Lawn bowls is played on a flat grassy field, bordered by moats and embankments. The field is a square or rectangle with sides ranging from 34 to 40 meters in length, and is divided into 6 to 7 lanes by thin lines, each lane being 4.3 to 5.8 meters wide. The bowls used in the game are made of bakelite, weigh approximately 1.6 kilograms, and are slightly off-center. The playing ball is a flattened, round, and slightly off-center sphere that follows an arc as it approaches the target ball, avoiding obstacles to reach its destination. The ball has a rolling surface and two marked sides; four identical balls make a set. A small white ball, approximately 60 millimeters in diameter, is used as the target ball. At the start of the game, players lay mats on the lanes, stand on the mats, launch the target ball along the center line of the field, and move the target ball to the center line. Both players take turns serving a ball in a rolling motion towards the target ball. The ball's eccentricity allows it to travel in an arc, bringing it closer to the target ball. After all the balls have been served, the closest ball is determined by visual estimation or measurement, and the score is calculated.
Lawn bowls can be divided into men's, women's, and mixed-gender events. It is also divided into singles, doubles, three-person team, and four-person team matches.
In singles, each player has one ball, and each player serves four balls. Players take turns serving eight balls per game. The first player to reach 25 points wins. There is no limit to the number of games.
In doubles, each player has two balls, and each player serves four balls. Players take turns serving 16 balls per game. A total of 21 games are played, and the player with the higher score wins.
In three-person team, each player has three balls, and each player takes turns serving 18 balls per game. A total of 18 games are played, and the player with the higher score wins.
In a four-player game, each side has four players, each with three balls. Players take turns serving 18 balls per game, and a match consists of 18 games. The side with the highest score wins. Lawn bowls is played in singles, doubles, triples, and four-player modes. In a four-player game, players number 1 and 2 typically aim to get the ball closer to the object ball, player number 3 protects or disrupts the opponent's position based on the situation on the table, and player number 4 usually directs the game tactically.
