Why do they spray the balls for indoor bowls?

WORLD Indoor Bowls Championship is BACK which means more drama and potentially more spray paint.

Six-time champion Jamie Walker is hoping to secure success once again after his 2023 triumph.

And fans feel optimistic that the Englishman will be competing deep into the tournament with the likes of Paul Foster MBE or Scotsman Darren Weir.

But one thing that new Bowls lovers are not in complete understanding with is the balls being spray painted.

However, SunSport has all the information needed on why bowls balls are sometimes sprayed a different colour.

Why do they spray bowls balls?

Bowls balls are often sprayed with a chalky paint when they hit the jack.

This is to show that the bowls are still live and can still accumulate points if they are knocked away from the jack by another bowl.

If a bowl hits the jack on its way down the green, it is called a ‘toucher’ and can still be counted once the end is complete.

However, any bowl including the toucher that goes outside the lane boundaries is classed as dead and cannot be counted.

The aim of the match is for each player to get their bowl closest to the jack and winners are confirmed based on a scoring system.

When is the World Indoor Bowls Championships 2024?

The World Indoor Bowls Championships 2024 got underway on Friday, January 5 and will conclude on Sunday, January 21.

BBC are set to broadcast the entire competition which includes coverage on BBC Two.

Alternatively, fans can head to to stream any missed or live action online.

Fans can catch the Under-25 final on the evening of Saturday, January 20.

But the Open Singles final is scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, January 21.

What is the prize money?

This year’s World Indoor Bowls Championship prize money is yet to be announced.

However, reports suggest that it winners will take home the same amount as the champions in 2023.

• Open Singles £50,000
• Women’s Singles £50,000
• Open Pairs winners: £20,000
• Mixed Pairs winners: £20,000