The Block

The Block is a defensive shot taken in lawn bowling and while it can be a good strategy to keep your opposition at bay, it can also be very difficult to place your bowl exactly where you want it. Because of this, the block requires great precision otherwise, it will just be a wasted shot.

To throw a block, you need to throw your bowl so that it lands just short of the jack or target. The idea is that this will force your opponent to move another way by placing it directly in their drawing line. It’s also used largely to stop an opponent from taking a shot at the jack or the target.

Because of the great attention to detail and accuracy that’s required, the block is only recommended to be employed by advanced bowlers and those that are familiar with green conditions.

Crown Green Bowls

Crown Green Bowls is a type of lawn bowling that varies slightly from the traditional game that is played. The game originated in the North of England and the North West Midlands and it is here that the game is still most closely associated with pubs and taverns, making it a bit less formal as well. 

The game is played on a Crown Green, which is like a traditional green in the way that it is a large square piece of grass. Unlike traditional lawn bowling however, the middle of the green is slightly raised and there is a ditch surrounding the green. Crown Green Bowls is usually played by single players who only take two turns per each end. Players are allowed to throw their bowls in any direction and just about any strategy can be used – some players like to use the raised hump to their advantage while others feel more comfortable playing along the slope. Others still like to simply make short or long shots across the flat part of the green. 

Crown Green Bowls is a very exciting game to watch because the rules are much less stringent than they are in traditional lawn bowling. Players can throw their bowls in any direction and because there are usually many games occurring simultaneously on one green, there are always people moving around each other and their bowls! 

Crown Green Bowls may be a less-traditional form of lawn bowling but it’s an actual sport that is actually recognized. The British Crown Green Bowls Association opened in 2000 when 15 county teams officially entered competitive Crown Green Bowls. The Association is still thriving today and is always welcoming new members who want to add a little bit of a twist to their lawn bowling game!

Table Bowls

When the weather is rainy or there’s no green nearby, avid lawn bowlers don’t need to worry that they can’t partake in the game they’re so passionate about! Indoor lawn bowling can be played in a way that’s much different than indoor greens – it’s played right on a table! 

It’s thought that the game of table bowls originally came from pubs that held in the district of Carlisle sometime during the second half of the 19th century. This game uses miniature-sized bowls and jacks as well as a wooden chute and is played on a standard-sized billiards or snooker table. 

The chute is placed at one end of the table with one end resting on the table and the other end resting on the edge of the table, so that it is on a slant. The players will position the chute at the angle they want it and place their bowls into the chute. Once the bowl has been placed into the chute, it is released and the bowler has no more interference with its force or direction. (This includes using excessive force to drop the bowl into the chute.) Whoever ends up closest to the jack at the end wins the game.

Table bowls stems from the Victorian era and although not played as regularly as standard lawn bowling, it’s a game that’s still very much enjoyed today. It’s also one that takes great skill, accuracy, and practice to master!

The Block

The Block can be one of the greatest defensive moves used in the game of lawn bowling. But it’s only when it’s used absolutely correctly and with great precision and accuracy that The Block is effective. When all of the right factors are not lined up properly so that the shot is delivered correctly, the shot is nothing but a waste. Here’s how to, very carefully, do it correctly. 

The purpose of The Block is exactly that: to block the path from your opponent’s bowl to the jack. This needs to be done by placing your bowl directly in front of your opponent’s bowl, or at least enough so that it will knock it off course. The bowl can also tried to be placed just in front of the jack, making it difficult for your opponent’s to reach the jack. 

The Block takes a lot of practice as it’s simply a matter of being able to place your bowl exactly where you want it on the green.

Different Forms of Play

One of the greatest things about lawn bowling is that there are so many different ways to play and so, even after you’ve mastered one way you can move on to another and work on your skill and strategy all over again! The main different forms of play in lawn bowling are singles, triples, fours, and sometimes in pairs. 

In single play two people play against each other and a governing body will determine the number of points needed to win. The number of points required for a win is usually 21, 25, or 31. Two sets of nine ends are played, an end being one player each taking a turn. If each player wins one of those sets, a third end will be played that will automatically determine the winner. 

When playing in pairs, one player assumes the position of the Lead while the other player assumes the position of the Skip. Each player will take turns throwing two bowls, until a total of 6 bowls has been delivered by each player. After each end, the lead and the skip will change positions and the entire game will be played over 21 ends. Triples simply adds another to the team while fours adds two more to the fun!

Etiquette of the Lead

In lawn bowling, there are of course different roles for each player on the team. However, these roles don’t just define what’s required from different players according to different rules but, these roles also have their own etiquette that’s expected, and this isn’t written down in the rule books. 

The first ‘rule of etiquette’ for the Lead happens while his opponent is laying down his mat. During this time, it’s a nice gesture for the Lead to take the jack and his opponent’s bowl and give them to him. The jack should be held in the left hand with the player’s bowl being held in the right hand. This simple act provides for a friendly competitive atmosphere and can make the game even more fun!

During a pairs match, the Lead measures and if his measurements are wrong, a penalty may be given to him. The penalty is usually in the form of another shot being awarded to the opposing team. It’s proper etiquette for other players in the match to not take advantage of this fact just to get their extra shot.

The Wrest & The Wick

The Wrest
This lawn bowling shot is quite strategic and is used when a bowler wants to use more weight so that they can knock an opponent’s bowl out of position. To perform the wrest, you simply perform the same action as a basic drawing shot but put a lot more force behind it so that it bears more weight.

The Wick
The Wick is one of those shots that many would refer to as a ‘lucky shot.’ Although seeing a perfect one is rare, and they do often come by sheer luck and accident, advanced players can try to attempt it via process of visualization. This shot is thrown with the purpose of knocking it against another player’s bowl so that it can come to lie nicely close to the jack. This shot is usually best attempted on a medium-paced green.

Mastering a Basic Shot

When you’re first learning the sport of lawn bowling, it can be easy to get caught up in advanced shots and strategic moves and want to try them all. But there’s one shot that must be mastered before any others can be achieved and that is the Drawing Shot. The goal with this type of shot is to throw your bowl with enough force so that the bias can come into play before the bowl rests near the target or the jack. In order to deliver this shot effectively, you must be able to have good judgement of the line and the length that you will be throwing towards and green conditions will also factor into how well the bowl rolls.

The only way to perfect the drawing shot is to constantly practice. Playing the lead before moving up in roles can help with practicing the drawing shot and becoming advanced enough at it to move onto other more complex shots.

The Rules of Lawn Bowling

Because the rules of lawn bowling can vary slightly from club to club, beginners can often become overwhelmed at the seemingly large amount of rules in lawn bowling. Truthfully, there are only a few basic rules but the best way to learn them is simply by playing the game and practicing with people who are familiar with the rules of lawn bowling. Even though each club has slightly different rules, there are some basics of bowls that cannot be diverted from. Here are the generally accepted rules of lawn bowling.

Lawn bowling is played on a green, which is divided up into 6 rinks and each rink is 20 feet wide x 120 feet long. The mat is laid at one end of the rink and the target or jack is laid at least 23 meters away from the mat. The object of the game is to get your bowls as close as possible to the jack and/or knocking your opponent’s bowl away from the jack.

When releasing the bowl, each player must have one foot near the mat. Scoring works by giving each team one point for every bowl they have closer to the jack than the other team. This is called the count. The length of the game will depend on the club. 14, 15, 18, or 21 ends can be played, but usually 21 ends are played. Sometimes the game will simply be played on a points system but this is more common in individual play. Usually the teams are made up of 4 players but singles, pairs, and triples can also be played.

The Roles in Bowls

In lawn bowling, each team is made up of 4 people. These 4 people each have their own role within that team and each role has their own responsibilities. The 4 roles are called The Lead, The Second, The Third, and The Skip. Here’s a brief explanation about what each does.

The Lead – The first player to bowl is called The Lead and they will approach first, lay down the mat, position the target or jack where The Skip would like it, and deliver the first bowl. Generally The Lead tries to position their bowl just in front of the jack or just behind it. The worst thing The Lead could do is deliver a short bowl, which could hinder the other players on his team, or deliver a wing shot, which could help players of the opposing team.

The Second – The Second is the second person on the team to bowl. The Skip may offer them tips on how to deliver their bowl, depending on whether or not The Skip thinks they are in a good position.

The Third – The Third is the third person on the team to bowl but is generally a more experienced player. This is because they will require a greater level of skill as there will already be several bowls in the playing green and they will need to know how to maneuver around them. The Third may actually tell The Skip what they think is best but ultimately, they must leave the decision to The Skip and carry out what they think is best.

The Skip – This is the hardest role within lawn bowling. Not only must The Skip be extremely knowledgeable about lawn bowling and its techniques and strategies but they must also be able to throw just about any shot there is. In addition to all of this, they must be able to advise other team members on what they should do and should also offer support throughout each match.

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