The basics of lawn bowls

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Rink: area in which play takes place, usually a flat, grassed area, bounded by boundary pegs

Centre line: the line down the centre of the rink

Jack: small white ball, rolled out along the centreline, the idea is to get bowls as close as possible to it

Bowls: the balls used by the player, up to four each, weighted on one side causing it to curve as it rolls

Mat: placed on the centre line, players stand on it to bowl

The bowling

• Stand on the mat, feet together, knees and waist bent slightly
• Take ball in your preferred hand (right or left)
• Step out with your opposite foot (left or right)
• Take a small back swing
• Bend down and roll bowl along the ground
• Roll it out at an angle, so the bowl curves back towards jack (see basics)
• Avoid dropping or bouncing bowl so as not to damage green

Strategy

Draw shot: A slow, measured, finessed bowl trying to end closest to the jack

Drive shot: A harder, faster bowl used to try to knock other players' bowls away

Scoring

• The player who has their bowl or bowls closest to the jack wins
• Points are awarded according to the number of bowls closest
• Players judge the distance and number by eye
• If in dispute, a measuring tape is employed
• If still in dispute, an umpire called in to resolve