BOWLS GLOSSARY

BACK BOWL: A bowl which has come to rest behind the jack or the main head of an end.

BACK HAND DRAW: Technique used when a right-handed player delivers a bowl so that it curves in an arc from left to right towards the jack.

BANK: The raised outer wall behind the ditch which surrounds the green.

BIAS: what causes a bowl to travel down the green in a curve.

BLOCKER: A bowl delivered in such a way that it stops an opponent from getting the shot.

BOWLS: Equipment, usually in a set of four, which are manufactured to strictly controlled specifications and are stamped to meet World Bowls standards. Bowls come in all sizes and styles so it is important players choose the right size and comfort for them.

COVER THAT BOWL: An instruction to a bowler to play their bowl between the jack and the bowl that has been indicated.

DEAD BOWL: A bowl which has entered the ditch or has been knocked into the ditch by another bowl which has not first touched the jack.

DEAD OR BURNED END: Result of an end where the jack has been being played outside the confines of the rink resulting in no scores being recorded.

DITCH: The drop which surrounds the green. When bowls fall into the ditch, they are usually dead unless the bowl first comes into contact with the jack. This becomes a toucher which must be marked with chalk or chalk spray.

DOWN: When the shot is against you, this could be one or more shots against.This action is usually indicated by a player touching their leg.

END: The sequence of play beginning with the placing of the mat and ending with the players final bowl coming to rest, after all bowls have been delivered in the same direction.

FIRING/RUSHER: A bowl delivered with extra weight or speed with the objective to try and take out the shot against or cut down the shots against. This is also known as a drive shot.

FOOT FAULT: This occurs when a bowler does not have one foot on or above the mat on delivery of their bowl.

FOREHAND DRAW: This is when the bowl is delivered to the right and curves to the left to come back to the jack.

GRASS: The surface on which bowls usually takes places.  Taking grass is about how wide you are throwing your bowl out. Takingtoo much grass means you are wide and not enough grass means you are too tight. 

GREEN: The surface for playing bowls. The direction is usually alternated between up and down and across the way in order to protect the green and to make sure it is running as smoothly as possible. 

HAND: This is referred to the side the bowl is being deliveredeither on the forehand or backhand. 

HEAD: Bowls that are delivered towards the jack, that are live and still on the rink.. 

HOLDING SHOT: This is the team who have their bowl(s) closest to the jack. This is usually marked by the action of patting your arm on your shoulder.

HOOK: Shape to the end that some bowls take, especially older classic bowls with extreme bias. 

JACK: The white ball or "kitty" which is the target that bowlers are aiming to get closest to with their bowl. This determines how much shots a player is awarded on that end.

LEAD: This is a player who starts the end of a game. They set the mat and jack if they win the coin toss at the beginning of the match or have won the last end of a match. 

MAT: The surface that the bowler stands on to deliver the jack and their bowls. The mat must be lined up with the middle of the rink indicator at the bottom of the rink. The team that won the previous end is responsible for setting the mat and jack for the next end.

MEASURE: This is when bowls are too close for players to visually decide who is lying the shot. Players carry a special measuring tape which is used once the final bowl is delivered to decide which bowl in question is nearest. 

NARROW/TIGHT: This is when a bowl is delivered but is not thrown wide enough to take a line that allows the bowl to come back to the jack. 

PAIRS: two teams of four players, a lead and a skip. 

NEEP: A badly thrown bowl that hops, skips, and jumps. 

NO SHOT: This is where two bowls are too close to call even after a measure by players (and sometimes an umpire), If a no shot is declared,the next end continues with the team who won the previous end going first again. 

PROMOTING/CHAPPING A BOWL: Pushing up one of your team's bowls to a stronger position in the head. 

RINKS: This is a bowling game also known as fours where there are positions of lead, second, third and skip. Players usually only use 2 bowls each. 

SECOND: This is the person who plays their bowls after the lead has finished and is responsible for deciding the winner of the end and by how many shots. They may also be responsible for measuring shots where this is required. This may be different in fours whereby the third can decide.

SHOT BOWL: The bowl that is closest to the jack. 

SKIP: The team captain (known as skip)is the last player in the team to play their bowls. They are usually the most experienced player in the team who also guides the strategy.

TOUCHER: This is when a bowl touches the jack. These bowls should be marked with chalk or chalk spray and remain live even if the bowl falls or is pushed into the ditch. 

TRIAL ENDS: This is formal practice end(s) that take place at the beginning of a competition to help players get the feel for the green before the match commences. This can either be two bowls over two ends or a single end with all four bowls. At National Level, all players are allowed two full trial ends.

TRIPLES: A match where teams made up of three players, lead, second and skip usually use three bowls each during play (apart from Two Bowl Triples competitions). 

UP: This is when your team has the bowl that is the shot, and you are up. Sometimes you could be lying more than one shot. 

WEIGHT: This is the amount of speed or power that is applied to the bowl on delivery from the mat to the jack. Sometimes you can be heavy which means your bowl has gone beyond the jack or short which means your bowl has stopped before it reaches the jack. 

WIDE: This is when your bowl has been delivered too far out from the centreline to the jack. 

WICK/WICKY: When a bowl bounces or chaps off another bowl. This term derives from curling. 

WOODS: An old term for bowls from the material they were made.

YARD ON: A shot delivered with extra weight to displace or disturb other bowls in the head.