Simplified Rules of Bowls

The game is played on a narrow lane of grass by 2 teams of 1 or more players each. Each team tries to get their bowls closest to the “Jack”, a small white ball. One team first throws the jack towards the other end of the green. Teams then proceed alternately to roll their bowls towards the Jack. When all bowls are thrown the score for the end is determined by counting the set of team bowls that are closest to the Jack.

Variations of the Game

The normal Rules of Bowls applies with the exceptions noted here:

Singles – 1 player on each team; each player throws 4 bowls

Doubles / Pairs – 2 players on each team; each player throws 4 bowls

Triples – 3 players on each team; each player throws 3 bowls

Fours / Quads – 4 players on each team; each player throws 2 bowls

Cutthroat – 2 to 4 players on a green each on their “own team”; each player throws 4 bowls in rotation, alphabetic order by first name; jack is placed in rotation by each player in shooting order; first bowl of each end is delivered by previous ends player with the closest bowl; scoring – closest to jack 3 points, 2nd closest 2 points, 3rd closest bowl 1 point; typically 16 to 20 ends are played, decided by the players at the start of the game.

Yardstick – 2 to 4 players on a green each on their “own team”; each player throws 4 bowls in rotation, alphabetic order by first name; first bowl of each end is delivered by previous ends player with the closest bowl; jack is replaced by a teathered golf ball with a 1 yard teather; scoring – closest to teather 2 points, other bowls within 1 yard of teather score 1 point each; typically 16 to 20 ends are played, decided by the players at the start of the game.

Twilight – 2 players on each team; each player throws 4 bowls

Australian Pairs – 2 players on each team; each player throws 4 bowls; lead bowls 2, skip bowls 2, lead bowls final 2, skip bowls final 2; players take turns playing lead & skip, changing positions each end;

Scotch Pairs – 2 players on each team; each player throws 4 bowls; players take turns playing lead & skip, changing positions every 4 ends.