What happens if a bowler plays out of turn?
A · Advanced · Irregularities, officials and conduct · 4 of 8If a player bowls out of turn, the opposing skip can stop the bowl and have it played in the right order, or let it stand and play two in a row. Once each side has bowled, the new order stands. A player who misses their turn loses that bowl. Changing to a different set of bowls mid-game forfeits the game.
How it works
- Out of turn: the opposing skip may stop the bowl and return it.
- It stopped without disturbing the head: leave it, with the opponents playing two bowls in a row, or return it.
- It disturbed the head: leave it and play two in a row; put the head back and return the bowl; or declare the end dead.
- Found late: if each side has bowled since, play goes on in that order.
- Another player's bowl: it is swapped for the player's own bowl, keeping any toucher mark.
- Missed bowls: a player who has not bowled loses the bowl once counting starts or once each side has bowled since.
- Changing sets: forfeits the game, unless a bowl is damaged or the game moves between grass and a synthetic or indoor surface.
- Another day: a game finished on another day may be played with a different set.
The glossary has the playing out of turn, the order of play, the skip, the head, the dead end and the forfeited game.
Tricky cases
The opposing lead bowls twice in a row by mistake and it is noticed at once. What can the skip do?
Stop the bowl and return it, or let it stand and have their own team bowl twice to catch up.
A player notices at counting that they never bowled their second bowl. Can they play it?
No. Once counting has started, the bowl is lost.
A player bowls a teammate's bowl that touches the jack. What then?
The player's own bowl replaces it and is marked as a toucher.
Rain moves a game indoors. Can players change bowls?
Yes. A move between grass and a synthetic or indoor surface allows a change.
Why the rule exists
The choice goes to the side that did nothing wrong, so playing out of turn can never help. A player must use the same set throughout, because sets differ in bias.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Out of turn | The opposing skip's choice | WB Law 29.1 |
| Wrong bowl and missed bowls | Replaced; lost | WB Laws 29.2, 29.4 |
| Changing sets | Forfeit, with exceptions | WB Law 29.3 |
From the rule book
World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Crystal Mark Fourth Edition (August 2022), Laws 2.4 and 29. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the World Bowls Laws of the Sport of Bowls.