How the Sport is Played


Source: Bowls Canada website

Bowls is a strategic, challenging and fun sport that can be enjoyed by anyone.  It is played on a large smooth grass surface called a “green”.  Lawn bowls are large, hard resin balls with a bias to them, so that they travel along an elliptical path, rather than going straight. The object of the game is to roll your bowls closer to the target than your opponents. The target is a small white ball called a “jack”.  The jack is rolled the length of the green to start each end. Players from each team taking turns rolling their bowls down the green toward the jack until all the bowls have been played.

Bowls involves offensive and defensive strategy. An added  challenge is the Jack or target may be displaced within the confines of the rink by the movement of any bowl.

Cutthroat Rules 

Cutthroat Conditions of Play at Burnside
  • Three players per rink
    • possible 4, if uneven number of players
    • if 4 players, still only throw 3 bowls each
  • Each player to be designated as one of the following:
    • Scorekeeper
      • use cutthroat scorecard
    • Bowls raker
    • Shot decider (Towel person) and Measurer (all players must agree)
      • ​scoring towels are in bowls room
  • On first end anyone can throw the jack (we usually do alphabetical for first end only)
  • The Jack does not have to be on centreline but must be with in bounds.
    • DO NOT centre the jack, makes game more interesting.
    • If out of bounds, have another player throw the jack. If all players throw out of bounds, jack is placed on the two metre mark.
  • Fourteen ends to be played (for tournaments, may shorten game to 8 ends)
  • Scoring - 10 points scored per end, 140 points total per 14 end game (or 80 for 8 end game)
    • 1st (closest shot): 4 points
    • 2nd closest: 3 points
    • 3rd closest: 2 points
    • 4th closest: 1 point
  • Use scoring towel to facilitate recording of scores
  • Player with closest shot goes first next end, places mat, and throws jack
  • Player with next closest shot goes second, and so on
  • Burnt (hit out of bounds) jacks to be placed on two metre mark
  • Jacks hit into ditch (but in bounds) stay in ditch, no markers required
  • Bowl that hit jack into ditch counts.  ​Any subsequent bowls thrown or hit into the ditch are dead bowls (discourages runners)
  • Score card totals must add up to 10 points per end, and 140/80 points total per game.
    • Check balance after 7 ends
  • No head visitations allowed, this is a fun game
Good bowling and have fun! 
Picture
http://bowlsbc.com/what-is-bowls/