ASHCOMBE PARK BOWLING CLUB
BOWLS TRAINING
BOWLS TRAINING
H
A
P
P
Y
N
E
W
Y
E
A
R
ELEMENTS of the GAME
Here we discuss the various terms used in the game of Bowls.
An animated image is provided to show elements of the delivery (you may need to load additional software to run this animation - it is safe to load the software from our site )
The terms included are “Shoulder”, “Green”, “Line”, “Weight”, “Forehand & Backhand”, and the ‘Ditch’ around the green.
Shoulder
This is the point where the bowl will start to slow in order that the bias can take control to drag the bowl into a curve towards the object; this point is on the delivery line about three quarters of the way along the line. Here we may place a white pad to make it easier for the bowler, so that after about eight or so deliveries the bowler should be getting somewhere near the target.
Green
This is the amount of deviation from the centre line. Bowls will need differing amounts of ‘green’ to return back to the centre, depending on the type of Bowl, and the conditions of the rink. Remember to adjust your ‘Green’ when the target is off-centre.
Line
What is meant when one says “take the correct line”? From the moment the bowl leaves your hand and travel's toward the object. which could be the jack, another bowl or any spot the skip wants your bowl to finish, this is called your line. This may sound easy but bear in mind that the bowl has a bias and, this has to be taken into consideration.
Weight
What is meant by use more weight? From the moment the bowl leaves your hand the speed in which your arm is swinging indicates the speed or weight that the bowl is traveling. One common mistake that beginners make is to put on excessive ‘Weight’ when taking more ‘Green’. Remember that ‘Weight’ affects the position of the ‘Shoulder’.
ForeHand & BackHand
This is the direction that the bowl is delivered, relative to your normal ‘hand’. For right-handed bowlers the ‘forehand’ is to the right, and the ‘backhand’ is to the left, so that the bowl turns inwards towards the centre. For left-handed bowlers, the ‘forehand’ and ‘backhand’ directions are reversed. A ‘wrong bias’ delivery is often made by beginners, particularly when the decision of which ‘hand’ to use is changed, without changing the bias direction, so the bias side of the bowl is not facing the centre line of the rink. Sometimes experienced bowlers also make this mistake - it will not go unnoticed!
The Ditch
Should your weight be excessive, then your bowl may land in the ditch. Your bowl will then be inactive and removed, unless it has touched the ‘jack’, in which case your bowl will remain active. Any bowl that touches the ‘jack’ is chalk-marked, so that if it subsequently lands in the ditch, the bowl remains active.
If, in a game, the “jack” is delivered into the “ditch”, then your opponent delivers the “jack”, and can re-position the mat, but the game proceeds as if you placed the “jack”. If the “jack” is again delivered too long, or even too short, it is re-positioned at maximum length - two metres from the ditch.
Compiled with the help of George Finnegan - Club bowls trainer