Types of bowls shots (Deliveries)

Forehand – a forehand shot, for a right handed player, plays the bowl to the right side of the centre block with the bias side of the bowl facing left.

Backhand – a backhand shot, for a right handed player, plays the bowl to the left side of the centre block with the bias side of the bowl facing right.

Draw – a draw shot is delivered, on either hand, with just enough weight for the bowl to arrive at the selected spot on the mat, usually alongside the jack, but could be to any other position requested by the Skip.

(Controlled) Weight – a heavier shot intended to move a bowl, or the jack, within the head or outside the head. Mastering of weight shots requires practice and experience, knowing how the bias will respond to a heavier delivery as well as how bowls and the jack behave when struck. (Note that the 'head' is used to describe all the bowls lying on the mat around the jack after being bowled)

Trail – a shot aimed at the jack but with just enough weight to take the jack back to a different point on the mat. Often used if the player’s side has bowls behind the jack which can be brought into play by moving the jack.

Fire – a heavy weight shot intended to move one or more bowls, or the jack, either into the ditch or off the mat. A player intending to use a firing shot should warn other players so appropriate action can be taken if or when necessary.

What is a ‘Toucher’?
A ‘toucher’ is any bowl which makes contact with the jack. when it is being delivered to the head regardless of how many lying bowls it hits on the way. 'Touchers' that go into the ditch are still in play. Any bowl already lying on the mat which is knocked onto the jack by the bowl in play, is not a 'toucher'.