What is Lawn Bowls?

Lawn bowls is a game of strategy and skill in which the players try to deliver their bowls as close to the jack (also known as a kitty) as possible. The jack is usually a small white ball, which is rolled into place at the start of each end.

The bowls are then delivered alternately by the players of the two opposing teams. One member of the team stands behind the head, and directs the other players as they deliver their bowls. A head is a group of bowls around the jack. Once all members of the team have played their bowls, the 'end' is over, and the process is repeated from the opposite end of the green. The number of bowls or shots a team has closest to the jack is added to the teams score.

The bowls which are used in this game are biased. ie. they are shaped to cause the bowl to turn. The player has direct control over two aspects of the path the bowl takes. These are line and length. There are other factors which may also affect the path of the bowl, including wind, other bowls already on the green, and the playing surface itself.

There are several types of games played at the club. They are pennant, which is the official inter-club competition, social games, and championship games. Pennant sides are made up of 16 players. ie. four teams of four players each. In pennant each player plays two bowls, and the game lasts for 25 ends. Social games are usually played as teams of two (four bowls per player), three (either two or three bowls per player) or four (two bowls per player). Usually two or three games are played in a day, lasting for ten to twelve ends. Championship games are played as a knockout competition which can be entered by club members. Usually it includes singles, pairs, triples and a handicap game. The current club champions at City of Heidelberg can be seen here.

Below is a list of several shots a bowler may be called upon to play, along with a description of the shot:

• The Draw - This is the most common shot used in a game and the most important. All other shots are based on this shot. The bowler aims to place the bowl as close as possible to the jack, or another target as designated by the skip.
• The Wresting Shot - For this shot a bowler will try to hit another bowl with just enough force to roll it over and take it's place.
• The Resting Shot - Similar to the wresting shot, the resting shot aims to rest on a bowl without moving it.
• Trail Shot - The objective of this shot is to hit the jack with the bowl, and move it back a certain distance, and if you're lucky following the jack with the bowl.
• The Follow Through Shot/The Yard on Shot - This shot is similar to the wresting shot, but the target bowl is to be moved back further, and the delivered bowl will continue past the original position of the target bowl.
• The Running Shot - The aim is to remove a bowl from the head while still giving the bowl the chance to bend.
• The Drive - Similar to the Running Shot, the Drive tries to remove a bowl from the head, but it is delivered with the greatest pace possible, often running almost straight.

The most essential part of the game is practice. The game is heavily skills based and practice is the best way to improve those skills. Often just playing one or two games a week is not enough to improve your skills. A minimum of three hours practice is recommended.

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