Step 1

Position yourself over the head and hold the BOWLS EYE parallel to the ground with both hands using your thumb and index finger at either end, with your dominant eye look through the smallest inner circle of the device.

Step 2

Line up the inner circle with the Jack, moving the BOWLS EYE up and down until the inner circle is fully centred on the Jack.

Step 3

From this position assess the state of the head by using the outer concentric circles to easily gauge the position of the Jack in relation to the bowls.

FOR CLOSE ENDS

At Step 2, lower the BOWLS EYE so the Jack fills up the two inner circles before gauging the head.

FOR LONGER ENDS

Where the nearest bowl is further than 400mm (approx.) from the jack.

At Step 1, turn the BOWLS EYE 90* and instead hold the sides of the device, use the small circle at the end to gauge the distance.

Note – Using the device this way will give you a one-way view. Depending on where the two closest bowls are located, it may be necessary to line up the Jack to both bowls individually and compare results in order to assess the head.

Law 23.3 (part of): Examples of equipment or objects which, when used during an end, would not be deemed to be in breach of law 23.3 include cross-fingers and devices comprising concentric circles within a transparent frame which are held approximately waist high, and equipment or objects (such as a player’s foot) placed alongside or parallel to (but not directly between) the jack and the bowls.

The Technical Details

The BOWLS EYE is a simple eye shaped transparent perspex disc featuring a number of concentric circles that can be used in the game of lawn bowls to accurately estimate the distance between the jack and surrounding bowls. At any time after the first two bowls have been delivered, a team member or marker can use the tool to efficiently and accurately gauge the state of the head.

Law 23.3 (part of):

Examples of equipment or objects which, when used during an end, would not be deemed to be in breach of law 23.3 include cross-fingers and devices comprising concentric circles within a transparent frame which are held approximately waist high, and equipment or objects (such as a player’s foot) placed alongside or parallel to (but not directly between) the jack and the bowls.