 |
The amount of curve in the path the bowl follows is its bias. The bias is determined during manufacturing. The red line shows a "narrow" bias and the blue a "wide" bias. Many degrees of bias exist. Bowls last for 30 years or more. |
The game of lawn bowls is played on a rink within the bowling green. A green is a square of a minimum 34 metres and a maximum of 40 metres. The square allows for play in different directions to protect the grass. Our Club alternates the direction of play each morning, afternoon, and evening. Markers are used to define the active rinks. The location of the rink markers also changes each day to help the green wear more evenly.
Bowls come in sets of four with emblems engraved on the sides. Bowls are perfectly smooth and round in one direction, but slightly flattened and weighted in the direction of the small emblem, causing them to curve in that direction when rolled. This is known as the bias and allows the bowl to curve around other bowls. Bowls come in different sizes, weights, colours, and biases.
A game consists of a predetermined number of ends. An end consists of the played bowls of all team members delivered, in turn, in one direction. Opponents take turns rolling their bowls towards the jack. Points are determined by the number of the team's bowls closest to the jack.
In singles and pairs games, each player uses four bowls. In triples, each team has 3 players, each player using 3 bowls. In fours, each team has 4 players, each player using only 2 bowls.