Story: Bowls, pétanque and tenpin

Playing bowls

Playing bowls

Bowls are played in a rectangular green that is divided into rinks. The aim is to roll the bowls closest to the jack. The first player places the 'mat' and rolls the jack to the end of the rink. After the jack stops it is centred on the rink and players take turns to roll their balls from the mat towards the jack. Bowls that fall into the ditch at the green's end are taken from play, except for those that touch the jack beforehand. Once all the bowls have been delivered, the distance of the closest bowls to the jack are measured. The winning team on each end gets as many shots as it has bowls closer to the jack than the best bowls of the losing team.

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How to cite this page:

Lindsay Knight, 'Bowls, pétanque and tenpin - Lawn bowls: game, history and organisation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/37973/playing-bowls (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Lindsay Knight, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Jan 2015