Player Etiquette | Knaresborough Bowling Club

When playing home game your opponent has the first jack and when meeting them at the side of the green, it is nice to hand them the jack, shake hands and say ‘good game’.
2 scorers (markers) are used for each game, one per player. It is your responsibility to signal to your marker the result of each end. The 2 markers then agree scores with each other after every 3 or 4 ends (agreed by them before the game).
After the game, congratulate (or commiserate with) your opponent and ask if they would like a drink and then provide it for them. (You should have already paid for this prior to the Match commencing!)
You must indicate to your opponent which bias you are sending the jack. Although you do not have to do this verbally, most players do.
After you have delivered your wood you may occupy the ‘footer’ (round mat) until your wood has stopped running. You may not impede your opponent’s view of the line, nor can you walk up the line after your wood.
Game players 1 – 4 should, after completing their game, return the jack and footer to the ‘start’, which will be clearly marked on one edge of the green, for use by the next set of players. Also, thank your marker, collect your scorecard from them and return it to the captain/referee’s table in the clubhouse.
Because the game can be won at the next end, the markers should tell you when either you or your opponent have reached 19 or 20 points. A player who is at 20 is ‘All-but’. Both players on 20 points is called ‘All-but Across’.
If you have called for ‘measure please’ because you and your opponent are unable to decide which bowl is nearer the jack, allow the 2 measurers, normally representative from each team, space to get on with the job, watching them too closely suggests that you do not trust their impartiality. Do not be flustered out of points – e.g. your opponent may say ‘I think that is 2 to me’ – if you are not convinced, say that you would prefer to have it measured.
If you play your woods first, you may walk towards the end before your opponent finishes their delivery, but you must not interfere with their line of sight nor kick-in any bowls until they have seen and agreed the score. You will forfeit the end if you do.
Try and walk around other games on the green, not right across their ‘land’. It is not necessary and it is considered bad manners.
If you need to leave the green during the game (to put a sweater on, for instance) you must ask your opponent first – don’t just disappear (and do visit the loo before starting a game!).

It is nice to exchange pleasantries during the game, but do not be drawn into general chatter. Time enough after the game – you must concentrate on the game in hand!
If you find you are well up in a game, do not be tempted to ease up on your opponent. Once you lose the jack your opponent can gain great momentum by winning 2 or 3 ends and before you are aware, you are playing catch-up or worse, you’ve lost.
Regardless of whether you are winning or losing, remember that each point you (or your opponent) score is a point toward’s the team’s total aggregate score and at the end of the game every point counts. Keep trying until the game is won or lost!
Try to play as a team by supporting your teammates around the green (NOT if you are playing a game yourself)!
If you think your opponent has bowled a short measure i.e. jack is sent less than 19 meters, wait until their first bowl has stopped before deciding whether to object or not. If they send a poor first wood, you may prefer to leave it and elect to play the end – that way your opponent has only one wood left to correct the first shot, whereas, if you restart the end (albeit you would send the jack) they would have 2 woods to play with

Player Etiquette & Hints On Playing

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