Bowls
Bowls is a game in which players roll weighted balls across a grass green, trying to finish closer to a small target ball than their opponents. It is played at thousands of clubs across Britain, outdoors in summer and indoors in winter.
Guides
- Flat green and crown green: the two codes, how each is played and scored
- Shots explained: draw, yard on, drive and guard
- Bowls glossary: terms used on the green
- Season calendar: the indoor and outdoor year, with 2027 dates
The game in brief
| Target | The jack, a small ball |
| What you roll | Bowls, also called woods |
| Why they curve | Each bowl is weighted on one side, which is its bias |
| A round of play | An end |
| Scoring | One shot for each bowl closer to the jack than the opponent’s best |
Getting started
Most clubs run open days in spring and lend bowls to beginners. Flat-soled shoes are the one thing you need from the start, because ordinary heels damage the green.