Lawn bowl is played with four balls or bowls. There are four bowls in a set. Each set is unique and has its own special symbol etched in the center circle on both sides.
Much like alley bowling, bowlers roll their bowls towards a goal. In this case, the goal is a small white ball the size of a billiard ball known as the "Jack."
The object of the game is to get as close to the Jack as possible. The challenge comes from the fact that the bowls are not round and are therefore biased. This means they will curve as they roll, forcing the bowler to roll his/her bowl outward at an angle to reach the Jack.
The Jack
The object of the game is to get your bowls as close to a small white ball as possible. This white ball is the size of a billiard ball and is known as the jack. It is rolled out onto the playing field where it becomes the target for the game. The object is to roll your bowls as close to it as possible. It is perfectly acceptable to hit and move the Jack with your bowls, so this little white ball gets a lot of attention.
The Jack has NO bias. The person who begins the game must roll the Jack in a straight line out onto the playing field. This can be really tricky if the grass is long or wet, or the field is bumpy. Like everything else in lawn bowling it looks a lot easier than it actually is.
Measuring Tape
When more than one bowl is close to the Jack, and it is impossible to tell which is closest with the naked eye, a measuring tape is brought out.
The tape looks a lot like a regular measuring tape, but can be made of string or metal. Top-of-the-line tapes also have calipers, which allow you to measure very precisely. Occasionally things are so close that a dollar bill, inserted between the Jack and the bowls, will have to be used to determine the winner. If two or more bowls are touching the Jack directly, a tie is declared.
The Score Cards
The score of games is kept on pre-printed cards, and each club has its own method for displaying them. Here at Santa Anita we have stands with clips that hold the score cards in place. Pencils for writing fit into holes at the top, and the red can on the side is used to collect chips. The chips are used to determine where and with whom a person plays.