A Game in Four Steps
The object of lawn bowling is simple: roll your bowls as close as possible to a small white target ball called the jack. The challenge — and the skill — comes from the fact that your bowls are not round. They are slightly asymmetrical, with one weighted side that causes them to curve as they slow down. This curvature is called the bias, and learning to use it is what the game is all about.
Place the Mat & Roll the Jack
The team that wins the coin toss places the mat on the rink's centre line and rolls the jack toward the far end. The jack must travel at least 23 metres to be in play (or past the hog line), then is centred on the rink by the skip. It becomes the target for the end.
Deliver Your Bowls
Players take turns delivering (rolling) their bowls from the mat, aiming to land as close to the jack as possible. Because bowls curve due to their bias, you aim to one side and let the bowl curl in. You can also use your bowl to move the jack or displace opponents' bowls.
Score the End
When all bowls have been delivered, the team with the bowl closest to the jack scores one point for each of their bowls that is closer to the jack than the opponent's nearest bowl. Only one team scores per end, unless both teams are equal distance from the jack - then each team scores one point.
Switch Ends & Repeat
After each end, play switches direction — the team that scored places the mat at the new end and rolls the jack. At the Aylmer club, we play two 8-end games each evening, which typically takes about two hours.
About the bias: Each bowl has a slightly flattened side, which causes it to curve toward that side as it slows. The smaller ring embossed on the bowl marks the bias side — this is the direction the bowl will curve. When delivering, you aim to one side of the jack (called the "shoulder") and let the bowl swing back toward it. A bowl may curve outside the rink boundary during its path but must come to rest within the rink boundary to remain in play.
Two Main Ways to Play
Lawn bowling can be played in many formats depending on the number of players. At our regular jitney evenings, the two most common formats are pairs or triples, with teams drawn on the night.
Pairs
Two players per side. Each player delivers 4 bowls per end. Unlike curling, in a pairs jitney both players take turns delivering from the mat — there is no dedicated "skip end" or "lead end." Both players bowl throughout the game, and the skip directs from the far end between their own deliveries.
Triples
Three per side — Lead, Vice, and Skip. Lead delivers 2 bowls, Vice delivers 3 bowls and Skip delivers 3 bowls per end.
How Does It Compare
to Sports You Know?
If you've played bocce, curling, or similar target sports, you'll find lawn bowling immediately familiar — with its own unique character.
| Element | Bocce Ball | Curling | Lawn Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | The pallino (small ball) | The button (centre of house) | The jack (small white ball) |
| Delivery object | Bocce ball (round, no curve) | 42 lb granite stone | Biased composite bowl (curves) |
| The curve | None — rolls straight | From rotation + ice friction | Built-in bias in the bowl's shape |
| Scoring | Closest ball(s) to pallino score | Closest stone(s) to button score | Closest bowl(s) to jack score |
| Playing surface | Dirt, gravel, or grass | Ice sheet (indoors) | Manicured grass green (outdoors) |
| Team positions | Informal | Lead, Second, Vice, Skip | Lead, (Second), (Third/Vice), Skip |
| Can you move the target? | Yes | No | Yes — the jack is live and moveable |
| Equipment needed | Bocce set (provided at some clubs) | Slider, gripper, broom, jacket | Flat-soled shoes only — we supply bowls |
| Season | Year-round (varies) | Autumn through spring | Late spring through summer |
Glossary
Your Summer Game
is Already Here
If you curl, you already understand the fundamentals of lawn bowling: deliver a weighted object along a curved path toward a target, outmanoeuvre your opponent, score closest to the mark.
The jack is your button. Your bowl is your stone. The rink is your sheet. Your skip reads the head and calls the shots. You already know how to think three ends ahead — on grass, those instincts translate immediately. The main adjustment is learning to read a living, variable surface instead of consistent ice. Our members are happy to help you get dialled in from day one.
Etiquette & Sportsmanship
Lawn bowling has always been played in a spirit of fellowship and courtesy. The following etiquette guidelines are drawn from Bowls Canada and the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association, and are observed at the Aylmer club.
Greet Your Opponents
Shake hands (or fist bump) with all players at the start and end of every game. Introduce yourself to players you haven't met — it's part of what makes lawn bowling a community sport.
Silence When a Player Delivers
Refrain from unnecessary movement or conversation when any player is on the mat and about to deliver their bowl. This applies to your own team as well as opponents.
Stay Behind the Mat
When it is not your turn to play, remain at least one metre behind the mat. Similarly, stay at least one metre away from the head when it is not your turn at that end.
Be Ready to Play
Possession of the mat passes to you as soon as your opponent's bowl has come to rest. Be ready. A good rhythm keeps the game moving and is respectful of everyone's time.
Walk Down the Centre
When changing ends, walk down the centre of the rink — not along the sides. This protects the green and avoids distracting players on adjacent rinks.
Warn Before a Drive
If you intend to play a drive (a fast, forceful shot), warn players on adjacent rinks first. They will try to guard their side boundary to prevent interference.
Encourage, Don't Criticize
Compliment good shots from both teammates and opponents. If an opponent gets a lucky result, stay quiet — don't grumble. Be a gracious winner and a good sport in defeat.
Flat-Soled Shoes Only
Always wear flat-soled, clean shoes on the green. Heels and cleats damage the surface. Most clean sneakers and running shoes are fine — if in doubt, ask.
Respect the Green
Never drop or throw a bowl onto the green — always roll it gently. Gather bowls carefully after each end and avoid letting them clatter together. The green is the club's most important asset.