Domestic Carpet Bowls

Sec 1 - "Domestic" or "Home" Carpet bowls.

The best known name in this type of carpet bowlBandabowls arethepremier quality carpet bowls and have been made by the same family firm since 1930.

Domestic CarpetB

picture acknowledgement - Drakes Pride

 

Available in 2.5" and 2" diameter sizesBandabowls are biased to suit a playing area of between 3-6 metres in length (10-20 feet) and not less than 2 metres (6 feet) width.

DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME

This game is similar to the well known game of Lawn Bowls, but is ideally suited for play on a carpet. The bowls are biased similarly to those used on a Bowling Green. In order to give the necessary 'drag', the carpet should be of dense pile and around 1 cm (1 /2") deep if the pile is too smooth and/or too short the bowls will tend to run in circles or off the edge of the carpet. The playing area may be of any length from 3-6m (10-20ft) and width not less than 2m (6ft).

For those not familiar with the game of bowls the following may be of use:
'Bias' which is incorporated in the bowl during manufacture on the opposite side of the bowl to the coloured spot, causes the bowl to roll in a gentle curve instead of a straight line. The bowl should be rolled, not thrown, near the ground in the direction of the jack. It will then be found to curve away from the coloured spot, thus enabling the jack to be approached either from the right or left, according to the way in which the bowl is held in the hand. This is particularly useful if an opponents bowl is lying in a direct line of approach, as the object of the game is to get one's bowl or bowls as near to the jack as possible.

RULES

1. The game may be played by two, three, or four persons. Each player has one pair of bowls, but if two players only, each may have two pairs.

2. If four persons are playing, they may form themselves into two sides or play individually.

3. Where partners are playing, one of either side shall play alternately.

4. Before commencing play the number of points to be scored for game (usually 21), is agreed.

5. Players should spin a coin to decide which player has the option of playing first. The first player in each round shall play the jack and follow with his/her first bowl; the others follow from the same spot, marked with the green mat, in the order agreed upon. The winner of each round leads the following round.

6. Should the jack be thrown off the edge of the playing area, it should be replaced about 30-40cm (12-18ins) from the edge nearest the point where it went off, but should the jack be knocked of by a bowl in play, that round is 'dead' and should be started again from the opposite end.

7. All bowls not remaining on the carpet, or fouled or impeded by any object, shall be deemed 'dead' and may be removed.

8. The player or side whose bowl remains nearest the jack counts one point, but should two or more bowled by the same player or side be nearer than the opponent's, a further point for each bowl is counted.

9. Should two players tie for nearest position, one point each should be scored.

10. If a bowl is played out of turn it may be replayed in proper order. But if it has touched or moved another bowl, the round may be declared dead and should be replayed.

© Peter N. Clare 2009 © E.A. Clare & Son Ltd. 2018 - reproduction of article allowed only with permission from E.A. Clare & Son Ltd.