Bowling Lingo

Learn the Lingo  

Lawn bowling has a rich history and a unique set of terms and phrases. Here are some commonly used pieces of lawn bowling lingo

Backhand:  When (for a right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so the curve of the bowl is from the left to right. The larger disc on the side of the bowl will be on the left, as it travels up the rink (the smaller disc on the right).

Bias:  The shape of the bowl which causes it to curve. The side of the bowl with a larger symbol within a circle indicates the side away from the bias. That side with a smaller symbol within a smaller circle is the bias side toward which the bowl will turn.

Blocker:  A bowl intentionally placed to obstruct an opponent’s shot.

Chalk/Mark: Used to mark a "toucher" (a bowl that touches the jack during play)                                  

Cover the back: Strategy to place bowls behind the jack as a safety net.  

Bowl: The biased ball (also known as a Wood) that players deliver towards the jack.

Dead Bowl: A bowl that has gone out of bounds or into the ditch without touching the jack.

Delivery:  Deliberately releasing a jack or a bowl from the hand or an artificial device using an underarm movement. If the jack or bowl accidentally slips from a player’s hand or artificial device during delivery, the player can pick it up and start the delivery again.’ (World Bowls definition).

Ditch: The gully around the green. If a bowl ends up in the ditch and it is not a ‘toucher’ then it doesn’t count.

Draw:  A bowl delivered at the correct weight, and with correct line, to arrive exactly where you want.

Drive:  A fast and powerful shot intended to hit the jack or other bowls.                                                   

Draw to the jack:  Instruction to deliver a bowl near the jack.      

End:  Delivery of the jack, delivery of all the bowls required to be played by all of the opponents in the same direction on a rink, and deciding the number of shots scored.’ (World Bowls law)

Foot fault:  Any player not meeting the terms of this law is committing a foot-fault : ‘Before delivery a player must be standing on the mat with all or part of at least one foot on the mat. At the moment they deliver the jack or a bowl, the player must have all or part of one foot on or above the mat’ (World Bowls law)

Forehand:  When (for the right-handed player) the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from the right to left. The larger disc on the side of the bowl will be on the right, as it travels up the rink (the smaller disc on the left).

Good weight: Praise for a bowl delivered with the right amount of force.

Green:  The total playing area. There are usually 6 rinks on each green.

Head: The jack and any bowls which have come to rest within the boundaries of the rink of play and are not dead.’ (World Bowls definition)

Hold your line: Encouragement to maintain the correct trajectory.

Jack: The little round target ball to which you’re trying to get your bowls closest.

Lead: The player who delivers the first bowls.

Marker: The marker is the person who scores =====

Mat Position:  Before the start of play in each end, the player to play first must place the centre line of the mat lengthwise along the centre line of the rink, with the mat line at least 2 metres from the rear ditch and at least 25 metres from the front ditch.’ (World Bowls law)

Rink: The rectangular strip of the green, between 4 and 6 metres wide, on which the game takes place. Most greens will have 6 rinks.

Stance: Position adopted on the mat prior to delivery. Normally, with the body and feet aligned in the direction of delivery (not in line with the jack, unless ‘firing’).

Shot: The bowl that is nearest the jack at any stage of play. If a player has 2 bowls closer than an opponent then 2 shots etc.

Toucher:  A bowl that hits the jack during its original course. This bowl still counts even if it ends up in the ditch.

Resting Toucher:  A bowl that comes to rest touching the jack.

Second: The player who bowls second and often helps keep score.

Skip: The team captain who delivers the final bowls and decides strategy.                      

Third (Vice-Skip): The player who supports the skip and helps with strategy.

Trail: A shot aimed to lightly touch and move the jack. 

Wick: When a bowl bounces off another bowl and changes direction. .

There are many other ‘unofficial lingos’, however, editorial guidelines make these unrepeatable!!