Law Of The Week – Setting A Mark – Burton & Puddington Bowls Club

4.2 A mark is set when the jack having been bowled, does not go off the green, is not prevented from going off by resting against anything at the edge or in the channel or, after lawful objection, is proved by measurement, with a certified measure, to be at least 19 metres from the footer, with the footer at least 1 metre from the edge.

Question Your opponent sends the jack and you both think it is not 19 metres. Do they get the jack back to try again? Answer They only get the jack (and any wood) back if you object before your opponent has bowled their first wood or while their first wood is still in motion. You have a chance to get the jack. You should wait until after your opponent has bowled their first wood and it has come to a stop and then call for long tapes. If it is less than 19 metres, you get the jack, but your opponent bowls the first wood. Question What if, after I call long tapes and get the jack, I fail to set a mark of 19 metres? Answer Your opponent must object before you bowl your first wood. If it is not 19 metres, they get the jack. It continues like that until someone sets a mark. Whichever of you ends up the setting the mark, your opponent gets to bowl the first wood. Question Do I have to call for long tapes? Answer No but be aware of where you are on the green and whether you will be able to set a mark if you win the end. The mat must be placed within one metre of the jack for the start of the next end. This naturally leads to the next question! Question Can you, by agreement, move the mat more than one metre? Answer There is no Law allowing the mat to be moved more than one metre from the jack in any direction. Captains and players do sometimes agree to do this but be aware that agreement is not guaranteed. I have played in at least one game where the Captain of the other team would not allow it.

References From the Laws Of The Game

D1a The LEADER Is the player who has the first attempt to set a mark and shall deliver the first bowl after any attempt to set a mark.

4.4a Objection to a mark set by the leader can only be made by the leader’s opponent after the first bowl has come to rest. If the opponent objects before the leader’s first bowl has come to rest, the leader may have the jack, and bowl if played, returned to have another attempt at setting a mark. Only the opponent can object to the mark. An opponent objecting to a mark must make a clear indication that an objection has been made.

4.5 If the leader fails to set a mark, the leader’s opponent is then entitled to an attempt at setting a mark. In pairs this will be the player waiting to follow the leader.

4.6 If the leader fails to set a mark, objection to an attempt by the opponent must be made by the leader before delivering the first bowl.

4.7 If the opponent then fails to set a mark, the leader shall have another attempt and so-on, alternately, until a mark has been set by one of them. The original leader to play the first bowl.

5.15 After each end is concluded, the footer shall be placed at the jack by the last player. The footer may only be repositioned by the leader of the next end and before the first attempt to set a mark, anywhere within a space of one metre from where the jack lay at the conclusion of the last end but at least one metre in from the edge of the green. The footer must not be moved after the first attempt to set a mark by either the leader or the opponent until the end is concluded.