It is played on a bowling green which is 120' square. The green is marked off into 7 rinks so that 7 games may be played at one time.
COMPETITION IN BOWLS is in sides made up of one, two, three or four players.
Singles - One against one.
Doubles - Two against two.
Triples - Three against three.
Fours - Four against four.
PLAYING EQUIPMENT CONSISTS of the following:
a. A set of 4 matched bowls each of which weighs about 3 lbs.
b. A jack - the small white ball which is 2 and 1/2" in diameter.
c. A mat - as specified by the uniform rules.
The bowls are purchased by the individual player and are then his personal property. - Jacks and mats are usually furnished by the club. After free lessons, bowls are available for a $3rental fee.
Flat rubber soled shoes are required and each player must furnish his own shoes.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME is to roll the bowls so that they will come to rest as close as possible to the jack. The side that has the bowl nearest to the jack scores one point for that bowl and an additional point for each bowl that it may have closer to the jack than the nearest bowl of the other side.
WHY DOES THE BOWL CURVE AS IT ROLLS?
A bowl curves because of the way that it is made - not because of the way it is delivered by the bowler. The bowl is not uniformly shaped and since it is heavier on one side it naturally curves in the direction of the weighted side as it loses speed.
HOW LONG DOES A GAME LAST?
Baseball has innings. Football has quarters. Hockey has periods. BOWLS HAS ENDS.
When all players on both sides have delivered their bowls in one direction on the green this completes the play of an end. A game consists of the number of ends decided upon before the start of the game or tournament.
WHAT IF THE BOWL HITS THE JACK?
During play the jack may be hit and moved by one or more bowls. There is no penalty for hitting the jack. A change in position of the jack may put it closer to the bowl of the person who is bowling or it may put it closer to a bowl of an opponent.
The game of triples is most commonly played in the United States. In triples each player delivers three bowls.
This is how it goes. Three on each team.
#1 - Lead player known as the "Lead"
#2 - Second player known as "Vice Skip"
#3 - Third player - team captain or "Skip"
Before the game the leads flip a coin to determine which team will deliver the jack on the first end. The game starts with the jack being rolled and centered on the rink on which the game is to be played. The leads then deliver their 3 bowls alternately. The Vice Skips follow in turn. The leads and Vice Skips then proceed to the opposite end of the green and the Skips to to the mat end and deliver their bowls to complete the end. The score for the end is then determined and is entered onto a score card or score board. The team winning the end then rolls the jack to start the next end.
At the completion of the game the scores are totaled and the team having the larger number of total points is the winner.
HOW ARE THE BOWLS IDENTIFIED?
Each set of bowls has a different insignia or marking for easy identification.
WHO CAN BOWL?
Men and Women. Young and old. Bowls is a game that can be played and enjoyed by people of all ages.
The game is a CONSTANT CHALLENGE what with the ever changing position of the jack and the bowls which have come to rest.