Lawn Bowling

Lawn bowls is a strategic target game that is very similar to curling. Lawn bowling is a sport with many traditions. There are a few rules, a number of conventions, and a reliance on fair play that depends on the honour system. Often played outdoors, its low impact nature makes it extremely accessible for Canadians of all ages and abilities. The sport is played by more than 14,000 registered local bowlers across Canada in over 200 clubs from coast to coast. Lawn bowls also offers international competition opportunities such as the Commonwealth Games and World Championships for able-bodied and para-bowlers. Lawn bowls is a natural fit for healthy, active life strategies as it provides physical, cognitive, emotional and social benefits to all participants. 

Overview

The number of players on a team can be from 1-4. A Skip is designated as the captain, who plays last.

Once the Jack is placed, that Lead rolls (not throws) the first bowl, trying to place it as closely as possible to the Jack. The next bowl is rolled by the Lead from the other team. Next, the first Lead plays their second bowl. This continues, with alternating team players rolling each of their bowls until the Skips have delivered all their bowls. That completes the End, and a score is determined.

The closest bowl to the Jack is 1 point.  If the same team has more of their bowls next closest to the Jack, each one counts 1 point. For instance, in the picture above, if we assume the 3 brown bowls are from the same team, the score would be 3 points for Brown.  Scoring proceeds until the other team’s bowl is determined to be next. So, for an End, a team may have 1, 2, or more points. That score is placed on the scoreboard.

The bowls are then raked up and a mat is placed in the centre of the lane at the, now, opposite side. The team winning the last point goes first, rolling the Jack down the lane for centring by the Skip.

Play generally proceeds for 10 ends, in friendly club play. This takes about 1-1/2 to 2 hours. The number of ends can be agreed to be a different number for special occasions. Competitive play may have 16 or 20 ends.

It is a common misconception to assume the bowl has a weight embedded within the bowl – this is incorrect. The bias of a bowl is achieved through shaping one side, so that it is not perfectly round. The shape achieved by the manufacturer will provide a certain amount of turn.

Modern bowl manufactures can also impact many other aspects of the bowls trajectory, including when the bowl starts to turn and how much it turns as it begins to slow, all of which is determined by the design of the bias of the bowl.