new end then begins in the opposite direction.
- Rink: The rectangular strip of the green on which the game is played. A full bowling green is typically divided into several rinks side-by-side.
- Mat: The rectangular mat from which players must deliver the jack and their bowls. At least one foot must be on the mat upon delivery.
- Bias: The most important concept in lawn bowls. It is the deliberate asymmetry of the bowl that causes it to curve in an arc as it slows down. You don't aim directly at the jack; you aim out to the side and let the bias bring the bowl back to the target.
- Toucher: A bowl that touches the jack during its initial delivery. A toucher remains "live" even if it rolls into the ditch. It is marked with chalk by the players or umpire.
- Ditch: The gully or trench surrounding the green. A bowl that falls into the ditch is removed from play, unless it is a "toucher."
Shot Terms
These terms describe the different types of shots players use to achieve their tactical goals.
- Draw: The most common and important shot in bowls. It is a precisely weighted shot delivered with the aim of having it stop as close to the jack as possible.
- Drive: A high-speed, aggressive shot. The player delivers the bowl with maximum force, aiming to hit the jack or other bowls with enough power to dramatically alter the head or send the jack into the ditch.
- Yard-On: A shot played with slightly more weight than a draw. It is intended to push an opponent's bowl away from the jack or to gently move the jack a short distance.
- Weighted Shot: A general term for any shot played with more force than a simple draw. It could be a yard-on shot or a more powerful "controlled weight" shot designed to displace several bowls.
- Blocker (or Guard): A tactical shot played deliberately short of the head. Its purpose is to obstruct the opponent's best line to the jack, forcing them to play a more difficult shot.
Position and Team Terms
In team formats of lawn bowls, each player has a specific role and title.
- Lead: The player who goes first in a team. The lead's primary job is to place the mat, deliver the jack, and get their first two bowls as close as possible to the jack to build a foundation for the end.
- Second: The player who plays after the lead in a team of three or four. The second's role is to build on the lead's bowls, either by adding more shots or by playing tactical positional bowls.
- Third (or Vice-Skip): The player who plays third in a team of four. This is a crucial position, requiring a player who can play all types of shots. The third also takes charge of the head and advises the skip when the skip is on the mat.
- Skip: The captain of the team who plays last. The skip directs the team's strategy, tells the other players which shots to play, and uses their own bowls to secure the end.
Scoring and Measuring Terms
These terms relate to the conclusion of an end and determining the score.
- Counting Shots: At the end of an end, the team with the bowl closest to the jack scores one point. They then score additional points for every bowl they have that is closer than the nearest opponent's bowl.
- Measures: When it is too close to tell by eye which bowl is closest, players use a measuring device. This can be a special bowls tape measure, calipers, or feeler gauges.
- Dead End: An end that is declared void and must be replayed. This usually happens when the jack is knocked out of the boundaries of the rink to the side.
Quick “What to Say” Examples
Here are some common phrases you will hear players say at club night:
- "You've got the mat." - It's your turn to start the end.
- "Good weight." - A compliment on a draw shot that was the perfect speed, even if the line wasn't quite right.
- "Give it a yard." - A request for a weighted shot to push a bowl out.
- "Cover that back bowl." - A tactical instruction to place a bowl behind the head as insurance.
- "You're holding one." - Your team currently has the closest bowl to the jack.
- "Chalk it." - A call to mark a bowl that has touched the jack, making it a "toucher."
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "being up" or "being down" mean?
"Being up" means your team is currently holding the winning shot(s). "Being down" means the opposing team is holding the winning shot(s). For example, "We are two shots down" means the opponent has the two closest bowls.
What is "the head"?
"The head" is the collective term for the jack and all the bowls that have been delivered and have come to rest within the boundaries of the rink. The skip's main job is to "read the head" to decide the next shot.
What is the difference between a "rink" and a "green"?
The "green" is the entire playing area. The "rink" is one of the individual rectangular lanes marked out on the green for a single game. A green is typically made up of 6 to 8 rinks.
Learning the language of lawn bowls is part of the fun of getting into the sport. Don't be afraid to ask experienced players what a term means—they will always be happy to help a newcomer.