What is Lawn Bowling?
About The Game
Lawn bowls is a fun, competitive and strategic game which can be played in teams of one to four people per side and be enjoyed by people of all ages. The game is played in over 50 countries and its popularity continues to grow. Early variations of the game can be traced back to the ancient societies of Egypt, Greece and Rome. Knowledge of the game traveled to the rest of Europe where it took on further transformation. It was played in the United Kingdom in the 13th century and is currently extremely popular in Commonwealth Nations. Since 1930, the game of Lawn Bowls has been a part of the Commonwealth Games.
The game is typically played on a level rectangular grass surface that is meticulously maintained, a synthetic/artificial surface or rubico, a ground slate surface. The field is divided into several “rinks” where many games can take place simultaneously.
Teams alternate turns rolling a “bowl” towards a small ball, used as a target, referred to as a “jack”. The item the players roll to reach the target is known as a “bowl”, and not a “ball”. It is named so because it is not perfectly round and has a bias. The bowl has a weighted side, thus allowing the bowl to curve as it is rolled. This curve means players do not aim directly at the target, the Jack. Players must roll and aim the bowl slightly towards the left or right of the jack, checking which side of the bowl the weight is on, allowing for the curve of the bowl to reach the target.
​
The game is similar in some ways to Curling. However, the target in curling is fixed in the ice and cannot move. In lawn bowls, the target or “jack” might be moved by a player with one of their bowls, creating a more strategic play. The team, or single player, with the most bowls nearest the jack wins the point(s) for that turn or “end”. There are typically 12 ends to a game. The team or player with the most points, and/or ends won, is declared the winner.
The Basics of Lawn Bowling
Ventura native Scott Roberts, the 2015 U.S. Open Lawn Bowling champion gives a quick lesson on how to roll the bowl (ball).
Bowls - It's Just Brilliant
Lawn Bowls is a sport that anyone can play, regardless of age or ability. It's easy to learn and can be as relaxed or as competitive as you want to make it.