Frequently Asked Questions:
Are all Rinks the same width?
No. They can vary between 4.3 and 5.8 metres for outdoor greens, and 4.6 and 5.8 metres for indoor greens.
Are Mats & Jacks always the same everywhere?
Mats are the same in size (360mm W x 600mm L) however there are several styles / colours. Jacks may be white or yellow in colour but must be no less than 63mm and no more than 64mm in size.
Does it matter what colour bowling shoes I buy?
Nowadays rules are generally relaxed on this however it would pay to check with your club before purchase
.
Can I use any bowls to play in a team I have just joined?
Broadly speaking yes - But they must be a matched set of 4 (3 or 2 in triples and fours games) i.e. the same make / colour / size / weight / engraving / serial number, and each with a legal date stamp,
What happens if a bowl is damaged during a game?
It may be replaced from the same set, but if using 4 bowls you need to replace the whole set to continue.
If I win the toss to start a game must I play first?
No. Winning the toss gives you the ability to call who plays first. However if this first end is killed, the player who played first shall do so again to replay it.
How many trial ends are allowed, and where must the mat and jack be placed?
If agreed to be played, not more than 1 in each direction, (they are not mandatory). In a trial end there are no 'must' positions for the mat or jack as such. It can be placed anywhere within normal limitations.
Are you allowed to change, or try out different bowls, during trial ends?
Yes. You can also start the game with a different set providing they have been checked and passed beforehand.
Can any member of a Team:
(1) deliver the Jack, or
(2) mark the scorecard, or
(3) measure shots?
(1) No. Only the Lead.
(2) Yes. But the second must carry it throughout the game and compare scores with the opposition second after each end.
(3) Yes. As delegated by the skip, but this is usually the third.
I deliver the Jack and it strikes someone going up the Rink, what happens?
(1) If it was an opponent or neutral person (or object) that was struck, - you re-deliver it or ...
(2) If it was one of your own team that was struck, your opponent re-delivers it and can re-position the mat to do so if they wish. No matter who it is however, the winner of the last 'scoring' end delivers the 1st bowl.
How often can the leads, in turn, deliver illegal jacks to start an end, and what then?
Only once each. The jack is then set at the 2 metre mark, with the mat placement at the option of the first due to play.
I deliver the Jack because of an illegal delivery by my opponent, and that end is killed, do I deliver the jack to replay the end?
No. After the 1st end the winner of the last 'scoring' end always has first roll of the jack.
Must I have two feet on the mat to deliver the jack or bowls?
No. But one must be on, or in the air over the mat, at the moment of delivery.
Is there a time limit for a bowl to be a toucher? i.e. comes to rest then falls over to touch the jack?
Yes. It must make contact before the next bowl to be played leaves the player's hand, or if it is the last bowl to be played; this must be within 30 seconds of it coming to rest.
Is there a time limit for marking a toucher?
Yes. It must be marked with chalk or spray , (or nominated to the opposing skip if that act might cause it to topple) before the next bowl played comes to rest, otherwise it ceases to be a toucher.
What if the jack is in the ditch and is touched by, or stops, a newly delivered bowl?
The bowl becomes dead and is removed. A bowl can never become a toucher after the jack is in the ditch.
What does 'Rink Possession' actually mean?
Once the bowl currently in play comes to rest, the player who delivered it must be either behind the mat, or up at the head, because at that moment possession of the rink passes to the opposing team. and the team not in possession may not hold up, nor distract in any way, the player about to play.
I'm at the head and a player on my team has just bowled. I want to see the position... is that ok?
No. As above, once your team has delivered their bowl and it comes to rest, rink possession passes to the other team and only they should inspect the head. You will have your turn once possession returns to your team.
What happens if a bowl rebounds from the bank back onto the rink?
If it is not a toucher, it becomes a dead bowl, and any bowls disturbed by it are restored as near as possible to their original position by a member of the opposing team. A toucher remains in play and disturbances caused by it are legal and valid.
What if I play one of my opponent's bowls by mistake?
Nothing happens. Once at rest, mark its position and angle, replace it exactly with yours and return it to its owner.
What happens if I play before my turn?
If the bowl is on its way, the opposing skip can stop it and return it to be played in the proper sequence. If it is not noticed until it comes to rest, providing it is (a) still 'live' and (b) has not disturbed the head. The player, who should have played, plays 2 bowls in succession, to restore the proper sequence, If, however, it has disturbed the head, the opposing skip has 3 options: - (a) leave things as they are and have his/her player play two bowls in succession, or (b) replace the head to its original position and return the bowl to be re-played in its proper turn, or (c) declare the end dead.
No. They can vary between 4.3 and 5.8 metres for outdoor greens, and 4.6 and 5.8 metres for indoor greens.
Are Mats & Jacks always the same everywhere?
Mats are the same in size (360mm W x 600mm L) however there are several styles / colours. Jacks may be white or yellow in colour but must be no less than 63mm and no more than 64mm in size.
Does it matter what colour bowling shoes I buy?
Nowadays rules are generally relaxed on this however it would pay to check with your club before purchase
.
Can I use any bowls to play in a team I have just joined?
Broadly speaking yes - But they must be a matched set of 4 (3 or 2 in triples and fours games) i.e. the same make / colour / size / weight / engraving / serial number, and each with a legal date stamp,
What happens if a bowl is damaged during a game?
It may be replaced from the same set, but if using 4 bowls you need to replace the whole set to continue.
If I win the toss to start a game must I play first?
No. Winning the toss gives you the ability to call who plays first. However if this first end is killed, the player who played first shall do so again to replay it.
How many trial ends are allowed, and where must the mat and jack be placed?
If agreed to be played, not more than 1 in each direction, (they are not mandatory). In a trial end there are no 'must' positions for the mat or jack as such. It can be placed anywhere within normal limitations.
Are you allowed to change, or try out different bowls, during trial ends?
Yes. You can also start the game with a different set providing they have been checked and passed beforehand.
Can any member of a Team:
(1) deliver the Jack, or
(2) mark the scorecard, or
(3) measure shots?
(1) No. Only the Lead.
(2) Yes. But the second must carry it throughout the game and compare scores with the opposition second after each end.
(3) Yes. As delegated by the skip, but this is usually the third.
I deliver the Jack and it strikes someone going up the Rink, what happens?
(1) If it was an opponent or neutral person (or object) that was struck, - you re-deliver it or ...
(2) If it was one of your own team that was struck, your opponent re-delivers it and can re-position the mat to do so if they wish. No matter who it is however, the winner of the last 'scoring' end delivers the 1st bowl.
How often can the leads, in turn, deliver illegal jacks to start an end, and what then?
Only once each. The jack is then set at the 2 metre mark, with the mat placement at the option of the first due to play.
I deliver the Jack because of an illegal delivery by my opponent, and that end is killed, do I deliver the jack to replay the end?
No. After the 1st end the winner of the last 'scoring' end always has first roll of the jack.
Must I have two feet on the mat to deliver the jack or bowls?
No. But one must be on, or in the air over the mat, at the moment of delivery.
Is there a time limit for a bowl to be a toucher? i.e. comes to rest then falls over to touch the jack?
Yes. It must make contact before the next bowl to be played leaves the player's hand, or if it is the last bowl to be played; this must be within 30 seconds of it coming to rest.
Is there a time limit for marking a toucher?
Yes. It must be marked with chalk or spray , (or nominated to the opposing skip if that act might cause it to topple) before the next bowl played comes to rest, otherwise it ceases to be a toucher.
What if the jack is in the ditch and is touched by, or stops, a newly delivered bowl?
The bowl becomes dead and is removed. A bowl can never become a toucher after the jack is in the ditch.
What does 'Rink Possession' actually mean?
Once the bowl currently in play comes to rest, the player who delivered it must be either behind the mat, or up at the head, because at that moment possession of the rink passes to the opposing team. and the team not in possession may not hold up, nor distract in any way, the player about to play.
I'm at the head and a player on my team has just bowled. I want to see the position... is that ok?
No. As above, once your team has delivered their bowl and it comes to rest, rink possession passes to the other team and only they should inspect the head. You will have your turn once possession returns to your team.
What happens if a bowl rebounds from the bank back onto the rink?
If it is not a toucher, it becomes a dead bowl, and any bowls disturbed by it are restored as near as possible to their original position by a member of the opposing team. A toucher remains in play and disturbances caused by it are legal and valid.
What if I play one of my opponent's bowls by mistake?
Nothing happens. Once at rest, mark its position and angle, replace it exactly with yours and return it to its owner.
What happens if I play before my turn?
If the bowl is on its way, the opposing skip can stop it and return it to be played in the proper sequence. If it is not noticed until it comes to rest, providing it is (a) still 'live' and (b) has not disturbed the head. The player, who should have played, plays 2 bowls in succession, to restore the proper sequence, If, however, it has disturbed the head, the opposing skip has 3 options: - (a) leave things as they are and have his/her player play two bowls in succession, or (b) replace the head to its original position and return the bowl to be re-played in its proper turn, or (c) declare the end dead.