Lawn bowls etiquette consists of guidelines that dictate how players should behave while bowling. These guidelines are based on mutual respect and common courtesy, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone involved—both players and spectators. They are straightforward, common-sense principles that should be followed for the good of the game. Some aspects of etiquette are also included in the laws of the game and club rules. This list is not exhaustive, but it covers key points.
Be on Time: Arriving late can hold up the start of a game and will likely be frowned upon by fellow players. If you are excessively late, your team may even have to forfeit the game, which is something to avoid!
Dress Appropriately: Wearing the correct footwear is essential on any bowling green. The attire you choose should reflect the nature of the game and can vary from informal wear to your club’s officially approved kit.
Stand Still When Others Bowl: Respect the bowler’s right to concentrate. Avoid distractions by remaining still while someone is preparing to bowl.
Be Alert When Moving Around Adjacent Rinks: Always check to ensure you are not in the line of sight of a player about to bowl. Time your movements carefully to avoid disruption.
Observe the Rules of Possession: The team whose bowl is currently being played holds possession of the rink. Players in possession should not be interfered with, annoyed, or distracted in any manner by their opponents.
Acknowledge Good Play: Congratulate your opponents for well-played shots to show sportsmanship.
Do Not Drop Your Bowl: Bowling greens are delicate surfaces. Dropping a bowl is disrespectful and can damage the green.
Shake Hands: Shake hands with all players on your rink before the game begins, and introduce yourself to your opponents. It’s also customary to shake hands at the end of the game to congratulate or commiserate, as appropriate.
Keep Complaints to Yourself: Complaining about the greens, facilities, or other players is considered bad form. Everyone is doing their best, and no one intends to play poorly. Many clubs operate with limited resources and manage their greens with the best care possible.
By adhering to these guidelines, players can contribute to a positive environment for everyone involved in lawn bowls.
At Chepstow Bowling Club, we play according to World Bowls Rules. At the start of the 2025 outdoor season, the official rules are “Laws of the Sport of Bowls Crystal Mark Fourth Edition.” A copy of these rules is kept on the noticeboard for reference (please ensure it remains there).
You can view the laws online here: Laws of Bowls
Amendments are allowed to these rules: the National and County bodies to which The Club is affiliated and the Club itself may apply amendments to these rules.
For those new to the game, don’t get too hung up on learning the laws – you’ll pick them up as you go along. The best way to learn the laws of bowls is to play the game with more experienced players. To quote an experienced bowls umpire, “Some of the laws of bowls can be quite difficult to interpret”. This is true, but luckily you may never encounter some of the circumstances to which such laws apply.
At the end of April keep an eye open for one of Mark Handcock’s Marker Courses, where you can learn about tricky shot measurements and other matters in a fun environment. You’ll learn a lot and might be surprised by what you learn.
This set of rules is concerned with, for example, the type of footwear we allow on our green, dress codes for certain types of play on the green, when the green may be used, smoking, security and so on.
For the Cub Constitution and Club Rules please click here.
