Bowling Green Playing Surface

Flat lawn bowls is played on a green which will typically measure 38.4m x 38.4m, which is the traditional 126’ for each side of a green, however, the green can be either rectangular or square. The minimum length of green in the direction of play is 31m, whilst the maximum length is 40m. Traditionally the sizes of a green ranged from 30.2m (99’) to 40.2m (132’) per side. There are typically 6 rinks per green, with each rink being from 4.3m to 5.8m (traditionally this was 14’ to 19’) in width for casual play, with a Regulation 1 made by Bowls England of 4.8m to 5.8m for national competitions and national championships. (World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Section 46, June 2020, http://www.worldbowls.com/laws-umpiring/laws-of-the-sport/, accessed 29th November 2021).

For an English Bowling Federation and English Women’s Bowling Federation, the size of the green is a minimum of 34m and maximum of 40m in the direction of play, with the rink width being between 4.8m and 6.4m. https://www.fedbowls.co.uk/laws-of-the-game-2020, accessed 29th November 2021

A crown bowling green will also be square in shape, with a standard green being 36.6m x 36.6m (120’ for each side), although sizes can range from 27.4m x 27.4m (90’ each side) to 54.9m x 54.9m (180’ per side). There are no rinks on a crown green bowls as play can take place in any directly – basically controlled randomness, as well as the green not being flat, having a circular crown which graduates evenly outwards.