Lawn Bowling

Lawn bowling, also known as bowls, is played on a large smooth grass surface, called a green. Each green is divided into smaller portions of green, called rinks, where the game is played. Equipment includes your bowls, which are large, hard resin balls with a bias to them, so that they travel along an elliptical path, rather than going straight; another small, white, smooth, ball called a jack; and a mat from which you bowl. The object of bowls, as in bocce or curling, is to get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent. This is achieved by players from each team taking turns rolling their bowls down the green toward the jack.

The jack is rolled the length of the green to start each portion of the game called an end. Where it stops, after being centered in the middle of the rink, becomes the target for that end. The bowl is not completely spherical, allowing it to curve toward the jack, as momentum is lost. The bowl curves either way, depending on which way it is held during delivery.

Bowls involves offensive and defensive strategy to play the game, and has the added challenge that the jack is movable and can be displaced anywhere on the rink by a delivered bowl.

This is a short video from Bowls Canada showing the various levels of bowling and the fun of playing the game.

  • What equipment is needed?

    You don’t have to purchase anything to get started. Just wear comfortable clothing and flat soled shoes! We supply the bowls and equipment for your lessons and games. You can use the club bowls as long as you would like until you are set to make the commitment to buy your own.

  • Is lawn bowling difficult to learn?

    Lawn bowling is like any sport where there is a learning curve initially. We have coaches to assist new members learn the basics including the rules and techniques. Coaching is available throughout the summer (see calendar).

  • What are the physical requirements for lawn bowling?

    Lawn bowling is a low impact activity that anyone can play if they are reasonably fit. The sport does require bending and the ability to roll the bowls on the grass. For those with mobility issues, such as bad backs and wonky knees, there are various physical aids, including bowl lifters that cut down on stooping and arms or pushers for bowl delivery without the deep knee bend.

Variations of Bowls

The outdoor lawn bowling season runs from May until early October. We have two large regulation sized greens with eight designated rinks each. After outdoor bowling is closed for the winter, we offer indoor or ‘short mat’ bowling on carpet. Our clubhouse has two short mat rinks upstairs and four downstairs.

 

Outdoor

Clubs all around the world play on grass. As of late more artificial turfs and synthetic materials have been used for this outside game.

Short Mat

Short mat is an indoor, year-round sport played on rink mats. It does not require a permanent location as the rink mats can be rolled up and stowed away. This makes it particularly appropriate for small communities as it can be played in village halls, schools, sports and social clubs. Short mat is also known as indoor lawn bowling.

How to Play Outdoor Lawn Bowling

A game is played in a number of ends, usually between eight and fourteen, decided beforehand or as required by the competition being played. Every game can be played as singles, pairs (a team of two players), triples (a team of three players), or fours (a team of four players) and can either be mixed gender or a single gender depending on the competition being played.

Each team is made up of: the skip, the lead, and up to two other members. The skip is the team captain who directs play for their team. They are usually the most experienced player and always deliver the last bowls for their team. The lead delivers the first bowls for their team.

The game commences with the lead of the first team delivering the jack, a small white ball, down the rink, which is then centred and becomes the target for the bowls of both teams. This same lead then delivers their first bowl. Play then alternates between teams starting with the leads and ending with the skips.

After everyone’s turn, the next end begins at the opposite end of the rink. Play continues in a similar sequence until all ends have been played.

When it gets to the skip’s turn, there are already a number of bowls in play close to the jack. The skip may need to bowl accurately in order to increase their score or minimize that of their opponents. Accuracy counts and this is why more experienced players usually play in this position. Beginners usually start in the lead position.

Each end can require very different strategies and tactics depending on the delivered length of the jack and the grouping of each teams’ bowls in relation to the jack. A game can change character completely if the jack is moved out of its initial position.

This is a short video showing the basics of lawn bowling. The instructor is Canadian bowls champion Tim Mason, a member of the West Vancouver Lawn Bowling Club.

How to Play Short Mat Lawn Bowling

The indoor bowling game is similar to the outdoor game except it is played on a carpet instead of grass and each rink is much shorter than outside.

The game is organized with the same team positions and order of play as the outdoor game. However, the skill requirements are different as a result of the shorter rink length and the different playing surface.

To add variety, each of the seven rinks have a different type of carpet. This requires variation in the speed of bowl delivery, known as the weight, to reach the jack.

An additional difference in short mat is that a short barrier is placed half way down the rink to force bowlers to make a wider delivery with greater curvature.

This short video shows short mat bowling at another facility in Canada.