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How to Play the Outdoor Game
The basics of the outdoor
game of bowling are shown in the video entitled
‘Intro to Lawn Bowling’ which will appear if you
click on the link below.
A game is played in a number of ‘ENDS’, usually between 8 and 14,
decided
before-hand or as required by the competition
being played.
Every game can be played as ‘PAIRS’ (a team
of two players),
‘TRIPLES’ (a team of three players), or ‘FOURS’ (a
team of four players)
and can either be mixed gender or
a single gender
depending on the competition
being played.
Each team is made up of : The ‘SKIP’, the team captain, who is usually
the most
experienced player and who always delivers the
last bowls for his team
in addition to directing the play for the other members of his team.
The ‘LEAD’, who always delivers the
first bowl for his team.
And one or two other members when either triples or fours is being played.
The game commences with the lead of the first team delivering the
‘JACK’,
a small white ball, down the rink, which is then
centered and becomes the
target for all the bowls of both teams.
This same lead then delivers his first bowl,
making due allowance in his aim
for the bias of the bowl. Then the lead of the
other team delivers his first bowl.
Each lead, in turn, delivers each of his bowls,
four in the case of a pairs game,
three in the case of a triples game and two
in the case of a fours game.
After the LEADS have delivered all their
bowls, the next team members
follow in turn in a similar sequence, ending
with the Skips of the two teams.
The score is determined by which team has the
closest bowl to the jack and
multiple points are scored when more than one
of his team’s bowls lie closer
to the jack than the nearest of the other team’s bowls.
The game then recommences with the
next end
which is played from the opposite end of the rink than was used in the
first end and
continues in a similar sequence
until all ends have been played. Each end can require
very different strategies and tactics depending on the delivered length
of the jack
and the grouping of each teams’ bowls in relation to the jack.
Sometimes your team is in the lead and the best tactic is to deliver a
short bowl
which can provide a guard for your
counting bowls.
Other times the other team is in the lead which demands that you either
manage to get your
own bowl closer to the jack than they are, or perhaps attempt to hit the other team’s
scoring bowl, or the jack itself, in
order to move them, or if all else fails, you might have to
resort to a ‘TAKE-OUT’ shot which requires a fast delivered bowl
intended to scatter
all the bowls lying
close to the jack.
A game can change character completely if the jack is moved out of its
initial position,
and provided that it remains inside the
permissible playing surface of the rink, it presents
a totally different target
than before.
This is what makes the game of bowls so
interesting and exciting.
When it gets to the
skips turn,
the location and arrangement of
bowls close to the jack,
both those of his own team and
those of the opposition, can require very accurate play,
in order to increase his score or minimize that of his opponents. This
is where skill counts
and this is why the most experienced players usually play in this position.
Beginners usually start in the lead
position.
This is an abbreviated description of how the game is played.
The finer points can best be learned by actually playing a game with an
experienced player or coach.