Advanced Bowls

On this page

Singles · Pairs · Triples · Fours · Shots · Reading the green · Jack and mat · Drills · Etiquette · Sources

Under the World Bowls Laws, the "Controlling Body" (World Bowls, Bowls USA, your division or your club) decides some details, such as how many bowls each player uses. Check your event's conditions of play.

Singles strategy

How it's played

Two players, one against one. Each plays two, three or four bowls, as the Controlling Body decides, taking turns. At World Bowls events singles uses four bowls and is played to 21 shots (or sets, or another set format).

Tactics

• Play the percentage shot. Pick the shot most likely to work, even if it isn't perfect. Your first bowl is almost always a draw, to put your opponent under pressure.
• Save the weight. Avoid risky weighted shots early in an end unless you're several shots down and need to change the game.
• Attack the jack only for a reason: when you're shots down and can't draw, when a crowded head leaves no draw, or now and then to upset a strong draw player's rhythm.
• Use the mat and jack. Whoever has the mat controls jack length. If you're winning on a length, keep it. If not, change it, and watch which length your opponent likes.

Pairs (doubles) strategy

How it's played

Two teams of two: a lead and a skip. Each player plays two, three or four bowls. With four bowls, the Controlling Body picks the order: leads play all four then skips play all four; or leads play two, skips two, leads two, skips two; or a split order that alternates by end. With two or three bowls, the leads play all theirs, then the skips. At World Bowls events pairs is 18 ends (or sets). Four bowls each is common at club level; three bowls is more often seen at national and international level.

Lead

• Places the mat and delivers the jack when your team has it, to the length the skip asks for.
• First two bowls should be draws to the jack. Later bowls may be positional, or more aggressive to free the head for the skip.
• Think two shots ahead: if your first bowl is a foot behind the jack, your skip may ask for the next a foot in front.
• Guides the skip at the head and agrees the count with the other lead.

Skip

• Sets the game plan and asks for jack lengths.
• Builds on the lead's bowls before turning to aggressive shots late in the end.
• Cuts big counts against, turns over close counts, and adds to counts you're ahead in. Keeps the scorecard.
• Needs every shot in the book. Clear communication is a must.

Triples strategy

How it's played

Two teams of three: lead, second and skip. Each plays two or three bowls, in turn. At World Bowls events it's 18 ends with two bowls each, or 15 ends with three each (or sets). Three bowls is common at club and national level.

Lead

• Places the mat, delivers the jack, and plays mostly as a draw player. Aggressive shots are rare for a triples lead.

Second

• The most flexible role: draws to build the head when the lead has struggled, positional bowls to set up later shots, and weighted shots to recover a bad head.
• Guides the skip at the head and measures with the opposing second.
• If your team already holds one or two shots, the skip may ask for a positional bowl that protects the head rather than risk disturbing it.

Skip

• Sets the plan, including jack length and mat position, and shapes the end with the lead and second.
• Weighted shots are common from the skip, to reduce counts against or add to counts when ahead.

Fours (rinks) strategy

How it's played

Two teams of four: lead, second, third (vice-skip) and skip. Every player plays two bowls, in turn. Each position is specialized.

Lead

• Places the mat, delivers the jack and makes sure it's centered before bowling.
• Draws consistently. Coaches say within about two feet. Unless the skip asks, don't niggle at close opposition bowls.
• The best first bowl is a resting toucher in front of the jack. Aim to get both bowls in the scoring zone, ideally on the center line.

Second

• Builds on the lead's start, or rescues it if the lead's bowls aren't close.
• Plays positional bowls as the skip asks, and may need yard-on, trail and wrest shots.
• Usually keeps the scoreboard up to date.

Third (vice)

• Must be an all-round bowler and may be asked for running shots, drives and blockers, and different lines around short bowls.
• Measures disputed shots and tells the skip the count at the end of each end.

Skip

• Reads the head and picks percentage shots for each player, working with the third. The plan may be to place a bowl somewhere other than on the jack.
• Gives clear instructions before each bowl. Once the previous bowl stops, the rink belongs to the opponents, so look to your skip before you step on the mat.
• Keeps and signs the scorecard. Can hand other duties to teammates, but must tell the opposing skip.
• May need a drive with one bowl and a draw with the next.

Shot types

English Bowls Coaching groups shots by weight: drawing weight (draw, positional draw, rest, blocker), about a yard (metre) on (wrest/push and stay, trail the jack, wick), and more than a yard on (follow-through, drive).

Draw

Just enough weight to finish near the jack, following a line around any bowls in the way.

Positional draw

A draw to a spot off the center line, usually as cover.

Yard-on

A little more than draw weight, so the bowl runs about a yard past the jack, to move a bowl or the jack.

Follow-through

Enough weight to push a short bowl through the head and follow it into a scoring or saving spot. One NSW drill suggests about 6 to 1 extra weight (3 m extra to follow through ½ m) on a 12 to 14 second green.

Drive (firing)

Full weight to clear the head or put the jack in the ditch. At that speed the bowl barely curves, so you aim much tighter than for a draw.

Trail the jack

Contact the jack and carry it to a new spot, ideally onto your own bowls. Played with about a yard on.

Block (guard)

A bowl placed short to protect the jack or your shot, so the opponent's path is harder.

Rest

Your bowl finishes resting against another bowl, often leaving yours closer to the jack.

Wrest

A touch more weight than a rest, to push the target bowl out and take its place.

Take-out

A weighted shot to move an opponent's bowl. Splitting two bowls with controlled weight is one version.

Promote (raise)

Hit a short bowl of yours forward into the head. The NSW drill suggests about 3 to 1 extra weight: to move a bowl ½ m, play about 1.5 m extra, on a narrower line.

Reading the green

• Speed: greens are timed in seconds from delivery until the bowl stops. The higher the number, the faster the green (one NSW coaching drill refers to a "12 to 14 second green"). On a faster green the bowl runs farther for the same push and has more time to curve, so you'll need less weight and a wider line.
• Grass and line: "grass" means the line you deliver on, allowing for bias. Width depends on bias, which is constant, so it can be learned. Length (weight) is the other part.
• Conditions: slopes, the state of the grass or turf, moisture and wind all change how a bowl runs.
• Wind: play short ends with the wind behind you and long ends into it. With a crosswind, play the hand where the wind helps the bias. Pause on the mat for gusts.
• Find the line early: a three-quarter length jack gives a good read of green speed.
• Blocks: one coaching method is to move to the outside of the mat and aim outside your normal line to go around a block (inside to go inside). The goal is still the shot, not just missing the block.

Head building, jack length and the mat

• Mat: it goes on the center line, at least 2 m from the rear ditch and 25 m from the front ditch under the World Bowls Laws.
• Jack length: a careless jack hands control to the other side. Moving the mat can upset an opponent's rhythm. Against a strong driver, keep some distance between jack and ditch. Against a less experienced player, a full-length jack may help.
• Scoring zone: bowls in the area around the jack are useful. A short bowl in front is chancy: you may promote it, but so may the opponent.
• Safe vs attack: draw first and build pressure. Attack with weight when you're shots down, the head is blocked, or the count is too big to leave.
• Back bowl: coaching drills have seconds draw bowls about 1.5 yd behind the jack, and thirds and skips practice trailing the jack, because the jack can be moved back into that area.

Practice drills

1. Weight control: roll one bowl to any spot, then draw the next three on the same hand to finish beside it. Vary length and hand.
2. Shorter and longer: draw each bowl 40 to 50 cm short of the last, then repeat going 40 to 50 cm past.
3. Promote: place a bowl ½ m short of the jack and push it forward ½ m.
4. Wrest: put a bowl 1 ft either side of the jack, jack high, and play the wrest. Then trail the jack 2 ft, then 1 yd.
5. Arc behind: center the jack and draw all four bowls 1.5 yd behind it in an arc.
6. Ditch jacks: set four jacks 2 ft from the front ditch across the rink. Draw to each, then trail each into the ditch.
7. Running shot (Bowls Australia): set mats across the rink to block a drive and hit the target with controlled weight. Score 5 for jack, 3 for a bowl, −2 for a miss.
8. Full drive: two mat lengths from the T, with bowls in front of and behind the jack, drive to put jack and bowl in the ditch. Five ends forehand, five backhand.

Practice everything on both hands and at different lengths, with the head off center too.

Etiquette and the mental game

• Once the previous bowl stops, the rink belongs to the other team. Stop signals and stay still and quiet.
• Don't disturb the head while the thirds or skips are agreeing the count. Stand well back while a measure is taken.
• Deliver the jack with care. Coaches say many games are lost through poor jack delivery.
• Take your time on the mat. There's no rush to bowl into a gust.
• Back your teammates. Communication is shared responsibility for shot choice and the result. Fairness and tact are listed as a skip's key traits.

Sources

• World Bowls: Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark 4th ed. (team positions, bowls per player, order of play)
• World Bowls: Laws, Crystal Mark 2nd ed. (World event formats, mat placement)
• World Bowls: Skills and Drills
• Bowls Australia (BDBA): Training Manual (drills, scoring zone, lead and second roles)
• Bowls Australia club (Coburg Moreland): Coaching notes on blocks and using the mat
• Bowls Queensland: Coaching Basics and the Etiquette of Bowls
• English Bowls Coaching: Shots of the game
• NSW purposeful practice routines (via Ewell Village BC)
• Association of Surrey Bowls Coaches: Purposeful Practice (players' duties)
• Pontymister Athletic Bowls: Purposeful Practice (drills by position)
• Banbury Cross IBC: Skips Guide
• Windsor Bowls Club: Match Play and Tactics
• Jack High Bowls: Pairs Tactics
• Jack High Bowls: Triples Tactics
• Bowlsworld: Tactics for Singles, Pairs, Triples & Fours
• Jack and Bowl: Types of lawn bowls shots
• The Bowls Academy: Playing in wet and windy conditions

All sources checked 2026-10-28. Coaching advice varies by coach and country. Your club coach can tailor it to you.