Bowls is a great old game, ancient in name
It’s steeped in history, colour ‘n’ fame.
If ye want tae come and try it oot
You’ll hae tae understand whit tis ah aboot.
Listening tae the players speaking their language
It’s quite funny how oor lingo has adapted.
Here are some words, phrases tae learn below
Then ye’ll be ready tae hae a go.
You’ll hear different phrases and bowls terms used in different clubs:
- A jack is also known as the white
- A bowl is known as a wood
- The ditch can also be referred to as the gully, trench or bin
- The rinks are also called the greens
- A heavy bowl is known as the drive, a fire, a dam buster
- To draw or touch the jack is a toucher or kiss
- Grass is also known as land or distance or width you aim your bowl out from the centre line of the jack
And here are some bowls sayings you will hear:
- Head is the term for bowls that have come to rest after being delivered
- Bias – every bowl has bias. Bowls are designed to travel a curved path because of a weight bias in the shape of the bowl.
- Touchers are bowls that hit the jack and are then marked with chalk, and remain alive even if they are in the ditch
- Play a draw – roll the bowl as close to the jack as possible
- Play a yard on shot – arrive with a yard of weight and move jack back five feet
- Tactical bowl – round the back to prevent dropping a count.
- Blocker – drop one short of head and block opponent and the path of the intended target
- Trail the jack – play a bowl in order to move the jack to another position on the rink
- Short bowl – a bowl that has not been delivered with sufficient pace to reach its objective
- Live bowl – any bowl that comes to rest within the rink and is acceptable under the conditions of the game, or any toucher in the ditch