Whitby Bowling Club
SOME COMMON BOWLING TERMS USED
Bank
The outer wall of the ditch above the level of the surface of the green.
Ditch
The depression in the ground which surrounds a bowling green. Its sides mark the green's boundaries.
Ditch Front
The ditch in front of the mat at the far endof the green.
Ditch Rear
The ditch behind the mat.
Centre Line
The imaginary line running down the rink from one number to the one at the other end.
Green
The surface on which the game of Lawn Bowls is played.
Green Fast
A playing surface which is free running and offers little resistance to the running surface of the bowl. It is usually close cut and dry.
Green Slow
A playing surface which offers resistance to the running surface of the bowl. It can be caused by dampness.
Green Speed
This is measured in seconds and is the time taken for a bowl to travel from its point of delivery until it comes to rest approximately 27m from the mat line. The faster the green the greater the number of seconds.
Number (Rink)
The number peg denotes the centre of the rink.
Pegs Boundary
These mark the boundary of the rink.
Pegs or flags - 2m
A line through the 2m pegs marks the shortest distance the front of the matmay be from the back ditch.
Pegs or white line - 25m
A line through these pegs indicates the shortest length a jack may be delivered from a 2m mat. They also indicate the furthestdistance a mat may be laid from the back ditch.
Rink
The space on a bowling green, rectangular in shape, within which play takes place.
GAMES
Fours
Play between teams of four players who play two bowls each.
Triples
Play between teams of three players who play three or two bowls each.
Pairs
Play between teams of two players who play three bowls each. A variation 2-4-2 pairs is played with four bowls per player.
Singles
A game between two opponents playing four bowls each.
TEAM MEMBERS
Skip
This player captains a team of bowlers and plays last in the team.
Three
This is the third player in a team of fours, who takes over the head when the Skip is on the mat and is responsible for measuring and determining the number of shots
Two
This is the player who plays after the lead in a game of fours or triples, and is responsible for recording the scores. In triples may be known as the measurer.
Lead
This is the team member who lays the mat, rolls the jack and delivers the first bowl in an end.
DELIVERY
Aiming Line
A sight line to a reference point at the end of the green along which the bowl is delivered.
Anchor Foot
This is the right foot of a right handed player and during the delivery of a bowl must be on or over the mat.
Backhand
For a right handed player, the delivery of a bowl towards its target on the left-hand side of the centre line.
Delivery
A general term which describes all the actions necessary to start a bowl on its course up the green.
Encroaching
Movement by a player into an adjoining rink where play is in progress.
Foot Fault
When the anchor foot is allowed to move off or from over the mat at the point of delivery.
Forehand
For a right handed player, the delivery of a bowl towards its target on the right hand side of the centre line.
Green
The angle of the bowl's track away from the centre line. A bowl delivered too narrow may cause a Skip to call "Take your green", meaning to correct the fault by increasing the angle of delivery.
Greening a Bowl
The passing of a bowl from a players hand to the surface of the green.
Mat
A rectangular mat, with a non-skid surface, from which all deliveries are made.
Speed
Sometimes known as weight -the amount of pace required for the bowl to travel to its target or position.
THE HEAD
Chalkmark
A bowl which on its original course touches the jack is marked on its running surface with a chalked line or cross. If a bowl with this mark (a toucher) is carried into the ditch during play it remains a "live"bowl. A bowl which hasn't touched the jack and finishes in the ditch is "dead"
End
The sequence of play, beginning with the placement of the mat and ending with the delivery of the last player's last bowl, all of which are played in the same direction.
Jack
Sometimes called the kitty - The round white or coloured ball towards which play is directed.
Jack High
Previously defined in the Law of the Game with the meaning which now attaches to "Jack level", (see jack level below). Uncertainty may arise as to whether a player is using the term "Jack High" incorrectly with its nowabandoned technical meaning or as a non-technical term to mean beyond "jack level".
Jack Level
A bowl is described as being "jack level" when the front of the bowl and the front of the jack are in line. If any part of the bowl is below the front of the jack it is "jack low'.
Jack Low
See "jack level" above.
Live Bowl
Any bowl, or toucher in the ditch, within the boundaries of the rink. If bowl is dead, it has come to rest outside the boundaries of the rink, or has been moved outside the boundaries by the action of another bowl during play. It is no longer part of the end.
Kiss
The name for toucher or the chalk mark denoting it. Also when a bowl gently touches another bowl.
Toucher
A bowl which touches the jack after being delivered. Or which rolls over and touches the jack before the opponent's next bowl is delivered. The toucher is marked with a chalkmark, and remains alive even if it is in the ditch if it has come to rest within the boundaries of the rink.
SHOTS
Block
A bowl which blocks the opponent's logical course to the head.
Draw
A bowl played with the correct speed and green to reach its target at rest.
Drive
A bowl delivered forcefully to break up the head, take out the jack or a bowl(s), run the jack into the ditch or to kill the end.
Kill
Describes a shot which drives the jack out of the playing area, causing a dead end.
Rake
A shot played narrow and slightly heavy which passes through the head and may cause damage to it.
Raker
A player whose normal delivery lacks sufficient green and is delivered slightly over speed for a draw to the jack
Trail
A shot delivered to move the jack by contact with it, to another position on the rink.
Wrest Shot
This is a shot which removes an opponents bowl from a favourable position which the bowl you have played now occupies.
Wick
A shot deflected off another bowl, whether accidental or played for.
Metre On (or Metre over)
A bowl delivered with sufficient speed to carry it a Metre past the jack.