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.
Back Wood
A bowl that has come to rest beyond thet jack or tha main body of bowls in the head.
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
Bowls are made to follow a curved path and this is called the 'bias' and is indicated by a smaller circle on one side of the bowl.
Blocker
A bowl delivered with the corrct 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. It is essential that a bowler selects a set which they can use with 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 amd must be replayed.
Delivery
The process of rolling the bowl towards the jack or other target.
Ditch
The depression that surrounds the green. Its edge marks the boundary of the playing surface.
Do not be short
Instruction 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.
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.
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
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.
Length
Distance from the mat to object to be bowled to.
Line
Path a bowl takes on its way to the object being bowled to.
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.
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.
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 persued 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.
Roll-Up
Practice game of bowls.
Rub off
A bowl that, during its running course, comes into light contact with another, which can affect the line of direction.
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.
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.
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 when required, be responsible for measuring and agrree the number of shots with the opponents N0. 3.
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
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.
Trial end
Ends played to eveluate the green prior to a game starting; they do not count towards the final score.
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.
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.
