The Commonwealth Games is viewed by many as the one of the most prestigious events in Bowls, so all eyes will be on the competition when it gets rolling at Glasgow 2026. In a Games first, Glasgow will see Bowls and Para Bowls contested indoors.

From the first bowl to the last, this is a dramatic and unpredictable sport that demands intense skill and composure.

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

A small white bowl called a jack is rolled down the green to start the game. The aim is to get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent. Points are awarded for each bowl that is closest to the jack. If a bowler has the two closest bowls, they get two points.

There is always plenty of drama as players use their own bowls to smash those of their opponents away from the jack to stop them collecting points.

Previous Commonwealth Games Appearances
Bowls is one of the original six sports on the Commonwealth Games programme. This means it has been played at every Games since 1930, with the exception of Kingston in 1966, where no Bowls facilities were available. Para Bowls was introduced in 2002.

Age is No Barrier!
Scots have a proud history in Bowls including two record-setters at Birmingham 2022. George Miller, 75 years and eight months old, is the oldest men’s gold medallist. Miller was director for visually impaired bowler Melanie Innes in the B2/B3 mixed pairs competition. 72-year-old Scottish athlete Rosemary Lenton is the oldest women’s gold medallist, winning the Para women's pairs alongside Pauline Wilson on her Games debut.