LAWS OF BOWLS

The mat must be 600 millimetres long and 360 millimetres wide.

51        Jack

51.1 The jack must be a solid sphere (ball shaped) and either white or yellow.

51.2 For outdoor non-synthetic greens, the jack must:

51.2.1 measure between 63 millimetres and 64 millimetres across (the diameter); and

51.2.2 weigh between 225 grams and 285 grams.

 51.3 For outdoor synthetic greens and indoor greens, the jack must:

51.3.1 measure between 63 millimetres and 67 millimetres across (the diameter); and

51.3.2 weigh between 382 grams and 453 grams.

 52           Bowls

52.1     Specifications

52.1.1 Bowls must be manufactured from materials or products approved by WB, such as plastic resin (called composition or plastic bowls), and may be any colour or combination of colours. The bowls colours must be incorporated during the manufacturing process.

52.1.2 Indentations designed to help the player grip the bowl during delivery (for example, grooved rings or dimples) can be incorporated during the manufacturing process. They can also be added at a later date, but only by a Licensed Manufacturer or a Licensed Tester.

52.1.3  Each set of bowls can carry a player’s individual emblem, logo or engraving as a distinguishing mark on both sides of every bowl.

52.1.3.1 The distinguishing mark must be the same design and colour on each bowl, but can be different in size.

52.1.3.2 The distinguishing mark on the bias side of the bowl must be inside the smallest grooved ring surrounding its centre.

52.1.3.3 If there are grooved rings surrounding the centre of the non-bias side, the distinguishing mark must be inside the smallest ring.

52.1.3.4 If there are no grooved rings surrounding the centre of the non-bias side, the distinguishing mark must be inside the indentations designed to help the player grip the bowl during delivery.

52.1.3.5 As well as the distinguishing marks, each set of bowls can carry a player’s name or signature. Imprints on the running surfaces of bowls must be avoided.

52.1.4 The requirement for distinguishing marks applies to all bowls used in International Events, World Bowls Championships and Commonwealth Games.

52.1.5 For domestic play, Member National Authoritiescan decide therequirements for distinguishing marks.

52.1.6 Bowls made of wood must:

52.1.6.1 measure between112 millimetres and 134 millimetres across at their widest points; and

52.1.6.2 weigh up to 1.59 kilograms.

52.1.7 Bowls made of rubber or plastic resin must:

52.1.7.1 measure between112 millimetres and 131 millimetres across at their widest points; and

52.1.7.2 weigh up to 1.59 kilograms.

52.1.8 The Controlling Body can supply adhesive (stick-on) markings for players to temporarily fix to both sides of their bowls, or allow players to use their own markings. When these markings are used:

52.1.8.1 they are part of the bowl for all purposes under the Laws of the Sport of Bowls;

52.1.8.2 there must be only one layer of markings fixed to either side of the bowl;

52.1.8.3 they must not be put over the serial number and the World Bowls Stamp which are present on the bias side of the bowl; and

52.1.8.4 all bowls belonging to a Singles player or players within a team or side must have these markings on them and the markings must all be the same design and colour. However, players may use markings which are different in size from those used by other players in their team or side where this is necessary due to differences in the sizes of either the manufacturers’ rings or the distinguishing marks on the bowls.

52.1.9 If opponents in Singles or opposing teams or sides have the same design or colour of markings and an alternative is not available, the Singles player, players in the team or side listed second in the draw must remove their markings.

52.2 Bias of bowls

52.2.1 A Working Reference Bowl will have a bias approved by WB. All bowls must have a bias that is not less than that of a Working Reference Bowl and must be imprinted with the registered World Bowls Stamp.

52.2.2 To check the accuracy of the bias and the visibility of the World Bowls Stamp, all bowls must be re-tested and re-stamped at least once every 10 years, or earlier if the date of the stamp is not clearly legible.

52.2.3 For domestic play, Member National Authorities can decide the requirements for re-testing and re-stamping bowls.

52.3 Alteration to bias

52.3.1 A player must not alter, or cause to be altered other than by a Licensed Tester, any bowl imprinted with the registered World Bowls Stamp in any way that would alter the bias of the bowl.

52.3.2 Any player breaking this law will be suspended from playing for as long as the Member National Authority of which the player’s club is a member decides.

52.3.3 The Member National Authority which suspended the player must give WB details of the suspension, and the suspension will apply among all Member National Authorities.

52.3.4 Players or owners who colour the grooved rings or dimples on a bowl for decoration are not breaking this law.

 52.4 Lodging a challenge to bowls

52.4.1 Any challenge to bowls must be based on the grounds that they do not meet one or more of the requirements of laws 52.1 and 52.2.

52.4.2 A challenge can be lodged by a player, the coach, the umpire or the Controlling Body.

52.4.3 No challenge, or notice that a challenge will be made, must be lodged during the trial ends or during a game. If the person making such a challenge is a player or a coach, the player will be disqualified and the game will be forfeited to the opponent.

52.4.4 If a challenge is lodged:

52.4.4.1 it must be lodged with the umpire or the Controlling Body;

52.4.4.2 it must be made not later than 10 minutes after the final end in which the bowls were used is completed; and

52.4.4.3 the person making the challenge, if they are a player or the coach, must pay a deposit to the umpire or the Controlling Body for a fixed amount decided each year by WB or the relevant Member National Authority.

52.4.5 Once a challenge is lodged and the deposit paid, it cannot be withdrawn.

52.5 Following up a challenge to bowls

52.5.1 The umpire or the Controlling Body must ask the player using the bowls concerned (the user) or the person who owns the bowls concerned (the owner) to hand over the set of bowls so that the Controlling Body can send them for testing by a Licensed Tester.

52.5.2 Bowls sent for testing must be in sets of four.

52.5.3 The bowls do not have to be sent to a Licensed Tester if the challenge relates to the bowls not meeting the requirements of law 2.4. In this case, the challenge can be dealt with by the Controlling Body (for example, by checking the serial numbers).

52.5.3.1 If the Controlling Body finds that the bowls meet the requirements of law 2.4, law 52.5.7 will apply.

52.5.3.2 If the Controlling Body finds that the bowls do not meet the requirements of law 2.4, law 52.6.1.3 will apply.

52.5.4 If the user or owner of the challenged set of bowls refuses to hand the whole set over to the umpire or the Controlling Body, the game will be forfeited to the opponent.

52.5.5 Neither the user nor the owner must use the challenged set of bowls in any game controlled or permitted by the Controlling Body until the set of bowls has been tested by a Licensed Tester.

52.5.6 When the umpire has received the challenged set of bowls, they must take immediate steps to pass the set to the Secretary of the Controlling Body who must arrange for them to be tested by a Licensed Tester as soon as possible. The test must be carried out in the presence of representatives of any of the following: WB, the Member National Authority, the Controlling Body, and the user or owner if they want to attend.

52.5.7 If a Licensed Tester finds that the challenged set of bowls meets the requirements of laws2.4,52.1 and 52.2:

52.5.7.1 the set of bowls must be returned to the user or owner by the Controlling Body; and

52.5.7.2 the person who lodged the challenge must lose their deposit and pay the Controlling Body for all expenses in having the tests done.

52.6       Bowls failing a test

52.6.1 Failing a test as a result of a challenge being lodged (see law52.4)

52.6.1.1 If a Licensed Tester finds that a bowl does not meet the requirements of laws 52.1 or 52.2, they must alter the bowl as necessary before returning it.

52.6.1.2 If a Licensed Tester cannot alter a bowl to meet the requirements of laws 52.1 and 52.2, they must cancel any current stamp imprinted on the bowl by stamping an ‘X’ over it before returning it.

52.6.1.3 If a Licensed Tester tests a challenged set of bowls and finds that they do not meet the requirements of laws 2.4, 52.1 and 52.2:

52.6.1.3.1 the game in which they were used must be forfeited to the opponent;

52.6.1.3.2 the deposit must be returned to the person who lodged the challenge; and

52.6.1.3.3 the user or owner of the set of bowls must pay the Controlling Body for all expenses in having the tests done.

52.6.2 Failing a test as a result of routine re-testing (see law52.2.2)

52.6.2.1 If a Licensed Tester finds that a bowl does not meet the requirements of laws 52.1 or 52.2, the user or owner of the set of bowls must choose whether to:

52.6.2.1.1 have the Licensed Tester alter the bowl as necessary before returning it; or

52.6.2.1.2 leave the bowl unaltered and have the Licensed Tester cancel any current stamp imprinted on the bowl by stamping an ‘X’ over it before returning it.

52.6.2.2  If a Licensed Tester cannot alter a bowl to meet the requirements of laws 52.1 and 52.2, they must cancel any current stamp imprinted on the bowl by stamping an ‘X’ over it before returning it.