Crown green bowls is especially familiar in parts of the United Kingdom. It is a distinct sport from flat green lawn bowls: the green has a raised centre and play can travel in many directions. That changes both tactics and the rules a beginner must learn.
Why the surface matters
The crown makes the green slope away from its centre. A bowl’s path depends on both its bias and the contour under it. A line that looks straight from the footer may move sharply late. Watch several bowls on the same line before changing your weight.
The target and starting point
The leader sets the footer and sends the jack to establish the next mark, subject to the law’s distance and position requirements. This is different from repeatedly playing between fixed ends of a flat rink. Learn where the footer may be placed and the minimum mark before starting a competitive game.
How to learn scoring
The nearest bowl to the jack controls the point; play continues toward a target score set by the competition. Exact match format and handicaps can vary. For a first social game, focus on identifying the winning bowl, keeping clear of the line of play and waiting until the head is agreed before moving equipment.
Which rules apply?
The British Crown Green Bowling Association publishes the Laws of the Game, and a league or event may add competition rules. Use those documents for decisions about an invalid mark, footer position or a close measure. Flat green World Bowls laws are not the crown green rulebook.
Sources: BCGBA rules of the game.
For a clearer look at a close club head, explore WGTS on iPhone or Android. Follow your competition's official measuring procedure for the result.