Satsuma Bowls

Every Christmas for the past 15 years or more my family has engaged in the seasonal sport of satsuma bowls. This is a keenly fought contest, loosely based on lawn bowls, the rules of which have been progressively developed and fine tuned. I have to confess to making the assumption the same would be happening up and down the land each winter when satsumas and clemantines become available in the shops. Google says not - apparently a satsuma bowl is an Japanese decorative antique!

There was a clear need to have satsuma bowls recognised as an official sport. To achieve this I have set out the rules of the sport as well as a bit of background information such as how to choose the ideal satsuma bowl, jack selection and scoring systems.

Background
As far as I remember the game came about due to my grandparents being keen bowlers - my grandfather being county champion in the 1970s. Unfortunately they no longer play although this year my 81 year old grandmother gave me a very tough match indeed! I remember they had a set of carpet bowls which had a small jack and small woods and was intended for indoor use. I'm not really sure how the leap from carpet bowls to satsuma bowls was made but it was perhaps when the carpet bowls were stored in the loft and no longer available at Christmas time.

Playing Area
This is surprisingly tolerant to variation and different surfaces make for somewhat different matches. The basic requirement is a playing space of about 5 feet width by at least 7-8 feet long. Whilst the majority of this space should be clear, some inpingement by items such as chair and table legs, wastepaper baskets, skirting boards etc is encouraged near the periphery and certainly at each end. The 'green' needs to be quite flat (most living room floors tend to be) and the surface either a short-pile carpet or hard floor such as wood or tiles. Hard floors make for a faster green which might involve more skill. Any obstacle or boundary on the green is considered to be the 'trench'. Unlike on lawn bowls where the trench is straight and on the periphery, in satsuma bowls the trench is considered to be a 'virtual trench' and is not continuous.

Equipment
8 satsumas and a jack are required.

Good satsuma selection is key. Although the game is called satsuma bowls (for historic reasons), any small citrus fruit may be used e.g. tangerine, clemantine etc. The shape of the fruit is what makes a good bowl although taste is also important (see later). Ideally you want a fruit which is as disc like as possible.

Pic. 1 - a good disc-like satsuma.

In pic. 1 you will see a good fruit - this has a consistent smooth and narrow circumference in the horizontal plane when the fruit is placed stalk up. Furthermore it has a relatively flat base (good) and a small but discernable enlargement of the fruit near the stalk (again good). This protruberance acts to weight the satsuma just like the bias of a wood in lawn bowls and means the satsuma will roll off towards the bias. Just like in lawn bowls the wood (satsuma) will run around other woods (satsumas) and enable you to avoid obstacles and tuck in next to the jack. This is known as a draw shot. In satsuma bowls most good satsumas will correctly roll towards the bias but occaisionally this does not happen and certainly a lack of flatness or bumps on the playing surface will disrupt this process.

Pic. 2 - a healthy looking satsuma but with excessive segmentation.

The other thing to look out for are prominent segmentations (see pic. 2). These cause a very bumpy roll which is difficult to control both in terms of pace (length) and draw (direction). Finally fruit freshness is of relevance as old dried out fruits can be difficult to control although they may suffer less with segmentation. Also, the freshness of the fruit affects the eating (see later).

The other requirement is for a jack - the smaller sized item you are trying to get your satsumas near. We prefer to use a seasonal jack - i.e. something that comes out of a cracker. The pictures show a small ball puzzle that was used but this actually rolls too much for a hard floor. If you are on a hard floor something that slides rather than rolls is preferable. An item placed in the metal ring of a keyring is great for a hard floor but less good for a carpet floor.

Scoring & Player Numbers
Satsuma bowls can be played as singles or doubles but there is often insufficient space to play doubles. A tournament knockout system is the best format if there are too many players. Depending on numbers first to 7 or first to 11 is ideal although some may prefer a higher number.

Rules
1) Players jointly select a total of 8 satsumas from the satsuma bowl or crate. They may roll them around to test their properties. After this point the players do not 'own' the satsumas and at each end they select any 4 each (usually the nearest to them).
2) A coin is flipped to see who goes first. The winner of the coin toss goes first and the players move to one end of the green (the choice of the toss winner).
3) The jack is rolled down the green and so long as it lies more than 10 inches from any surface it remains there. If it lies less than 10 inches away from any surface it is moved by the umpire toward the centre of the green until it is at least 10 inches away from any surface.
4) The umpire demonstrates a mark on the floor in front of which no part of either players feet must be whilst they are bowling their satsuma. Doing so is a foul and that players satsuma is removed from play by the umpire.
5) Player 1 rolls their satsuma with the intention of placing their satsuma closest to the jack. Player 2 does the same and they take it in turns to roll the satsuma until all have been rolled.
6) If a satsuma touches any surface other than the jack or the floor then it is 'dead' and is removed from the field of play by the umpire. It has fallen in to the virtual trench.
7) If the satsuma touches the jack it is considered to be 'live' and even if it subsequently touches a surface (the trench) it remains live. Unlike in lawn bowls, the satsuma is not marked and it is the umpire's responsibility to remember the satsuma is live but in the trench. If the jack touches a surface it is also in the trench.
8 ) When all 8 bowls are bowled the umpire decides on the score for the end. The nearest number of satsumas to the jack for a player gives the score e.g. if player 1 has nearest 2 satsumas, player 2 next nearest and player 1 next nearest then player 1 gets 2 points.
9) If one of the nearest satsumas is in the virtual trench then so long as it is still 'live' this counts.
10) If the distances are too close to judge by eye then a tape measure should be used. These can often be found in crackers (we used one this year). The distance between the nearest edge of the jack and satsuma is used.
11) The next end is now played. Players start at the opposite end to the previous end and the process is repeated until the winner is declared when the player reaches the previously agreed target score.
11) The umpires decision is final but disputes should be listened to fairly. Satsuma bowls are not marked in any way so which satsuma belongs to which player on any end involves skill and mental agility.
12) IF ANY PLAYER DESTROYS A SATSUMA TO SUCH A DEGREE AS TO DRAW JUICE THEY ARE INSTANTLY DISQUALIFIED. This can occur with an overly ambitious 'power fire' or careless footwork. Standing on a satsuma ruins it for everyone so take care.
13) The winner of the match (or tournament) gets to keep all 8 satsumas and has the honour of eating all of them in one sitting. This is expected to occur within 1 hour of winning the title. Fruit quality and freshness is therefore desirable and the better player knows from experience to avoid using satsumas with mouldy bits on them.

Pic. 3 - This satsuma has touched the log basket and is 'dead'. It must be removed by the umpire.

Tips
1) Remember to make use of the bias. Use draw shots to go around the other satsumas and tuck in to a gap near the jack.
2) Bowling can be with the bias to the right (stalk right) or to the left (stalk left) and the bowl will curl in that direction. You will be amazed at how much curl you get out of a good quality satsuma. Don't limit yourself to always drawing on the same side.
3) To avoid the curl (e.g. to get through a narrow gap) you have to bowl faster (or be very accurate with your draw shot). A fast bowl 'fires' through at pace and can scatter the pther satsumas. This approach is high risk and often puts you in a worse position. My Nana's top advice is "Never fire when you can draw"!
4) Consider using 'blocks' or 'backstops' to hamper your opponent. A 'block' prevents an easy approach to the jack and a 'backstop' means you are well placed with a satsuma should your opponent push the jack backwards on the green.

Pic. 4 - a satsuma bowl left draw delivery rolls towards the jack. Note how the other satsumas lie 'stalk down'.