BOWL UP
Bowls is played on a square of grass called a green, which is divided into lanes called rinks. Players take turns to deliver their bowls from a mat at one end of the rink towards a small target ball, often referred to as the 'jack'- simple as that! situated near the other end.
The bowls are shaped so that they take a curved path towards the jack, known as the bias.
The aim of the game is to get your bowls closest to the jack. One point is given for each bowl nearer the jack than the nearest bowl of your opponent.
Each game is split into individual ends.
After playing all the bowls in one direction and agreeing the score, the next end is played back down the rink in the opposite direction. The winner of the previous end will roll the jack.
The Basic Technique:
Before delivery you should stand on the mat. Face forward with your feet pointing towards the Jack, but to one side of it depending which way you are planning to curve the ball. The bowl should feel comfortable in your favoured hand and be placed outside the hip to enable an unimpeded backswing. You should be looking where you're aiming.
The delivery
Most players combine a forward stride with their backswing. On completion of your backswing, then swing your arm forwards whist bending your knees so, at the moment of release, the hand holding the ball is almost touching the ground. This helps the bowl roll smoothly. At the moment of delivery, make sure one of your feet is on the mat. Simple as that!
The bias
To make it easy, bowls have a large disk on one side and a small disk on the other. The bowl curves towards the side with the smaller disk. So, if you are right-handed holding the ball with a small disk on the side nearest your thumb, a bowl will curve from left to right so you need to aim to the left of the Jack.
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