📋 In This Article
- Overview of the four positions
- The lead — role and responsibilities
- The second
- The third (vice skip)
- The skip — team captain
- Positions in pairs, triples and singles
When you join a bowls team for the first time, understanding your role is just as important as knowing how to deliver the bowl. The four positions in a rinks team — lead, second, third and skip — have distinct responsibilities, and playing the wrong way in the wrong position can undermine the whole team even if your individual shots are good.
Overview of the Four Positions
In a fours (rinks) game each player delivers two bowls per end. The playing order is fixed: lead first, then second, then third, then skip last. Here is a quick summary before we go into depth:
- Lead: Sets the head with precise draw shots. Consistency is everything.
- Second: Builds on what the lead has done. Must draw and play positional shots.
- Third (Vice Skip): Manages the head tactically. Measures, signals and advises the skip.
- Skip: Team captain. Leads tactics, directs all players and plays the crucial last bowls.
The Lead
Role and Responsibilities
The lead bowls first in every end and sets the foundation for everything that follows. A strong lead can make the skip's job straightforward; a weak lead puts the whole team under pressure from the first bowl.
The lead's primary job is to place both bowls as close to the jack as possible using the draw shot. The lead should not attempt aggressive or attacking shots — that is the skip's territory. Pure drawing consistency is the lead's single most important quality.
What a Good Lead Does
- Delivers the jack to the length the skip has requested
- Draws consistently to the jack with both bowls
- Aims for at least one shot bowl and one covering bowl behind the jack
- Varies hands (forehand and backhand) as conditions require — does not bowl the same hand every end
- Does not bowl short — short bowls block the head for teammates
- Stays focused and quiet while opponents are delivering
💡 Best bowlers for lead: Players with excellent draw shot consistency. The lead does not need a large shot repertoire — they need one shot done very reliably. Many county and international leads are specialists in the pure draw.
The Second
Role and Responsibilities
The second bowls after the opposing lead has delivered and must react to what has happened at the head. This position requires more versatility than the lead — while the draw is still the primary shot, the second must also be able to play positional shots to protect shots the lead has won, or to place bowls for the skip to use later.
What a Good Second Does
- Draws to consolidate a lead advantage — if the lead is holding shot, the second adds another nearby
- Plays positional shots to cover the jack from being moved
- Places "back bowls" behind the jack that give the skip scoring opportunities if the jack is moved
- At the end of the team's last bowl, records the score for that end on the scorecard
- Helps the third by raking bowls back after ends
The Third (Vice Skip)
Role and Responsibilities
The third — also called the vice skip — is arguably the most complex position in the team. They bowl third but also serve as the primary communicator at the head end, managing the tactical information the skip needs to make decisions.
What a Good Third Does
- Bowls demanding shots — driving, yard-on and trail shots as well as draws
- Measures disputed ends accurately and fairly
- Signals the count to the skip after each bowl lands — using hand signals for number of shots held
- Walks to the mat end and back to communicate with the skip when needed
- Agrees the final count with the opposing third at the end of each end
- Advises the skip on the state of the head if asked
- In some team formats, makes shot decisions for the last bowl if the skip is at the head end
⚠️ Critical third rule: The third must not move or disturb any bowls at the head while agreeing the count — not even to indicate which bowl is shot. The position of every bowl must be agreed before any are moved. Accidentally moving a bowl during measurement is one of the most common and costly errors in the game.
The Skip
Role and Responsibilities
The skip is the team captain and tactical leader. They stand at the head end throughout the end (while the lead, second and third bowl), reading the head and directing each player. The skip bowls last — usually with the most critical bowls of the end, when the tactical situation is clearest and the pressure is highest.
What a Good Skip Does
- Reads the head continuously as the end develops — anticipating how it will change with each delivery
- Directs each player clearly: which hand, what shot, where to aim
- Motivates and communicates positively — a good skip sets the emotional tone for the whole team
- Makes the right shot selection for their own bowls — knowing when to draw and when to attack
- Sets the mat position and jack length strategically across the game
- Manages the scoreboard and overall game strategy
The best skips are not always the best shot-makers. Communication, tactical reading and leadership matter as much as delivery skill. A technically average skip with excellent leadership ability will consistently outperform a technically brilliant skip who cannot manage their team.
Positions in Other Formats
Pairs
In pairs each player has 4 bowls (club level) or 3 bowls (national level). The lead bowls first and takes on some of the roles of second and third alongside the pure drawing role. The skip has more bowls to work with at the end and must be versatile across all shot types.
Triples
Three players, each with 3 bowls. The lead and second roles are similar to fours, but the third takes on much more tactical responsibility in the absence of a dedicated vice skip.
Singles
In singles you play all four roles yourself. You must cast the jack, read your own head, select your own shots and motivate yourself. Strong singles players have an unusually complete game — they cannot rely on teammates to cover weaknesses.