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What is Bowls? Lawn Bowls

Co je bowls?

 

Bowls, also known as lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport that involves rolling special balls across a lawn with the aim of getting your own balls (bowls) closer to the jack, a small white (yellow) ball. The bowls are shaped (biased), so that they follow a curved path when being rolled.

Proč si bowls drží popularitu?

 
  • Accessibility – children, seniors and the disabled can play; a precise hand is all that is needed, not physical strength.
  • Tactics and strategy – similar to curling; each throw is preceded by a reading of the terrain.
  • Social dimension – club culture is an integral part of the tradition.
  • Inexpensive sport – players can get by with one set of balls for many years.

A Brief evolution of Bowls

Antiquity

Research has discovered stone “balls” with grooves in tombs of ancient Egypt (≈ 3,000 BC).
The Romans played Bocce / Harpastum – a probable predecessor

Medieval Europe

12th–13th century: the game called Bowlis or Boule preads through England and France.
1361 and 1477: the English kings (Edward III and Henry VII) ban the game – “it distracts the subjects from archery”.

Renaissance

1511: King Henry VIII has a private green established at Whitehall Castle. Allowed for the nobility, still more or less forbidden for the common people.

19th century – Birth of Modern Rules

1830 → 1845: first city clubs are established in Glasgow (Scotland), the dimensions of the pitch are fixed (40 × 31 m). 
1848: Glasgow Bowling Green Regulations – the first written code.
1892: Scottish Bowling Association = first national association; shortly after England, Wales and Ireland.

20th century – International Expansion

1905: International Bowling Board (IBB) established.
1930: bowls debuts at the British Empire Games (today's Commonwealth Games).
1966: World Bowls Boardformed; unifies rules for global competitions.
Strong growth in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

21st century – Professionalization, TV & Indoor

Adoption of artificial surfaces (synthetic greens) → year-round play.
Live streams from the World and Commonwealth Championships; development of professional tours (World Bowls Tour, Professional Bowls Association).