tennis and bowls bannbridge

Modern Astro-turf courts with floodlighting are provided at King George V playing fields in Banbirdge. All weather pitches are also situated at Holm Park, Dromore. For the bowling enthusiast, there are greens at King George V playing fields, Holm Park and also at Rathfriland. Tennis is played on a court either by two or four people who are on opposite sides of a net that divides the court into two equal parts. It can be played indoors or outdoors. Players try to hit the ball so that it either bounces twice on the opposite side of the court or so that it cannot be returned. Playing tennis involves strategy, proper form and bouncing feet. You must be quick on the feet in this game. There is more court to cover than in racquetball or squash. Each point begins with a serve. One player serves until a game is finished. The first player to win four points wins the game. The scoring is love (zero), 15, 30, 40. If opponents are tied at 40-40, it is called deuce; the next point would be either advantage server (in) or receiver (out). A match is usually the best of three sets. And the first player to reach six games wins the set. The game is played on a flat grass surface, although in recent years a number of Greens have been laid with a synthetic carpet. The total area is usually 120ft x 120ft and is surrounded by a ditch and bank. The green is divided into lanes called "Rinks" 15ft to 19ft wide, which are marked out by stretching a string along the surface. The object of the game is to deliver a bowl as near as possible to the "Jack", a white ball 2.5 inches apporx. in diameter. At the conclusion of each "End", I,e, when all the bowls have been played in one direction, the number of one player or players which are nearer to the "Jack" than any bowl of the opposition counts as a "Shot". The total number of "shots" gained over a period of "Ends" decides the winner, although in singles play the object is to reach 21 "shots" first. Bowls is a game which provides healthy exercise, relaxation and mental stimulation through competition. Above all it is a social game and the Friendships formed on the bowling green will last for many a year.