Bowls is a fun and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It’s a great way to stay active, improve your coordination and precision, and even make new friends! If you’re new to the sport, don’t worry, it’s easy to get started. Here’s a beginner’s guide to playing bowls:
- Equipment: To play bowls, you will need bowls, a mat, and a flat surface to play on, such as a bowling green. You can purchase or rent equipment from a sporting goods store or a bowling club.
- Court: A standard bowling green is typically around 120 feet by 120 feet and is divided into several playing areas called rinks. Rinks are usually separated by a ditch or a bank that surrounds the green, and a jack or small white ball is used as the target ball.
- Scoring: The aim of the game is to roll your bowls as close as possible to the jack, and the team or player with the most bowls closest to the jack wins the end. A match is typically played as the best of several ends, with each end consisting of several bowls being rolled by each team or player.
- Delivery: To roll the bowl, you’ll want to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your body facing the target, hold the bowl with your fingers, not your palms, and roll it towards the jack.
- Weight and bias: Bowls come in different weights and biases, which means that they will roll in different ways. Heavier bowls have more weight and will roll straighter, while lighter bowls have less weight and will roll with more curve.
- Line and length: Line and length are the terms used to describe the direction and distance of the bowl. The line is the direction of the bowl and the length is the distance of the bowl from the jack.
- Footwork: Good footwork is essential for playing bowls. Proper footwork involves keeping your weight on the balls of your feet and staying low to the ground. This allows you to roll the bowl smoothly and accurately.
- Practice: Like any sport, the key to getting better at bowls is practice. Try to play as often as possible and work on different techniques such as delivery, weight and bias, line and length, and footwork.
Bowls is a great sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It’s a great way to stay active, improve your coordination and precision, and even make new friends! Get started by finding a bowling club near you, grab a set of bowls, and start rolling towards the jack!