Plain Bob Doubles Toolbox


What is Plain Bob Doubles?

Plain Bob Doubles is often one of the first methods that you learn after you have mastered Plain Hunt. The treble plain hunts up to fifth place and back and there are four working bells which complete a cycle of four pieces of work. Often it is rung on six bells with the tenor covering. This gives a visual and auditory cue to help accurate leading.

There is more to learn to ring a plain course than in Grandsire Doubles but touches are simpler. The plain course is four leads long, compared to three leads for Grandsire Doubles.

» The plain course explained

» The circle of work

» Bobs explained

Calling Plain Bob Doubles

If you wish to learn how to call yourself, there is an interactive online learning course designed for you taking you from finding your voice for the first time to calling your first touches and even a quarter peal.

» First steps in calling bobs

Ringing your bell in the right place

The dodges in Plain Bob are very different to those in Grandsire:

  • Plain Bob Doubles – the 3-4 dodge requires the "step back" to be made at backstroke.
  • Grandsire Doubles – the 4-5 dodge requires the "step back" to be made at handstroke.

Switching between the two methods can be confusing unless you rigorously count your place and have learnt when the "step back" or dodge is made in each method.

Supporting resources

» Successful dodging – what is a dodge and how to strike it successfully

» How are methods written out?

Learning aids

» Plain Bob Doubles quiz

» Plain Bob Doubles dominoes

» Plain Bob Doubles happy families

» Plain Bob Doubles crossword

» Plain Bob Doubles wordsearch

Learn by watching

Watch Plain Bob Doubles being rung. Select a bell and watch it go through the cycle of work.

Plain Bob Doubles workshop

How to set up Plain Bob Doubles workshops including theory sessions.

» Workshop presentation

» Workshop notes – plain course

» Workshop notes – touches

Theory sessions

Use these notes and either the crib sheets or the workshop presentation as visual aids.

» Notes for theory sessions

Practice night touches

For those who don’t do much conducting, being asked to call and keep other ringers straight may seem quite daunting. Here are a some simple, short touches you can call with your ringers to help them learn what to do at the call bit by bit.

» Touches to practise bobs

Singles are rarely used in Plain Bob Doubles, however they add variety to calling and are a useful teaching tool.

» Using singles in Plain Bob Doubles

Stepping stone methods

» Bastow Minimus

» Bistow Doubles

» Practising dodging in 3-4

» Funny Bob Doubles

» Bayles Bob Doubles

» Original Doubles

Teaching using a simulator

How to set up a simulator to teach Bistow Doubles using MicroSIRIL.

How to set up a simulator to teach Penultimus Doubles using place notation.

How to set up a simulator to teach touches of Plain Bob Doubles.

Beyond Plain Bob Doubles

» April Day Doubles

» Old Bob