As a novice, like myself, becomes better (and better known) at his home club (s)he will be drawn in fun roll-ups to play positions other than lead. If you are asked to be vice-skip you will need to be able to measure properly. Besides a measure and chalk, always carry a small towel. It is not only good for drying/cleaning bowls, but should also be used when measuring for more than one point. Lay the towel on the ground and place each scoring bowl onto the towel. This avoids confusion and ensures that a bowl already counted and set aside is not accidentally measured again. Get into the habit of doing this all the time, not just in tournaments. Bowls that are not scoring but are just in the way can be taken aside well away from the scoring zone.
Either vice can ask for a measure, and their opposite number cannot refuse the request. Some vices are not above exerting a little psychological pressure at this stage, by making it very clear to their opposite number, particularly if (s)he has not been bowling for many years, that there is absolutely no need for a measure and it is blindingly obvious which bowl is the winner. On the other hand, it is not unknown, when a measure has been insisted upon, the “bully” is to be proved wrong!
Measuring Tapes
Before beginning measuring, place wedges under any bowls that will be considered in the count that look as if they could fall over. It is important that they do not fall until the measuring is complete. Wedges can be made from the corks of empty wine bottles. Preparing wedges can be fun, particularly the drinking!
There are two types of measurement devices in general use. String measures are generally preferred in competitive play, but some players regret this trend because it is far easier to cheat with a string measure than with a metal tape. Make sure that the distance measured between the jack and the bowl is the shortest possible. This means that the measure must be placed in a dead straight line, and that the tip of the tape touches the bowl at the point closest to the jack. A player can cheat at this stage by measuring the two bowls at different points, such that one of them is measured too low, or to one side (or see above wrt misaligning the tape case). It only takes a millimeter of difference to change which bowl is closer, and a cheating player can find that millimeter very easily! When you are not the measurer, be a careful observer. If it is crucial, ask to perform the measurement again yourself.
It is sometimes necessary to repeat the measuring procedure, and the other vice may wish to check the result for himself/herself. The two players must always agree on the result, which is usually signaled by the conceding player pushing away the opposing bowl that is closer, followed by the winning side picking up the jack.
Calipers can be used when the bowl and jack are too close to get the measuring device between the bowls. Good calipers have a screw adjustment and can be purchased from any specialty bowls shop online, such as Shotbowl.
http://www.shotbowl.co.uk/Calipers.aspx
With calipers, try not to get the measure too accurate. Nine times out of ten, you don't need to touch both objects. You are just trying, using the calipers, to make obvious any difference between the two gaps. This can be done while still avoiding contact of the calipers with the jack. Always use the bowl that is heavier as your stable object. You can run one leg of the caliper down the bowl safely without it moving, but the jack should not be touched.
Most standard string or tape measurement tools include some form of calipers, but these are very crude and can lead to trouble. A referee probably has the more precise screw calipers. Calipers require practice to use properly. Firstly, place them below the gap between the bowl and the jack. Let the back of the caliper rest near or on the ground and raise the points upwards. Withdraw the caliper away from the bowls and jack to make adjustments. You should never make adjustments while the calipers are still resting between the bowl and the jack.
For even closer measurements when two competing bowls both seem in contact with the jack, to determine whether both are actually resting on the jack, you can take a dollar bill or any smooth sheet of paper and try to slide it, in turn, between each bowl and the jack. If the paper moves easily between the jack and bowl, they are not resting on each other. If it will not slide easily, that bowl and the jack are touching.
If one player is measuring and moves the jack and/or the bowl the opposite number must be the one restoring that bowl or jack. There is little you can do to prevent him/her from restoring it closer than it was (in your opinion). For this reason, some folks always ask the opponent to do the measuring. Others always ask the umpire, marker, or some neutral person.
When using a string or tape measure, it is not a bad idea to never actually touch the jack but be about a half mm off, because it’s far easier to accidentally move the jack than the bowl. Also, a player should not place a wedge against the jack because if the jack has moved, the opponent can reposition it. Remember, the idea of measuring is to be able to see the difference between the two lengths rather than putting a number on those lengths themselves. If you measure both distances holding the measure about a half mm from the jack, but not touching, and you still cannot decide, call the umpire or someone neutral to measure.
It can happen, even when everything is legitimate, that no decision can be reached, and the bowls in question are declared to be exactly the same distance from the jack. If the measure is for second (etc) bowl, it is not counted in the score. If the measure was for the shot bowl, neither side is allowed to score; the end is counted as having been played (i.e., it is not a dead end), but no score is recorded. In other jurisdictions, each side in this situation receives one point, and the end is counted. In continuing on with the match, the side that had led off during the end will continue to lead for the next one.
If the measurer touches the jack, which wobbles, and the other vice says “my shot”. You can say, “No, you put it back and we’ll remeasure.” Whether it is the bowl or the jack that is moved, don’t just let your opponent claim anything. Get him or her to re-position the jack. At least that way, you have a half chance of them getting it back in the correct spot.
If you are playing singles, you can ask the marker for assistance either before or after you've tried to measure. (Don't forget the marker must not push out a shot bowl; he can only point to what, in his opinion, are shots, leaving the option for an umpire to be called.)
Measuring for yourselves first before calling outside help seems like the common-sense approach. If you can reach an agreement, then no one else needs to be disturbed. If the skips agree to ask another uninvolved player, that person becomes de facto the umpire. Once you call and agree on a third party to measure, that decision is final. No objection is valid, and any objection is unsportsmanlike. You cannot get any other decision. Once an umpire or neutral party is measuring, it is good etiquette to leave the head and not watch. Indeed, there is no point in watching. Even if there is a grievous error against you, you will just upset yourself, and nothing can be done.
Only an umpire should resort to wedging the jack! Even so, it is not recommended by official lawn bowling associations unless especially difficult conditions prevail, such as very high winds or a jack at risk at the edge of the ditch.
Remember Rule 40.5 from the Crystal Lawn Bowling Rules. When measuring between a jack in the ditch and a bowl on the green or a jack on the green and a bowl in the ditch, the measurement should be carried out using a flexible or string measure whenever possible.
Make the fewest measurements possible for determining the score in an end. In most dispositions of the head, counting is simple. Even where a measurement is needed, it is most often only between two bowls; however, more complicated situations can arise. To avoid becoming confused and to use the measuring tape as little as is necessary to establish the score, the following rules are useful.
1. Decide which bowl is shot. This will involve measuring one distance between a candidate and the jack and comparing it to the distances for other shot candidates. This is done by choosing the shorter distance among the first two and comparing it with that of the next candidate, and so on.
2. Place the shot bowl on a towel to indicate that it is measured and will count.
3. Remove any other undisputed counting bowls of the same team that have the shot bowl by placing them on the cloth.
4. Find the closest bowl belonging to the team that did not have the shot bowl. If several bowls might be the closest bowl belonging to the team that does not hold the shot, measure among these contending bowls to find out which is the closest.
5. Using this measurement, find any other bowls belonging to the team holding shot that are closer than this measurement and place each of these bowls on the towel.
6. Count the bowls on the towel. This is the score for the team that had shot.
I will illustrate this with some examples.
Example #1
Bowls 1, 2, and 3 are undisputed counters for the blue team. Place them on the towel. Measure 4 and compare it with 5. Choose the closest. If it is 4, then compare 4 with 6. If it is 5 that is closer, measure 5 and compare it with 6. Whichever of 4, 5, or 6 is the closest, take that measure and compare it in turn with 7, 8, 9, and then 10. Each of 7, 8, 9, and 10 that is closer than the best of 4, 5, and 6 is placed on the towel. The number of bowls on the towel is the correct score for the blue team.
Example #2
The blue team has shot indisputably. Place bowl 1 on the towel. Measure 2 and compare with 3. If the green 2 is closer than 3, the blue team scores 1. If the blue 3 is closer than 2. Place bowl 3 on the towel. The next closest bowl is 2. The blue team scores the two bowls on the towel.
Example #3
The green team has three undisputed closer bowls. Place these on the towel.
Measure among 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to find which is the closest blue bowl among them. Compare the shortest of these measurements against 5. If 5 is closer, place 5 on the towel. Compare it now with 6. If 6 is closer, place 6 on the towel. Count the bowls on the towel. This is the score for the green team.
Further information about measuring can be found at https://greenbowler.blogspot.com/2021/04/measuring-in-close-disputed-ends-at.html
