Back Bowl

A bowl that has come to rest beyond the jack or the main body of bowls in the head.

Backhand

When, for the right-handed player, the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from left to right as it moves towards its objective.

Bank

The outer wall of the ditch that surrounds the green. It is raised above the playing surface.

Be up

The same as ‘Do not be short’, only more emphatic.

Bias

That which is inbuilt into the bowl and causes the bowl to travel in a curve.

Block or stopper

A bowl delivered with the correct pace to stop short of the objective, in the hope that it will prevent an opponent being able to play a certain shot.

Bowls

Usually a set of four identical bowls, manufactured under strictly controlled specifications. It is essential that bowlers choose a set which they can use with the greatest ease and comfort.

Centre line

An imaginary line that runs lengthwise down the centre of the rink.

Counter

Any bowl which contributes to the score at the completion of the end.

Cover that bowl

An instruction to a bowler to bowl in such a way that the bowl finishes between the jack and the bowl indicated.

Dead bowl

Either a bowl which comes to rest in the ditch or is knocked into the ditch and is not a toucher, or a bowl that comes to rest outside the confines of the rink, either in its course or by being knocked there.

Dead end

An end which is considered not to have been played and so no score is recorded. It can happen as a result of the jack being driven out of the confines of the playing area.

Delivery

The moment at which the bowl leaves the hand.

Ditch

The depression that surrounds the green. Its edge marks the boundary of the playing surface. Measurements of the ditch need to conform to the laws of the game.

Do not be short

A plea to a bowler to use sufficient pace or weight, and with the correct green or land, to arrive exactly at its objective.

End

The sequence of play, beginning with the placing of the mat and ending with the coming to rest of the last player’s bowl, after all have delivered their bowls in the same direction.

Fast green

Usually a dry and closely cut surface which offers little resistance to the progress of the bowl.

Fire or drive

A shot where the bowl is delivered at a very fast pace.

Fluke

A shot excruciatingly executed, yet sublimely successful – do at least say sorry!

Follow through

This should be the natural movement forward of the delivery arm following the line or path of the bowl.

Foot fault

When the rear foot is not completely on or above the mat at the moment of delivery. The player could incur a penalty.

Forehand

When, for the right-handed player, the bowl is delivered so that the curve of the bowl is from right to left as it travels towards its objective.

Green

The total playing surface, the measurements of which are laid down in the rules.

Green line

The curved line that the bowl must travel from the mat to reach its objective.

Head

The jack and as many bowls as have been played at any stage of any end. Bowls in the head may be on the rink or in the ditch.

Heavy bowl

Where a bowl has been delivered with too much pace and will end beyond its objective.

Jack or kitty

The round white ball towards which play is directed. The size of the jack must conform to the rules.

Jack-High bowl

A bowl which, when it comes to rest, is at the same distance from the mat as is the jack.

Lead

The player who lays the mat, rolls the jack, and delivers the first bowl in an end. He may sometimes toss the coin at the beginning of the game to determine which team has the right to start play.

Live bowl

Any bowl that comes to rest within the confines of the rink and is acceptable under the conditions laid down by the laws of the game, or any toucher in the ditch.

Long jack

A jack that is the greatest distance allowed from the front edge of the mat, or is close to this limit.

Mark it or chalk it

To mark a toucher with chalk

Marker

A person who undertakes to see that a game of singles is played according to the rules. He marks all touchers, centres the jack, measures, and keeps the score. During the playing of an end, it could be wiser for the marker not to talk to the players unless asked a direct question.

Mat

The mat from which a bowler must make his delivery (the size is laid down in the rules).

Measure

A device used to determine which bowl is nearest the jack.

Measuring

The process of determining which bowl is nearest the jack.

Narrow shot

Where a player has not allowed enough green or land. But this shot can sometimes be played intentionally.

Open it up

An instruction for a bowl to be delivered with enough pace to clear any obstruction in the way of bowls that are between the player and the jack.

Pace of the green

See fast green and slow green.

Pace or weight

The amount of force with which the bowl is delivered to execute a particular shot.

Pairs

Two players against two, each using four bowls for a period of twenty-one ends. Their position in order of play: lead and then skip.

Penalty

This may be awarded by the umpire when, for example, a player has been foot faulted in delivering his bowl. The umpire could also declare the bowl to be dead.

Plant shot

When a player bowls his bowl to strike other bowls which could be in line, in order to gain his objective.

Promote this bowl

An instruction to a bowler to play his bowl onto a bowl belonging to his side, so that the bowl that was stationary is pursued closer to the objective.

Push and rest

The bowling of a bowl with sufficient pace or weight that it pushes a bowl from its position, so that the position is taken by the last bowl delivered.

Rest this bowl

An instruction to a player to bring his bowl to rest against another bowl.

Rink

The rectangular area of the green on which play takes place.

Rink of players or fours

A group of four players against four, each bowling two bowls for a period of twenty-one ends. Their positions in order of play: lead, second, third and skip.

Roll Up

A casual game played outside of competition usually for recreation or practice.

Rub off

A bowl that, during its running course, comes into light contact with another, which can affect the line of direction.

Scorer

The person, in a match between teams or sides, who is responsible for keeping the current scores on the master score-board.

Second bowl

The bowl which finishes closest to the jack, other than the shot bowl.

Second or number two

The player who plays after the lead in a game of fours or triples. He marks the score-card and keeps the score-board up to date.

Short bowl

A bowl that has not been delivered with sufficient pace to reach its objective.

Short jack

A jack that is at the shortest distance allowed from the front edge of the mat, or close to this limit.

Shot

The bowl that finishes nearest to the jack at any stage of play.

Shoulder of the green

That point on the green where the bowl begins to curve inwards towards its objective.

Side or team

An agreed number of players whose combined scores determine the result of a match.

Singles

One player against one player, each using four bowls.

Skip

The captain of a game of fours, triples or pairs. He is last to bowl and is responsible for dictating the tactics of the game.

Slow or heavy green

Where the surface offers some greater resistance to the progress of the bowl.

Split these bowls

An instruction to the bowler to bowl a bowl of sufficient pace that it forces apart other bowls, and has enough momentum to carry on beyond that point.

Stance

The position adopted by the bowler on the mat, prior to delivery.

String

Normally a green ‘string’ drawn tightly along the green to define the boundaries of the rink.

Take it out

An instruction to a bowler to bowl with sufficient pace to push an opponent’s bowl away.

Taking green or land

On forehand or backhand, the bowler bowls to the shoulder so that his bowl will curve and come to rest as near as possible to the point he desires.

Third

A position in a game of fours. He will deputize for his skip in certain circumstances, and could be responsible for measuring.

Tied end

When the nearest bowls of both sides are exactly the same distance from the jack at the completion of the end (e.g. when both have a bowl actually touching the jack). Neither side scores but it is a completed end and is entered on the scorecard.

Toucher

A bowl which during its course has touched the jack.

Toucher in the ditch

A toucher (see below) which has fallen into the ditch. This is a ‘live’ bowl, unless it has come to rest outside the confines of the rink.

Toucher on the green

A bowl which, during its course, has touched the jack, or a bowl which has come to rest and falls over to touch the jack before the next bowl is delivered, or a bowl that is the last to be delivered and falls and touches the jack within the period of half a minute. All the above will be marked with a chalk mark.

Trail the jack

To play a bowl in order to move the jack to another position on the rink.

Triples

Three players against three, each using three bowls for a playing period of 18 ends. Their positions in order of play: lead, second and skip.

Umpire

The person with total overall authority during a game to enforce the laws of the game.

Using the mat

The movement of the mat (within the limits of the rules) for the purposes of lengthening or shortening the length of the jack.

Wick off

A bowl that is travelling at a certain pace which comes into an angled contact with another bowl, thus causing the course of the moving bowl to be definitely altered.

Wide bowl

Where the player has allowed too much green or land for his bowl.

Wouldn’t crack an egg

A bowl delivered with insufficient pace to achieve its end.

Wrecked

An attempted shot, frustrated by contact with another bowl which lay between the mat and the jack.

Wrest this bowl out

An instruction to bowl a bowl with sufficient pace to push another bowl sufficiently from its former position.