Equipment Needed

Getting sorted with your gear

Bowls
By far the most important purchase you will make will be your choice of bowls. At first glance it appears to be a fairly simple choice, however when you have played a few times you will understand that there is much to be considered.

Our club has many sets of fairly new bowls and existing club members will often be prepared to let you try theirs out. As a new club member we encourage you to experiment and practice with our club bowls before starting to think about purchasing a set of your own. Take as much time as you need.

There are many makes of bowls and each manufacturer produces a range of models unique to them. Each model within the range has slightly different characteristics and an individual bowl line. Lawn bowls are designed to swing in and some bowls have a narrow bias and others much wider.

As well as bias there is size and weight to be considered. Bowls range in size from size 00 (smallest) to size 7. There will be a size that is correct for your hand and it is important that a bowl feels comfortable using your preferred grip. Bowls can be either medium or heavy in weight and can be regular or slim in their diameter. These differences can also have an effect on the size of bowl you can manage. Some bowls have ‘dimples’ on the side to assist your grip and others are smooth. It will be a personal choice as to what feels best.

Brand new bowls cost anywhere from $800 to around $1,000 and second hand ones are often available as well. Coaches can advise you if second hand bowls in particular are a good choice and fair price. Read up about manufacturers and generally take your time before buying. When you find a set that suits you – cherish them. A well looked after set of bowls should last you many years. Dry them thoroughly after use and apply a sparing amount of bowls polish regularly to help protect them from scratching and marking. A few marks on your bowls won’t affect their performance however over time as bowls wear and get progressively scratched it does affect their bias and run on the green.

Measures

You won’t need a measure as soon as you start however it’s something you will want to own eventually. There are a number of brands available and prices range from $55 to around $80

Bowling Shoes

It is important to have comfortable, good fitting bowling shoes when you are spending all day on the green during the hot summer months. Sneakers are fine for the first few weeks while you are learning. Shoes or sandals for bowls should have a flat sole, no heel and can have an abrasive sole to stop you slipping. There is a great range of makes and styles available and a wide range of prices.