About the Game  

There are a number of different variants of the game of bowls; lawn bowls, crown green bowls, short mat and indoor bowls. In Guernsey both lawn bowls and indoor bowls are played. Indoor bowls is played at the Guernsey Indoor Bowls Stadium, Hougue du Pommier, Vale, Guernsey. Some 800 members participate in league and knockout competitions all year round.

Many of you may have seen bowls on the television or have watched it being played at the local park or sports centre but not have fully understood what was going on. Set out below are the basics.

1. The aim of each team is to roll their bowls on the ground so that they finish closer to the jack (the white ball) than the opposing team's bowls. For each bowl that finishes closer to the jack than the closest opposing bowl one shot is scored.

2. Matches are either played to a specific score or to a fixed number of ends. Singles matches tend to be played to a specific score whilst team matches are usually played to a certain number of ends. An end is completed when all of the players in both teams have played their bowls to the jack.

3. The person or team with the highest score at the end of the match wins. It is as simple as that.

In order to play the game successfully it is necessary to roll the bowl in the right direction at the correct speed so that the bias will bring the bowl back to the target. The bias is created by the shape of the bowl and not by built in weights as some believe. One side is more rounded than the other and this causes the bowl to fall as it slows thus bending inwards and curving as it rolls along.

Bowls has no doubt proved popular in Guernsey because it can be played by young and old, men and women without any difficulty. The sport is such that all can compete on a fairly even basis. There are clearly those who excel and those who just wish to have a social match. Bowls caters for all types and standards. The facilities available in Guernsey have also helped to promote the sport in the Island. As a result Guernsey has been able to compete against the Home Countries in Test Matches and to participate in other similar international competitions.