This book has, I hope, been written in such a way that the meaning is clear. Like any sport however, lawn bowls has its own special jargon; and for those who want to know how some of these words and phrases fit into the pattern of the game, I append the most commonly used.

BACKHAND Bowl delivered with the large identifying disc on the outside. For the right-hander, that is on the left.

BACKWOOD Bowls nearest the ditch — often so placed as ‘insurance’ against the jack being moved to the rear. Also known as the ‘back-est’ bowl.

BANK The raised area behind the ditch

BIAS ‘Weighted’ or small disc side of the bowl which causes it to turn in an arc. Deliver the bowl with the small disc facing the wrong side and it will turn away from, instead of towards, the target. This is known as ‘wrong bias’. Don’t do it; it may cost you drinks all round.

BLOCK SHOT Bowl placed in direct line between the mat and the jack.

BOUNDARY The rink area is defined by an imaginary line down either side, drawn the length of the green between the boundary pegs. The backboard behind the end ditches is also defined as the boundary of the rink.

BURNT END Canadian/American term for a dead end.

CANT Bowl turned slightly in the hand against the bias. Also known as tilt.

DEAD BOWL Unless it is a toucher, any bowl which finishes outside the rink is dead. A toucher, however, remains ‘live’ if it finishes in the ditch inside the boundary lines.

DEAD END If the jack is moved outside the imaginary lines between the boundary pegs, then the end is ‘dead’ and should be replayed. In some local rules, however, a ‘dead’ end may not be replayed, as a means of saving time.

DITCH The ‘gutter’ at each end of the green.

DRAW or DRAW-SHOT Bowl delivered to finish in a specific position.

DRIVE Bowl delivered at a very fast pace. In England, it can be called a firing shot.

END Started by rolling the jack, and finished when each bowler has delivered the required number of bowls and the score decided.

FOOT-FAULT When the rule governing feet on the mat and delivery are contravened. Remember that your rear foot must be on or above the mat as the bowl is released.

GRASS or GREEN Term used to describe the line or path a bowl takes. To take more grass means to bowl out wider.

HEAD This is formed by the jack and the bowls drawn to and around it.

JACK The small white ‘ball” – the aim of the game being to deliver your bowls as near as possible to it. The number of bowls you have nearer the jack than the closest bowls of your opponent is your score for that end.

JACK HIGH Looking from the mat, the front surfaces of the bowl and the jack are level.

JACK LOW A New Zealand term meaning short of jack high.

LEADER The first player to deliver in a game of pairs, triples or fours.

MARKER The person who assists singles players by setting up the jack after it is rolled. He’also scores and answers players’ questions about the position of the head.

MEASURER The third player in fours, and the second in triples. One of his tasks is to measure for shot in a close head.

PLANT Two bowls close together and lined up with the jack or a particular bowl. Sometimes called a ‘set’, or in Queensland, a `charlie’.

RINK The playing area. See ‘Boundary’.

RUNNING SHOT Bowl delivered with sufficient speed to reach the ditch. Also known as a `reaching’ shot, or ‘upshot’ or ‘onshot’.

SECOND The second player to deliver in triples or fours. His other specified task is to keep the scorecard and scoreboard in fours.

SKIPPER The captain and last player in teams matches.

SHOTS UP The number of bowls nearer the jack than your opponent’s nearest.

SHOTS DOWN The reverse, and hardly the best position.

TAKE OUT Remove an opposition bowl with a drive or on-shot.

TOUCHER A bowl that has touched the jack and remained within the rink boundaries. When the skipper applies white chalk to your bowl, you will know you have a toucher!

TRAIL SHOT Bowl delivered in such a way as to move the jack a short distance.

UMPIRE The adjudicator in disputes, close measures, bowls or jack out of bounds etc.

WEIGHT The amount of thrust applied to a bowl or jack in delivery.

WHIP Exaggerated turn of the bowl, usually caused by wind.

WRESTING SHOT Bowl delivered above draw-weight to push an opponent’s bowl through and take its place. A ‘wresting toucher’ finishes against the jack.

Next: Dust Jacket-Front