Costa Blanca Umpires & Markers Association 
CBUMA

FEELER GAUGES

Recommended for distances of: Minimum: 0 mm Maximum: 10 mm

Description: Feeler gauges are ideal where the distance between the jack and bowls is very small. The gauges are a number of blades fixed at one end within a handle. The blades are different thicknesses and they can be used individually or in combination.

(a) Make sure you follow the Common Procedures for conducting a measure.

(b) Choose  a  selection  of  gauges  that  seem  appropriate  to  the  measure  to  be  made.  Start  with  a  selection  that  has  a  combined  thickness  less  than  the  distance  to  be  measured.

(c) Steady both hands on the green.

(d) Pass the gauges down between the first bowl to be measured and the jack using the bowl as a firm object and with the flat surface of the gauges facing the bowl and the jack.  Do  not  slide  the  gauges  down  the  jack.  Do  not  force  the  gauges  between  the bowl and the jack. (Note: The gauges should be on an angle to allow for the nearest points of the jack and bowl being at different heights.)

(e) If  the  gauges  do  not  pass  between  the  bowl  and  the  jack,  remove  them  and  reduce  their thickness and try again.

(f) If  the  gauges  pass  between  the  bowl  and  the  jack,  remove  them  and  increase  their  thickness  and  repeat  steps  (d)  and  (e)  until  there  is  the  minimum  of  contact  with  the bowl and jack.

(g) Without altering the setting of the gauges, move to the second bowl and try passing the gauges through the gap between bowl and jack.

(h) It is important when using both Feeler gauges and Callipers that there are sufficient blades  within  the  Feeler  gauge  to  cover  the  distance  of  the  Callipers  when  in  their  minimum  measuring  distance.  This  should  be  checked  by  all  umpires  within  the kit.