Bowls

Precision over power, calm over chaos — Bowls is a sport that rewards patience, skill and tactical analysis.  

Viewed by many as the most prestigious events in Bowls, the Commonwealth Games sees players from across the Commonwealth come together to compete against the world’s very best players.   

In a Games first, Glasgow 2026 will see both Bowls and Para Bowls contested indoors, offering a unique ‘intimate’ experience for bowlers and spectators alike.  

From the first bowl to the last, Bowls is a dramatic and unpredictable sport that demands composure and guarantees entertainment. Expect tight matches, shock successes and nail-biting moments when pressure meets precision. 

Here’s how it works: 

The aim of the game is to get your bowls closer to the jack (a small white target ball) than your opponent.  

The jack is rolled to start the game. Points are then awarded for each bowl that is closer to the jack than your opponent’s. If a bowler has the two closest bowls, they score two points. 

There will be four medal events in the Bowls programme at Glasgow 2026, Women’s Singles and Women’s Pairs, as well as Men’s Singles and Men’s Pairs. 

The bowls are biased, meaning they will never roll in a straight line but rather in a curve. 

There is always plenty of drama as players use their own bowls to knock away their opponent’s and stop them from scoring. 

Para Bowls 

With Para Bowls integrated into the Glasgow 2026 Bowls event, there will be an array of talent on display. The para event sees competitors with physical disabilities and visual impairments to compete against each other.  

Para athletes are classified based on the degree of their disability and matches are organised to ensure that there is a fair playing field. Codes issued B1-B4 are reserved for those with visual impairment whilst B5-B8 are reserved for those with physical disabilities. More information on Para Bowls classifications can be found here. 

Glasgow 2026 will have the joint largest-ever Para Bowls programme at a Commonwealth Games, matching the three events held at Birmingham 2022. Bowlers will have the opportunity to compete in; Men’s Pairs B6-B8, Women’s Pairs B6-B8 and / or Mixed Pairs B2-B3. 

Though Para Bowls follows the same rules as the mainstream game, some adjustments such as the use of delivery aids, makers/ assistants may be used by para athletes. 

Did you know? 

  • Bowls is one of the original six sports on the Commonwealth Games programme, meaning it has been played at every Games since 1930, with the exception of Kingston 1966, where no Bowls facilities were available.  
  • Para Bowls was introduced in 2002 after a successful appearance as a demonstration sport at Victoria 1994.
  • Scotland tops the all-time Commonwealth Games Para Bowls medal table with four gold medals and one silver.
  • Scotland has a proud history in Bowls — including two record-setting performances at Birmingham 2022:
    • George Miller, aged 75 years and 8 months, became the oldest men’s gold medallist. He served as director for visually impaired bowler Melanie Innes in the B2/B3 mixed pairs.
    • Rosemary Lenton, aged 72, became the oldest women’s gold medallist, winning the Para women’s pairs alongside Pauline Wilson — on her Games debut.