Getting to Grips with Henselite Slice Bowls

At Bowls World we are giving you the chance to outshine the competition on the green by getting to grips with ‘Slice’ – Henselite’s fantastic new selection of coloured lawn bowls. We’ve already been rushed off our feet with requests for this brand new bowls collection, so we’re taking orders now for ‘Slice’, in time for when the products hit the shelves in November.

Martin Curtis of Bowls World, which sells an extensive range of bowls clothing and equipment in the UK and worldwide, said; “We are already experiencing a high demand for ‘Slice’ so we’re offering all our customers the chance to pre-order their new bowls to make sure they don’t miss out.”

Coloured Lawn Bowls –  Click here to view our full range of bowls from Henselite and other leading manufacturers.

About Slice Bowls

Henselite’s fashionable ‘Slice’ limited edition bowls come in three amazing new colour ways – ‘Radar’, ‘Regal’ and ‘Empire’, so you’ll bring individuality to every game you play. With such fun colours and styles, your brand new bowls are likely to turn heads and be the talking point of the club!

They are being snapped up fast; so don’t miss out. Order yours now from Bowls World to secure your set today! All the bowls in this range benefit from the series ‘C’ grip for comfort and precise delivery.

Here’s about each of the new bowls in turn:

Radar Slice

The ‘Radar Slice’ comes in an attractive green/black combination with white speckle and are expected to be flying off the shelves on the launch date. You can order this distinctive colour range in sizes 3H and 4H for the Tiger, Tiger II and Tiger Pro models, although you can also buy a size 2H in the Tiger.

Regal Slice

The stunning blue/red speckled ‘Regal Slice’ bowls are designed to proudly stand out above the rest on the green. You can buy this distinguished limited edition bowls set in sizes 2H to 4H in the Tiger, Tiger II and Tiger Pro models today. 

Empire Slice

If you are feeling patriotic or are an England fan, you can show your personality on the green with these stylish red, white and blue bowls. Full of character, these superb unique bowls are already selling fast and are available in sizes 3H and 4H in the Tiger, Tiger II and Tiger Pro models, and size 2H only in the Tiger model.

How to Pre-Order

You can pre-order your Henselite ‘Slice’ coloured lawn bowls from Bowls World today. Just secure your set of four ‘Radar’ or ‘Empire Slice’ bowls with a £60 deposit today and settle the remaining balance on delivery.

Bowls World – Click here to order your new ‘Slice’ coloured bowls for UK or international delivery. We offer free delivery via DHL to customers on the UK mainland. Customers living outside the UK will have a delivery charge automatically added to their bill at the online checkout).

Henselite Coloured Bowls

In addition to the new 'Slice' range, Bowls World sell a wide range of gripped bowls from Henselite with fun names and bright colours to reflect every bowl player’s personality.

Henselite coloured bowls have been designed to be as individual as you are! The coloured range includes ‘Planet Earth’ in blue (with white speckle), ‘Galaxy White’ (black with white speckle), Atomic Red (red with blue and white speckle), ‘Midnight’ (blue with blue speckle), ‘Ruby Rich’ (burgundy with red speckle), and Ocean Green (green with blue speckle);  in all sizes from OH to 5H. Buy now from Bowls World today so you don’t miss out!

Reduced Priced Lawn Bowls and Bowls Clothing

Everyone loves a bargain, and whether you have just taken up bowls, or are experienced in the game, there are some excellent offers to be had. As bowls suppliers, our extensive website has all the latest bowls and equipment, plus a clearance section which is updated as new ranges come in.

This means at Bowls World you can pick up some great clothing and equipment at reduced prices, without compromising on quality. If you are not quite so fashion conscious, and don’t feel you have to wear the latest sportswear, our clearance lines give you the chance to snap up a bargain at up to 70 per cent off.

This article looks at some of the special offers that are available this spring. All items in our discount range sell out quickly; so if you see something you want, hurry before we run out of stock.
Bowls Suppliers –  Click here to see our lawn bowls, clothing, equipment and gifts.

Prohawk Sports Jacket

With the bowls season already started, as bowls suppliers we have some fantastic high quality discount clothing to keep you warm and dry throughout the season. The shower and windproof Prohawk Sports Jacket, with a blue or black trim, is perfect for stylish bowls players and is available at half price. Only small sizes now remain.

Prohawk Sports Polo Shirt

You can save as much as 40 per cent off the price of the Prohawk Sports Polo Shirt, with black panels, piping and collar. It is great to wear on or off the green but only small sizes are available.


Emsmorn Bowls Skirts 

Here’s your chance to save a whopping 70 per cent off Emsmorn Bowls Skirts. Made from one hundred per cent polyester, this fully lined, pleated skirt with part elasticated waist is available in two colours – grey and white – and in several sizes from 12x28 up to 22x26. As in all our clearance range, you can enjoy free postage to the UK mainland.

Taylor Bowls & Lady Dawn Skirts 

You can save 70 per cent off these Taylor Bowls or Lady Dawn skirts, in white, which have handy pockets and a part-elasticated waist. Sizes available are 12x30 up to 26x30. Bag yourself a bargain today!

Henselite Ladies White Trousers 

For a limited time only, you have the chance to save an amazing 70 per cent off these ladies’ bowls trousers with comfy stretch waist. Only two sizes and lengths are left – 10x31 and 22x31.

Drakes Pride 'Victoria' Ladies Hat 

Shielding your eyes from the glare of the sun is an essential in the spring and summer months. And, if you don’t want to splash out too much on headwear, you can save 50 per cent off the Australian designed Drakes Pride ‘Victoria’ hat. Only the extra small size is available.

Club Range (All Sizes)

If you want high quality clothing without the designer logo, our club range is perfect and is half the price of branded clothing. At Bowls World, you can buy bargain Club Range V neck pullovers, cardigans, trousers, fleeces and jackets made from high quality materials and in a complete range of sizes from S to XXXXXL.

Reduced Price Bowls

Henselite Tiger 

If you are looking for a winning bowl from Henselite, this limited edition bowl, at 20 per cent off, could be it. It has a draw line between the Classic and Classic II and is perfect for outdoor and slower paced indoor surfaces. Only size 2H, gripped, is available, in coral.

Drakes Pride/Drakes Pride Professional

These bowls are the perfect choice for indoor surfaces or faster outdoor greens and have a constant finish with no hook. We only have the brown versions available in size 5M (Drakes Pride) at £30 less than the original price.

Welkin Shoes

In addition, Bowls World sell a wide range of white (and grey) soft ladies’ and gents’ Welkin shoes at reduced prices. These include Moccasin style bowls shoes, trainer style, lace-ups and Velcro shoes. Just click on the link below to find out more.

Bowls World –  Click here to see our full range of products including discount clothing, shoes, and lawn bowls.

Latest Bowls World Products and Special Offers

With spring fast approaching, now is the perfect time to stock up on lawn bowls clothing and equipment ready for the start of the new season. At Bowls World we not only sell all the latest bowls, clothing, and accessories, plus top brand names at competitive prices – we also offer fantastic discounts too!

See below to find out about our newest products and special offers.

One point of note though – if you are buying from our stock clearance pages, don’t forget to act quickly….as once they are gone, they’re gone!

Bowls World Equipment and Clothing – Click here to see our full range of lawn bowls clothing, bowls and accessories.

New Waterproofs from the Green Play Range

The Great British weather is notoriously unpredictable – the sun could be shining one minute, and there could be a downpour the next. But as you well know in lawn bowls, rain doesn’t stop play, so it’s always best to be prepared.

With the new Green Play waterproofs range you can do just that. We sell stylish white, soft shell waterproof, windproof and breathable jackets that you’ll be glad you took with you to the green.

The jackets will keep you warm and dry, without restricting movement during matches. And the appealing grey piping and armpit patches have double the benefits – they add style to your outerwear and also disguise sweat patches.

Another item in we sell in the Green Play range is the white soft shell waterproof trousers which match the jacket above. Made from the same advanced material, these waterproof lawn bowls trousers offer warmth, comfort and flexibility – three essentials for when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

The Green Play waterproof jacket and trousers are available in five sizes: small, medium, large, extra large, and extra extra large. The trousers are sold in one standard leg length only.

At Bowls World, we offer free postage to customers living on the UK mainland. And, if you require super-fast delivery, we offer a next day delivery service. (Just select this option when ordering your lawn bowls clothing from us).

Green Play Range – Click here to buy Green Play waterproof jackets and trousers.

Stock Clearance on Welkin Shoes

Need new lawn bowls shoes? Now is the time to buy as Bowls World is having a stock clearance on Welkin Shoes.

And Everything Must Go….

If you are a lawn bowls fan and like to grab a bargain, here’s your chance to snap up some high quality ladies or gents slip-ons, lace-ups, moccasin or trainer style shoes – all at discount prices.

Read on to find out more about our exciting offers…

Velco Straps 

If you don’t like to struggle with laces, the grey Welkin Classic Twin Velcro Strap with extremely soft leather upper is the shoe for you. Priced at just £40 (£48 with VAT), these shoes are available in sizes 6 – 12, although hurry as some of the sizes (including sizes 9 and 10) have already sold out.

Trainer Shoe

The Welkin Champion was last year’s best seller for Welkin and this stylish shoe is for male or female bowls players. Appealing to wear on or off the green, it has a removable in-sock for extra support.

Buy it for £30.83  (£37 with VAT) and in sizes 4 – 12. The trainers are available in white or grey, although colours in some of the sizes have already sold out.

Moccasin Style

You can save a bumper £9 off the Welkin Winner Unisex shoe (2013 style) in grey and white soft leather. To date we only have sizes 8 and 11 left, as at just £22.50 (£27 with VAT) this popular shoe is fast selling out.

Another discount shoe flying off the shelves is the Welkin Winner Ladies and Gents; with £5 off it is now priced £29.17 (£35 including VAT). This comfortable soft leather shoe is wide fitting and is available in two colours – grey and white. Sizes 4 – 11 are available until stocks last.

The lace-up Welkin Team White with leather upper is priced at £23.33 (£28 with VAT) saving you £7. Sizes still available at the time of publication are 8, 10, 11 and 12.

Save £10 on the Welkin Finesse (white only) which has a wide fitting and a half size adjuster so you get the exact size for you. It’s priced £24.99 (£29.99 with VAT) and sizes 4 – 8 are still available to snap up.

You can save the same amount of cash with the Grey Welkin Zest, in a classic brogue design with a fabric lining. It has a wide fitting and a detachable in-sock for the ultimate in comfort on the green. Buy the Zest for just £30 (£36 including VAT).

Welkin Shoes at Discount Prices - click here to see our most up-to-date range of stock clearance shoes.

Lawn Bowls Accessories – Gift Ideas

If you have a loved one or family member who is a keen bowls player, we have hundreds of lawn bowls accessories for you to choose from that make fantastic birthday, anniversary, Father’s/Mother’s Day or Christmas gifts. We have compiled some present ideas for amateur and professional players, which are bound to bring a smile this season. Our gift ideas for bowls players are suitable for all budgets. Just read on to find out some of the presents we recommend.

Lawn Bowls Accessories –  Click here to see our full range of fantastic gifts for bowls players.

Novelty Gifts 

Bowls World’s novelty gifts and stocking fillers are always fun to receive and are bound to spark up a conversation at the club. To personalise a loved one’s keys, we have attractive black leather key fobs featuring either a male or female lawn bowls player. Fun and retro, these stylish fobs mean no more lost keys! And as these great gifts are well under £10 we think it’s a bargain. Other gifts include badges and tie pins that you can add to a Christmas stocking or card, or wrap to hang on the tree.

Lawn Bowls Gift Vouchers

For a lawn bowls player who appears to have everything, a gift voucher makes  perfect sense as they can use it to browse our website to find just what they need, or put towards a more expensive item – such as lawn bowls, bags, shoes or clothing. We have vouchers in all budgets from £5 to £100 and everywhere in between. What’s more the receiver will get more for their money as we offer free postage on the UK mainland.

Lawn Bowls Books

A hardback makes a great gift as it provides a useful reference for years to come. ‘How to Become a Champion at Bowls’, by RT Harrison, is considered the most popular lawn bowls book with thousands of copies sold worldwide. The book incorporates an introduction to the game, techniques and tactics, psychology and fitness – it’s a must have for any bowls player!

Lawn Bowls Gift Sets

If you are unsure what to buy a bowls player, a gift set proves invaluable as it includes all the useful items to have on the green. We sell two types of packs from Henselite for under £20: the Gift Set has a towel, cream polish, spray chalk and a score card holder; and the Polishing Set has all that is needed to keep the bowls clean including a polishing sleeve, cloth and a tube of Grippo. You can speed up the arrival of your gifts with our ‘special delivery’ service.

‘Wet and Dry’ Towels

A great lawn bowls accessory, these handy items make colourful stocking fillers and are invaluable on the green. Use this super absorbent Emsmorn ‘Wet & Dry’ towel dry to clean and polish the bowls, or damp, for an excellent grip on the bowl. They can either be slipped into a bag or pocket, or hung on a trouser loop.

Leather Bowls Accessories

We have an excellent pick of leather lawn bowls accessories including leather scorecard holders, either wallet style or full size with a pen holder. Another very useful gift buy is the Drakes Pride leather belt pouch which slips over a belt and can be used to store spray chalk and a measure.

Handwarmers

Always a great solution on a chilly day, a few handwarmers at Christmas make superb stocking fillers which will prove invaluable to the recipient. We sell three packs of two and they can be thrown away after use. Buy a few as they are always useful to store in a bowls bag!

Hip Bags

A hip bag is another lawns bowls gift that is useful to have on the green. Our OBG hip bag has four compartments for keeping  lawn bowls accessories and useful items to hand – including gloves, a mobile phone, cash, keys, pens, score cards, chalk and measures. It’s discreetly worn around the waist.  

Bowls World

Bowls World sell a vast range of bowls, clothing, shoes and lawn bowls accessories that make ideal presents. Just click on the link above to see what is available to buy. We ship all over the world.

Aero Bowls

Made by Australian company Comfitpro, Aero Bowls, also known as Aerobowls or Comfitpro bowls, are designed with accuracy and precision in mind and they have had the thumbs up from some of the biggest names in bowling. The company has listened to famous players such as David Bolt, Brett Wilkie, Ellen Falkner, Val Smith and Mervyn King, who along with other players put their input into the design – and this is one of the reasons why this range is expected to be flying off the shelves!Aero Bowls are manufactured in a high tech factory in Sydney and are used by top players such as Kelvin Kerkow – another big name who helped in the design process. There are a number of reasons why Kerkow and other world champions use Comfitpro bowls and here we put the spotlight on why these bowls are set to be a huge hit with players, including professional and amateur players across the globe: Aero Bowls are highly accurate – Each set you buy of the same model is the same and is matched in quality and weight (within three grams). This can be put down to the manufacturing process where state of the art equipment – including precision lathes and robotic equipment – is used to make these bowls, and they are even buffed using the same apparatus used by Rolex. So what you expect is exactly what you get with Comfitpro! Aero trajectory for precision play – High tech equipment used in the factory creates bowls that are more accurate on the green, as the bowls are less affected by gusts, breezes and uneven surfaces. With each Aero Bowl you get an even, predictable arc, which ultimately gives you more confidence with every shot. Whichever model of Aero Bowls you buy, the bowl will start the turn about mid-way between the mat and the jack. Input from leading names in Bowling – Many high profile players have put their ideas forward at the creation stage. In addition to this, the partners are both big names, with one of them holding an Australian title. Size doesn’t matter with Aero Bowls – The bowls give their best delivery regardless of which size of bowls you choose; and as there are a complete range of half-sizes, you are sure to find the perfect bowl that gives you comfort and a secure grip. Aero Bowls are designed for all ages and abilities, so if you need to go down a size, it won’t compromise your game. Aero Bowls have been used in top games – In fact, this was the brand that won the most big name titles in Australia in 2013! Bowls to suit the conditions of play – Aero makes as many as seven different models, designed and created to suit various conditions of play (e.g. terrain and climate) in specific countries across the globe. Aero Coloured Bowls The Aero range is available in 28 amazing colours, so the chances are you won’t have a bowl quite like anyone else in your club! You can also choose the type, size, emblem and ring colour to make your bowl truly unique. Plus extra large emblems are available so your bowl is sure to stand out above the rest! Choose from zig-zag grips, AeroDentations or plain rings. Trifecta Colour Range For a colourful, fashionable set that stands out on the green, the Aero Trifecta Colour range is the perfect choice. A wide range of colours are available including Dark Blue/Yellow, Pink/Dark Blue/Magenta, Galaxy/Solarflare/Magma, Solarflare/Matilda/Jazz and Dark Blue/Maroon/Yellow. As with the coloured bowls you can also choose the type of bowls, the size, emblem and ring colour.Bowls World sell the following Comfitpro bowls in the colour range or Trifector Colour Range: Maxim – The characteristic of the Aero Maxim, or AeroMaxim, is that it is a wide swinging bowl with a strong finish. It is designed for slow paced greens and is ideal for UK conditions. As with all Aero bowls, these are milled with precision in mind and the Maxim has a gentle, accurate arc that will hold the line. Groove – The Aero Groove, or AeroGroove, suits normal outdoor grass conditions in the UK and South Africa, and most other bowls playing countries with the exception of Australia and New Zealand. It has less swing than the Maxim and is ideal for faster outdoor greens but can also be used on slow greens. Revolution – The Aero Revolution, or AeroRevolution, was used by Jeremy Henry who won the 2013 World Cup. It benefits from a predictable and accurate arc, and holds the line with the least amount of weight, so you can bowl with accuracy on the mat. It suits indoor or fast outdoor conditions. Space – The Aero Space, or AeroSpace, is suitable either for very fast indoor or fast outdoor conditions. It is the newest range to the UK and is also Comfitpro’s narrowest drawing bowl in their UK range. The Aero Space has a comparable type of drawline to the Henselite Dreamline bowl. In addition to the bowls, we also sell a wide range of fashionable shoes and bags by Comfitpro. New stock is being added all the time so keep checking our website to see what we have available by Comfitpro. Bowls World ship worldwide including to the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Spain, Tenerife, Portugal, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Can lawn Bowls improve your Health ?

Any form of exercise is good for your health, no matter how gentle it may be. And, if you are participating in a team sport, such as lawn bowls, it helps improve your social life too, which contributes to all round happiness and well-being. Whether you are under ten or over eighty and are taking up the sport for the first time, lawn bowls is a great game for people of all ages and we shall take a look at these benefits below


Lawn Bowls - click here to buy lawn bowls equipment, accessories and clothing online.

What Does Lawn Bowls Involve?
Lawn bowls is a game of concentration, precision and accuracy and involves rolling biased or irregular balls as close as possible to a white ball called the Jack. It has been a popular sport in the UK for centuries and there are thousands of bowls clubs up and down the country. As the sport does not involve periods of prolonged and intense activity, it can be played by pretty much anyone. The game is either taken up as a social activity - strictly for leisure - or it can also be played at competition level, for those who want to give themselves more of a challenge.

How Can It Improve My Health?
Sports and physical activity is beneficial to your health as it keeps you active and alleviates boredom. A US study also revealed that bowls players had a lower fat content when compared with people who did not participate in activities – which is another good reason to take up the sport! However, if you do decide to take up lawn bowls, it is always best to check with your doctor first, especially if you have not taken up any form of sport for some time.

Here are some of the benefits:

Fitness – Lawn bowls helps moderately improve muscle strength (arm, shoulder, leg muscles), flexibility and endurance.

Mental Health –The game gets you out into the fresh air and helps alleviate depression and anxiety.

Increases Skills - Bowls involves some element of problem solving skills and also helps improve co-ordination and concentration

Improves Confidence – Participating in a sport helps improve self-esteem and gets you out and about and meeting people.

Self-Discipline – Sports such as lawn bowls involves turning up on time and being organised by wearing the correct uniform.

Social Interaction – Lawn bowls helps improve social skills and being part of a team also gives you a sense of belonging.

Some of the Top Tips for First Time Players.

Although bowls is a low intensity sport, there are some injuries that can occur and the most common of these are slips during play, falls from being struck by a bowl and sprains from over-exertion on the green.

If you are playing the game for the first time, there are some top tips to help prevent injury during play.

Have bowls lessons in advance if you are a first time player to make sure you get the right technique and have the correct grip on the bowl.

Warm up in advance.
Use a trolley to carry bowls equipment if you cannot carry it yourself.
Seek advice on wearing the correct bowls shoes.

When buying bowls for the first time, ask an expert to make sure that it is the right size for you as bowls come in a range of different sizes (from00 to 5).

Wear the correct bowls clothing – i.e. wear a hat in the summer and wrap up warm when it gets chilly.
Make sure you are fully hydrated throughout the game as this will improve your performance and concentration.

How to Join?
If you are planning on taking up bowls, contact your local club to find out times of play and cost. There is likely to be an annual fee for joining, although some clubs do have pay and play facilities.

About Bowls World
Bowls World has been established over 20 years and sell a wide range of lawn bowls equipment, bowls, accessories and clothing worldwide including men’s bowls clothing, ladies’ bowls clothing and children’s clothing.
We stock more than 200 sets of bowls including the newest products by Taylor bowls, Blaze Bowls. This has proved to be our fastest selling bowls to date and is available in a wide range of colours. You can also choose your own emblem for an extra charge. In addition to lawn bowls, we also sell a range of equipment and accessories for indoor bowls and carpet bowls.

Lawn Bowls – click here to buy lawn bowls equipment, accessories and clothing online.

Some Tips from Henselite Bowls

Each set of diamond-turned Henselite bowls is the result of highly-tuned, precision engineering developed over 80 years of manufacturing innovation.


All the bowls in a set have been individually tested and matched for weight and balance to give you the ultimate in consistent performance on every green…every time.

We are so confident in the quality of our workmanship that we guarantee each set of bowls for ten years. We recommend, however, that you continue to care for your bowls as much as we have, to allow them to perform at their best.

Q. What is the best way to store and transport my bowls?

A. Henselite Bowls Bags are specially designed to protect your bowls when they are being stored or transported. Place the bowls in the bag so that they ride on the running surface, not the engraving. This will protect the engraving from wear and tear.

Q. What do I do if my bowls are in contact with sand or grit?

A. To avoid the abrasive effect of sand or grit, wipe your bowls with a Henselite Polishing Cloth or Sleeve before placing them in your case or bag. Ensure that the bottom of your bowls case or bag is free of sand or grit.

Q. How do I retain the shine on my bowls?

A. Regularly polish your bowls with Grippo using a Henselite Polishing Cloth or Sleeve to keep that ‘new bowl’ sheen. If too much polish accumulates on your bowls, wash the bowls in hot water with soap or mild detergent (such as dishwashing liquid) then dry and polish as usual.

Q. Light scratch marks have appeared on the running surface of my bowls. Is this normal?

A. New, highly polished bowls will always show slight scratch marks on the running surface after use. These marks in no way affect the performance of the bowl or indicate a problem with the bowl. They may usually be polished out using Grippo and a Henselite Polishing Cloth or Sleeve or lightly rubbed with fine steel wool and then polished as usual.

Q. I can’t polish some scratches out. Will this affect the performance of my bowls?

A. Some greens may be "top-dressed" with a sharp, abrasive, granite-type sand. This may cause bowls to scratch or wear more readily. The performance of the bowl is not affected providing the wear on the running surface is even.

Q. Will the bias of my bowls be affected by normal use?

A. The bias of a lawn bowl may be affected by wear through normal use. If you regularly use two or three bowls, rotate the four bowls in your set so that any wear is evenly distributed. This ensures your bowls remain matched for bias. We also recommend that you have your bowls re-tested every three years to check the bias still complies with World Bowls Ltd regulations.

Q. My coloured bowls have become marked, how can I clean them?

A. Coloured bowls may become marked through contact with other bowls and with the ditch. Clean your bowls gently by washing them with a mild detergent to remove these marks

With the start of the New Year, now is the time to think about taking up a new sport or hobby – and lawn bowls could be just the thing! If you can’t take part in strenuous activity, such as rugby or racing round a football pitch - or don’t like the idea of it - lawn bowls is a great sport to take up. It a game of skill and precision and is also an ideal way to meet new people and make new friends. It doesn’t matter how old – or how young – you are, lawn bowls is a fantastic activity to get involved in over the coming year.

Here we shall take a brief look at what lawn bowls involves and explain how to take up the game as a newcomer.
Lawn Bowls - click here to buy online.

Lawn Bowls: What it Involves
Lawn bowls involves delivering a bowl as close to the Jack, a small, white ball, as possible and the aim is to get your bowl closer to your opponent’s. The bowls used are biased, which makes the game more skilful.

Can Lawn Bowls be Trendy?
Yes, bowls is trendy but it is about changing people’s attitudes and perceptions of the game. There are all sorts of bowls players from the very young ones – aged nine and upwards - to celebrities. These range from former football players to film directors and there’s even a Club in Beverley Hills where American film producer, script writer and director, Walt Disney, was a bowls player! Every year, lawn bowls attracts interest from juniors and older players taking up the sport for the first time.

Where do I Start?
If you are thinking of becoming a first time player, the best thing to do is find out where your nearest club is and contact them direct. There are thousands of bowls clubs up and down the country, so you will always find one near you. It could be a specific, purpose-built bowls club or a designated green based at the village hall, or your local sports ground. The club may offer organised beginner sessions or, if not, just contact the club secretary to arrange a convenient time when you can introduce yourself to the other players and watch a game at first hand.

What is the Cost?
The cost of taking up lawn bowls varies from club to club, so it is always best to contact your local one direct to find out the exact prices. Some clubs ask only for a one off membership fee, but most ask for an annual fee, plus an additional playing fee. Some also offer sessions where you can pay and play.
If you are serious about the game, you need to think about buying your own bowls and selecting the right clothing. Bowls World sell a variety of lawn bowls, plus lawn bowls equipment, clothing and accessories to get you started. New bowls are expensive but there are second hand bowls available that you can buy from Bowls World, or even from other players at the club.

Buying Bowls
Competition bowlers have lots of different bowls sets but the average player has only one set, so it is important to invest in something that will help improve your game. When it comes to buying bowls, there are some things that you need to think about:

Bias - There are various bowls with all sorts of bias, ranging from narrow drawing bowls, right up to wide drawing bowls, so try out a few at your local club to decide on which is the best for you.

Size - Women generally opt for a size 1 or 2 and men usually have a 3 or 4, but everyone has different sized hands, so it is important you choose one that feels comfortable for you.

Grip - The type of grip you choose is also important for play and you would need a bowl that has a firm but comfortable grip.
The most important thing to do is ‘try before you buy’. Borrow some different bowls at your local club. Seek advice from an experienced club member, or visit your local bowls shop, such as Bowls World, where the staff there can help you choose.

Do I Need to Take Lessons?
If you are thinking of starting up the game, you will often find a willing individual to coach you through some of the techniques involved. Many bowls clubs offer free lessons to show you how to bowl, to explain the rules of the game, and to talk you through the terminology.

About Bowls World
If you new year’s resolution is to take up bowls, Bowls World sell a wide variety of bowls equipment, accessories and clothing world-wide for beginners to the more experienced players.

Lawn Bowls - click here to buy online

Bowls World are pleased to supply Drakes Pride Fineline Bowls from its online shop, delivering to the UK and to international destinations. Free postage to addresses in UK mainland.


Drakes Pride Fineline Bowls - click here to buy online
The newest addition to the Drakes Pride range, the reputation of Drakes Pride Fineline Bowls received an instant boost when they were used by Robert Weale to win Gold in the Mens Singles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Its draw is somewhere between that of the Professional and the Advantage, making it a bowl most suited to the experienced player. It plays in a very similar way to the ever-popular Drakes Pride Professional, making it a good “crossover” bowl for existing Professional owners wanting to try a narrower draw bowl.
The Fineline features a “balanced arc sole shape” which provides good stability and a flatter finish to the jack. This results in a bowl that will hold its line all the way to the head. It also features Drakes Pride's innovative Forty Dimple grip.
Made by the only English bowls manufacturer, the Fineline is suitable for mid to fast UK playing surfaces, in all playing conditions. Its price is in the mid-range, perhaps reflecting that this is not a bowl aimed at beginners, but is most likely to appeal to the experienced club bowler. It is available is a wide range of colours and has 10 year guarantee against cracking
It is not available in junior sizes, but the smaller sizes size 00, 0, 1 or 2 would be suitable for 11 upwards depending on hand size.
Available in sizes 00 to 4, heavyweight only.
Available colours: Black, Red, Mid blue, Speckled Green, Speckled Blue/Blue, Speckled Black/Red, Speckled Blue/Yellow, Speckled Burgundy/Red, Multicoloured, Speckled Purple/Blue, Speckled Magenta/Red. Plus a choice of personal emblem.
Looking After Your Drakes Pride Fineline Bowls
What better way to look after your new Drakes Pride bowls than with a new Drakes Pride bowls bag to match?
The Drakes Pride Pro Midi Bag is a new bag from Drakes Pride, with modern, sporty good looks to complement the Fineline bowl perfectly. Ruggedly built from nylon, with special bowls compartment it has both handle and shoulder strap. It’s a compact size bag, which also manages a shoe/wet gear sleeve. It is available in a choice of Black/Yellow or Black/Blue.
If you need something bigger, try the Drakes Pride Pro Maxi Bag instead, with similar construction, styling and colours to the Midi Bag, but with more space for shoes and waterproofs.
Drakes Pride Fineline Bowls - click here to buy online

Blaze Bowls

Blaze Bowls is the newest product sold by Bowls World and has taken the market by storm since its launch in September 2012.

It has fast become the most popular bowls sold by Bowls World and has so far outstripped other models. Martin Curtis of Bowls World, which sells a wide range of bowls equipment, was delighted with huge the interest in Blaze bowls and said: "Blaze has so far outsold any new model released in the last 10 years."
Blaze Bowls - click here to buy online.
Here we shall look at the benefits of Blaze Bowls, made by Taylor Bowls, and why this product is so popular.
Blaze Bowls - The Thumbs Up from World Champions
One of the many reasons why Blaze bowls has been simply 'flying off the shelves' is that contributions towards is design has been made by two world champions.
Triple world champion Andy Thomson is one of the best known players on the World Bowls Tour (WBT) circuit and is regarded as the 'statesman for the sport'. The Scottish born Londoner took up the game as a teenager, aged 13, and is England's most capped bowler. The England captain has won three Indoor World Bowls Championship singles titles as well as a host of other national and international titles.
Also putting his name to the bowl is Scotsman David Gourlay, head coach for the Scottish Commonwealth Games squad and former vice chairman of the Professional Bowling Association. He is ranked world no 8 and has won a number of national and international titles including the World Indoor Singles title in 1996. He took up bowling at the age of 11.
In addition to input by Thomson and Gourlay, Taylor Bowls has also received feedback from bowls players of all different levels and ages, who have each made their own contribution towards creating this brand new product.
What To Expect from Blaze Bowls
Blaze bowls is an all purpose bowls from Taylor Bowls which can be used for both indoor bowls and outdoor bowls. For outdoor bowls it is recommended for playing lead or number 2.
Another benefit of Blaze bowls is that the slim diameter of the bowl allows for a comfy grip during matches. This grasp is further improved by a Premier Grip - a deep dimple grip - which gives the player a firm hold of the bowl. A solid grasp is essential for accuracy and helps the player to achieve a steady and reliable draw every time.
The bias on Blaze bowls lies somewhere between Taylor Bowls' Vector VS and Ace. The Vector VS has a narrow drawing arc and the Ace has a slightly wider drawing arc. Both have no hook at the finish.
Whereas Vector VS is suitable for indoor and artificial bowls surfaces, Ace Taylor Bowls is ideal for both indoor and outdoor bowling.

Blaze Bowls - Modern Look
Blaze bowls have a contemporary, modern look and are available in a complete range of colours, including the limited edition Flame colour (orange with yellow flecks) and traditional black.
Other colours available in the Blaze range are: red, maroon/red, blue, yellow, lime green white/yellow speckle, dark blue/magenta, dark green/green, blue/blue, orange and raspberry ripple (magenta with dark pink) and vanilla sky (blue/yellow speckle).
You can personalise your Blaze bowls with an emblem. There are a wide range of emblems to choose from which are suitable for a range of different personalities and ages and these include: a sword, cowboy, dragon, bad boy, roses, tulips, a thumbs up, dolphin, swan, toucan, cat and puppy.
If you want to choose your own emblem from Bowls World, this is available for an additional £10 plus VAT and means a longer delivery time, of between 4 - 6 weeks.
Ordering Blaze Bowls
Bowls World is a UK company established 20 years. We sell a wide range of Taylor Bowls, bowls equipment, accessories, and clothing world-wide, as well as Drakes Pride, Henselite and Emsmorn brands. We also sell a wide range of bowls shoes for men, women and juniors.
If you are ordering Blaze Bowls from Bowls World and are UK based, we offer free postage to England, Wales and the Scottish lowlands.
For those ordering Blaze from abroad, to make ordering easier we have a currency converter so you can see the price in your own currency. We provide same day dispatch on all orders by 12 noon and this applies to all our customers world-wide.
Blaze Bowls - click here to buy online.

Bowls-Hong Kong

Bowls in Hong Kong is a popular sport. In fact Hong Kong is seen among one of the leading nations participating in the game together with England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia.


Bowls World sell a wide range of clothing, equipment and bowls to Hong Kong based players and to customers all over the world. Here, we shall including the history of bowls, Hong Kong, and how to buy from Bowls World.
Bowls Hong Kong - click here to browse our online shop.



History of Bowls Hong Kong
The game has been played in Hong Kong for well over a century. The history of bowls, Hong Kong, began when a group of Scotsman who lived in Kowloon formed the Kowloon Bowling Green Club in 1900. The very first club house was opened in 1905 by Hong Kong governor Sir Matthew Nathan.
Since then, bowls, Hong Kong, increased in popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, and the club (next to the Kowloon Cricket Club) had its own greens available year round. These were separate to the main playing field used for cricket and lawn tennis. In the Second World War the greens were used to grow vegetables, but these opened again at the end of 1946 and are still in use today.
The Hong Kong Lawn Bowls Association is an association of five divisions and 22 clubs. It was founded fifty years ago (March 1961) and a series of games and tournaments have been organised to commemorate its golden jubilee. In the 1970's bowls Hong Kong gained an influx of players, as many ex-pats settled here and popularity of the sport continued.
In fact, the Hong Kong International Bowls Classic, founded in 1981, is seen as one of the best outdoor bowls tournaments in the world. It attracts top players globally and includes a single and a pairs competition.
This tournament was originally a men's event held annually in winter but has included a women's competition since 2008. Hong Kong won the pairs title five times and Hong Kong's singles winners have included George Souza Junior and Noel Kennedy winning in 1984 and 1994.
Among the top male bowls Hong Kong singles are Ken Chan, Jerry Ng and Raymond Ho. The top three women's singles players are Winnie Wai, Mercredi Yeung and Joanna Nam (rankings relate to the three years between 2009 and 2011).
Bowls Tours Hong Kong
Bowls can be combined with travel for players living outside of Hong Kong. For those who want to try bowls in Hong Kong, there is a touring company which organises all inclusive bowls and sight-seeing tours around Hong Kong, China or Asia. The tours go to Hong Kong, China, Macau and other Asian destinations and are a good way to mix the sport with travelling and socialising. Whether you are a professional or are just thinking of taking up the sport, Bowls World sell a wide range of bowls clothing and equipment to customers in Hong Kong at competitive prices. See below to find out more about our range.

Bowls Hong Kong - click here to browse our online shop.



Bowls Clothing Hong Kong
The Hong Kong bowls dress code is clearly defined for matches, national and international competitions.
For matches players, must wear white or cream coloured shorts, dress, skirts and trousers. Dependant on the weather, players can also wear sun hats, sun protection clothing and bowls sweaters. Lawn bowls shoes must be worn at all times and are also available to buy from Bowls World.
For league games and national competitions, players are to wear matching team shirts and these can either be white or coloured and with long or short sleeves. Singles players must wear bowls club shirts or uniforms.
The dress code for international competitions requires Hong Kong bowls players to wear matching shirts, skirts or long trousers.


Bowls World sell a wide collection of bowls clothing for adults and juniors by makes Henselite, Taylor and Drakes Pride. Our range includes men's and ladies' outdoor bowls clothing, bowls headwear - including sun hats, caps, visors and rain hats - water proof bowls clothing and jackets.
We also sell bowls trousers, shirts, tops, T-shirts, blouses, jumpers, fleeces, gillets, gloves and bowls shoes for men and women.

Bowls Hong Kong - Equipment Sold By Bowls World
Bowls World sell a wide selection of bowls equipment and accessories including flat green and crown green bowls and all our bowls equipment and clothing is available to buy in Hong Kong.
As well as a wide range of outdoor bowls equipment, we also sell indoor bowls equipment for short mat and carpet bowls including 30 ft and 40 ft carpets. In addition we sell bowls club equipment and coaching aids and accessories such as grip waxes, spray chalk, chalk holders, measures and scorecard holders. We also have a selection of gift vouchers and books for sale to customers in Hong Kong.

All our overseas orders are sent by UPS, which are three to four days trackable.
Shipping costs are added to your order automatically once you enter your address online. This means that you can see your exact total of your order before you submit it to Bowls World.
To make buying simple for Hong Kong residents, you can use our currency converter to find out how much your order will be in Hong Kong Dollars.



Bowls Hong Kong - click here to buy online.

Bowls -Australia

Bowls Australia, is a fiercely competitive sport and in fact more than half of the world's players come from Down Under. In fact four Australian nationals are ranked among the top 16 male singles players in the world including the world's two best players, Leif Selby and Brett Wilkie (rankings compiled November 2011).

Among the top female world players are Karen Murphy (ranked fourth), the new 2012 women's indoor singles champion Kelsey Cottrell (ranked eighth) and Joyce Lindores (ranked 16th).
Lawn bowls Australia, has players aged between 9 to 90 years and one of the beauties of the sport is that it attracts people of all abilities, including blind players. Here is a history of bowls Australia, and how Australian bowlers can save money by buying from Bowls World.
Bowls Australia - click here to buy online.

Bowls Australia - History of the Game
The history of bowls Australia, is an interesting one. The first ever bowling club in Australia was in Melbourne and was founded on October 1, 1864, in nearby Windsor. The club was open to high society players such as politicians, businessmen and government officials who each paid a premium to play. At about the same time rules came to be written down so players could agree on how the game should be played.
The first grand bowling tournament happened in 1873. It was hosted by Melbourne and included a tournament between six cities. The gentlemen finished the day by drinking a toast to the Queen.
By 1880 the first bowling associations were formed in Australia. These were the New South Wales and the Victorian Associations and were the first of their kind in the world.
Lawn bowling became a mass sport after the World War One when it was opened up to the working classes and female players for the first time.
In the 1930 the first plastic bowls was invented by R W Hensell which revolutionised the game and meant balls became more standardised in weight and shape than rubber or wooden bowls. This meant the ball could keep its shape under many different climatic conditions and in the long-run led to cheaper bowls.
The game became increasingly popular after the Second World War and reached its peak in the 1960's with more than half a million Australian players. People had to wait a couple of years to join a club because they were so exclusive.

Bowls Australia - Future Plans
Exciting plans are afoot to revolutionise lawn bowls in Australia. There will be the creation of the Australian premier league in October 2012 which will take the game to a whole new level and change the way the game is played and perceived.
The plans are to take the best elements of the game and make it high impact, fast paced and highly competitive. Big prize money, thought to be around $100,000 dollars, will be up for grabs and the game will attract greater publicity and sponsorship.
Martin Curtis, of Bowls World, said: "I think this spells fantastic news for the sport in Australia and will make great viewing for people with Sky Sports who can watch the game in the UK.
"It is not expected to change how the game is played in the UK as we will still follow the rules laid down by the World Bowls World and subsequently Bowls England. However, it will bring the game more publicity on this side of the globe and that can only be good for the sport in general."

Bowls Australia - Differences in the Game
On the amateur side of the sport there are no differences in bowls Australia compared to the English game as they are all governed by the same body, World Bowls Limited. However, playing conditions do differ.
Australian greens tend to be very fast compared to their UK counterparts. In Australia they prefer a straighter running bowl to combat the very wide drawing greens, as the faster the green the wider the draw will be.
As a result the tactics of bowls Australia may differ to that of the UK in that the 'drive' or 'up' shot is used more often and to great effect. It will be used to break up a head of bowls where the player feels there is no chance of drawing shot. This can sometimes be used very early on in the end and sometimes as early as the second bowl. This technique is referred to as the 'draw and drive' game, rarely seen in the UK, as in the UK it is possible to bowl consistently to within inches of the jack.
The very quick and wide drawing greens in Australia can make this pretty much impossible with a two foot away bowl becoming a winning bowl. With the greens so fast, bowls in Australia can be affected by strong side winds, but this is more usual in New Zealand.
Many of the bowls greens in Australia are not grass as we know it, but are played on 'Cotula weed' which is cut to its bare roots for play. This is very resilient to dry weather and grows very easily and rapidly, so much so the Agriculture and Fisheries Commission have banned it from being brought into the UK as they think it could become rampant here.

Bowls Clothing Australia
The Australian bowls dress code is much more relaxed than in the UK. The main difference is that shorts are worn instead of trousers. These are worn with long white socks. The ladies wear sports trousers, like track suit bottoms. There is much more colour in the clothing to distinguish between teams.
Mr Curtis said: "Lawn Bowls in Australia seem to receive much better publicity and TV coverage than in the UK. There doesn't seem to be the stigmas attached to the game like there is over here of being an old man's game. "When I played as a 13 year old in the 70's I was afraid to mention it to my mates at school for fear of Mickey taking. I understand from today's youngsters in this country it is pretty much still the same."

Bowls World sell a wide range of bowls clothing including ladies' clothing, men's clothing, junior bowls clothing, outdoor bowls clothing, water proof bowls clothing, bowls tops, bowls trousers, shorts, T-shirts, jumpers, fleeces, gilets, shirts, jackets, gloves, bowls headwear, sunhats, rain hats, caps, visors, and bowls shoes for men and women. It also includes clothing by Taylor, Drakes Pride and the Australian make Henselite.

Bowls Australia - Equipment Sold By Bowls World
Bowls World sell a wide range of bowls equipment and accessories such as flat green and crown green bowls from leading manufacturers Taylor, Drakes Pride and Henselite. We also sell a variety of gift vouchers and books, bowls club equipment and coaching aids and bowls accessories such as measures, grip waxes, chalk holders, spray chalk and scorecard holders.

In addition to this we also sell indoor bowls equipment for short mat and carpet bowls, including 30ft and 45ft carpets.
All our bowls equipment and clothing is available to buy in Australia. Overseas orders are sent by UPS (three to four days trackable)  Shipping costs will automatically be added to your order. Once you give your address you can see the exact total of your order before submitting it online.

How Australian Customers Can Benefit from Bowls World
Bowls World sell mainly bowls to Australia and our overseas sales account for 40% of our business which is growing each year. Australia is our biggest overseas market with over 250 bowls sets shipped last year. Each set costs £69.99GBP to ship, but of course Australian bowls customers do not have to pay the VAT.
The bowls are very expensive in Australia, which means an Australian customer can buy a set in the UK and have them shipped to Australia, and still save over $100 AUD. By getting together with other bowls members and having four sets shipped at the same time, this will reduce the shipping costs to £40.00 GBP a set, so it's easy to see the massive savings to be made. The most popular model by far that Bowls World ship to Australia is the Taylor Vector VS, with its narrow bias suited to very fast greens. It performs very well on the Australian playing conditions. To make buying as easy as possible, you can use our currency converter to calculate how much your order is going to cost in Australian Dollars.



Bowls Australia - click here to buy online.

The Bowls Manufacturing Process

Step 1. Black Bowls are made from a Phenol Formaldehyde grey powder, with a dye added to make them black. Some coloured bowls are made from Melamine, which starts life as crystals, the crystal being the colour of the bowl, so the colour is right through the bowl, this is extremely strong, and offer very good non-fade characteristics. Others are made by adding a dye to their powder.

Step 2. The raw materials are then weighed very carefully for the various models and sizes. using a high frequency pre heater, the granules are then melted down to form a putty like substance, which is then poured into a mould, which resembles the shape of the bowl. Different moulds are used for various models.

Step 3. A 150 ton press then compresses the material, which squeeze out excess gases & liquids from the mould. Some of this excess remains around the bowl, which is then trimmed off with a hot knife later in the process, this is the ring that can sometimes be seen around the running surface of the bowl. Bowls are moulded in one piece, lugs still remain on the bowl for the next part of tooling process, however the moulding must first cure, and this can take up to 10 days. Once cured the bowl is ultrasonically tested to check for air bubbles (trapped gases) which if found means the bowl is completely discarded as waste.

Step 4. After this important process the bowls goes to the diamond bit lathe, once mounted a specific computer programme for the bias of this particular bowl is punched in, and the bias of this particular bowl is cut to shape in seconds with extreme precision.

Step 5. Now the bowls will ave either dimple or rings cut in. A cutting/drilling machine holds the bowl by suction, so the rings or dimples can be cut or drilled in with the utmost accuracy. The bowl is now begining to resembe a bowl, but is un polished. An experienced highly trained person now matches 4 bowls for weight, there is a tolerance of only 3gms between the 4 bowls permitted, the bowls are then marked with a code, and travel around the factory as a set.

Step 6. At this point the first table test occures, to make sure the bowls conform to the World Bowls Master Bowl test. The bowls are then adjusted on the lathe, if found to be under or over biased, but this is very rare occurance, due to the accuracy of the compuerised lathes that are now used.

Step 7. After this important test the bowls are then placed in a big drum filled with silocone chips, the drum gently rotates, gently polishing the bowls to a high gloss finish.

Step 8. Then comes the engraving, a lazer machine then engrave all 4 bowls at the same time according to a pre-loaded programme, the bowls are sent to the paintshop for painting. A further table test is then carried out to check against the World Bowls Master Bowl, after which the bowls are then packaged and ready for sale.

Learning to Bowl & Improving your Game (Lesson 1)

You will no doubt be bombarded with advice when you are new to the game. Well wishing experienced bowlers are always eager to pass on their own methods of doing something, some things will be very helpful, some may not, but they all mean well, but they forget that there is a lot to take in on your first few games, and getting too much advice can confuse, as no doubt you have already found. Of course you can enrol on a organized coaching scheme, if there is one being held locally, but if not you will be left to pick up the game as you go along from our bowling friends. We will not go into the many laws and rules of the game here, as they can be found on the various governing bodies sites, instead we will look at arming you with the basics to get started, and improving your game.
It has been said in the past, I think it was the Great man himself David Bryant that 'Bowls is 10% skill and 90% intangibles', this may sound like it is a game of luck, but this could not be further from the truth. What is meant is that, we can all be taught to bowl a bowl along a desired path, but no one can teach you to make that ball stop at a desired length, this is solely down to your touch, feel, co-ordination, and most importantly your sub- consciouses thoughts, which will work out the weight of the object you are holding, and how far it has got to travel, the type of surface it is rolling on, etc. and then signal to your arm how much back swing you will need to propel the bowl to where you want it to go, (intangibles). You will often hear bowlers say, they don't know why sometimes they can play brilliantly, and the next night have a poor game, (intangibles), we can never quite understand why this is, but we can learn ways, to help make us more consistent, which is all we can strive for, consistency is fundamental to the sport, and probably any sport. We will look at the mental side of the game in later posts, but for now, we will concentrate on what can be taught, which is a consistent delivery, which will enable you to bowl a consistent line, which is half the game.
We will assume that you have already been told what side of the bowl is the bias side, which side is your forehand and backhand, that you will be using the athletic style delivery, and that you are practising on your own.
It is important that you try and keep everything in line when you step on to the delivery mat to play, so begin by standing behind the mat, make a point of always starting from the same position, don't walk on from the side, remember we are trying to make your delivery stance a 'habit', so you don't have to think about it, 'just do it' to coin a Fraze. Walk onto the mat looking in the direction you plan to bowl, stand with your feet a small distance apart, so as to give you a stable base to start your delivery from. position yourself so you are pointing in the direction you intend to bowl, ie. forehand, or backhand. For now all we will be doing is delivering the bowl, not at any target, so take a comfortable step forward with your left foot if right handed, or your right foot if left handed, while at the same time bringing your bowling arm back to create a back swing, your non bowling arm should be used to steady yourself, and keep balance,bending down as you go forward, you should just about be able scrape the grass with your finger tips as your arm comes through. Release the bowl, as close to the ground as possible, and continue to follow through with your arm on the projected path. This is very important, so as not to 'pull' the bowl on release. A good practise is too imagine that your photo is being taken each time you deliver, and you need to hold the pose after delivering the bowl, this will make sure you do not get up to early, or snatch at the bowl as it is released, everything must be smooth, slow, and deliberate. practise this for several ends on your forehand, and again on your backhand, you can never practise your delivery style too much, it is going to be one of the most important aspects of your game, you must develop a smooth consistent delivery, which we don't need to think about, it is just part of you, the simpler you keep it the better, the less there is to go wrong with it over the years to come, just make it your own, and stick to it.
now you have mastered your delivery technique, it is time to learn how to bowl a 'perfect line'. You will need 2 extra delivery mats for this excercise if possible, if not anything of a similar size which the bowl will roll over. Take 1 mat and place it aprox 5 metres in front of the delivery mat, and aprox 1 metre out from the centre line of the rink, do the same both sides of the centre line. Now using your new super smooth delivery action, make this mat your aiming point, and with enought weight to reach half way down the green, try and roll your bowl directly over the mat, when you are able to do this with all 4 bowls on your forehand and backhand, move the mat froward to 10 metres and 1.5 metres out, and then 15 metres and 2 metres out. When you have learnt to do this consistently, you know that you can 'pick a line' and bowl it, now you just need to learn which line to bowl.
There are several different methods employed to determine line, some players will use a marker on the bank, some will use a marker on the green, whichever you choose make sure it is a permanent marker, not one which may be moved during the game, there have been stories of somebody having a brilliant game, using a bowls bag at the other end of the green, as a marker, only for the bag to be moved, or a leaf on the green only for it to be moved by the wind. The only problem with markers is that you will need to adjust in or out from your chosen marker, depending on the length of the Jack. Another method is to 'bowl to an imaginary arc', the arc of your chosen bowls will differ, but you will learn this with experience. On visualizing your chosen path to the jack, you will be able to determine the shoulder of the are, the point where the bowl will start to draw in, this is your aiming point, normally about 2/3 of the way along the draw line. If you can learn to visualize the path you are taking to the jack, before you bowl, it will be advantageous to your game in years to come, and as you start to improve, it will mean you can not only visualize the draw line required, but also the line you need to pick, when 'Driving' at the head, playing 'controlled weight', or the 'yard on' shot. Concentrating and picturing (visualizing) the line you are about to take, while standing on the mat waiting to bowl, will also help your sub consciouses mind feed in valuable data on how much weight you will need to bowl, but that is getting back into the intangibles of the game, and that is another lesson for another day.

The Different Bowls Models

Currently there are 17 different models available on the UK market, most models being made in 2 weights, with 6 different sizes in each, and some models made with 2 different grips, WOW ! that’s means a possible 300+ combinations of model, weight, size, and grip, add to this 12 different colours offered by some manufacturers, and its well over 3000 combinations offered in the UK alone. Hence there can sometimes be a long wait for your particular colour bowl you want. In this blog I will try and guide you through each UK model, and what it has been designed to do. When choosing your model bowl, you must always consider,
1. Where you will be playing most of your games (ie your home club),
2. Weather playing indoors or outside, or if both what do you enjoy most, or where are you most competitive. Taking these into account you should always choose the bowl which will suit the majority of the games you play, unless you are able to afford more then one set of course.

Taylor Bowls Range (Glasgow, Scotland)

Lazer Designed to take a narrow even draw line to the jack, it will perform best on very fast greens, such as indoor, or fast running outdoor greens, normally would suit Lead’s and number 2’s. The most noticeable difference with the Lazer is its slimmer shape, which makes it very comfortable to hold for players with smaller hands. It is available in black colour only, and sizes 00 to 5, both medium and heavyweights. With the Taylor Progrip (dimple) no size 00 in medium weight).

Vector VS The original ‘Vector’ was introduced some 9/10 years ago to combat the ever increasing number of faster running indoor greens. It soon established itself as the No.1 best selling indoor bowl in the UK, it received a cosmetic makeover 4 years ago, and is now known as the Vector VS (vector sport). This bowl has narrow draw with a even draw back to the centre, it plays best on faster running greens, and would suit Lead’s or number 2’s, who are looking for a bowl which has a forgiving a draw line, providing you have learnt to bowl a consistent weight, these bowls could help improve your game. Available in sizes 00 to 5 medium & Heavyweight (no size 00 in mediumweight), Plain of Progrip (dimple). Black & various colours see www.bowlsworld.co.uk

Ace The Ace is the preferred bowl with top end International and County level bowlers. It is used by many of today’s top bowlers, and has been used to win many World Championships. It is a mid bias bowl, which makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor bowling, it can also be used for any position of play. The consistent even drawl line lends itself well to the most accurate draw shot, running bowl, or all out drive. Available in sizes 00 to 5 heavyweight & Mediumweight, (no size 00 medium) Plain or Progrip, (dimple) Black & Various Colours see www.bowlsworld.co.uk

International Similar draw line to the Ace, slightly wider draw, slightly slimmer shape, most noticeable difference is the ‘crescent’ style grip, which is standard on these bowls, can be used indoors, but most players would agree to them being a little too wide draw, unless playing on a very slow pace indoor carpet. Available in sizes 00 to 5 medium & heavy weights, (no size 00 in medium), crescent grip as standard. Black & Brown, and Various colours see at www.bowlsworld.co.uk

Legacy SL A slimmer shape bowl, which makes it easier to handle, it has a wider draw, with a slight hook finish, designed for heavier pace surfaces, ideal on any outdoor grass surface. Can be used for any position of play, the most popular selling beginners bowl for outdoor bowling. Sizes 00 to 5 heavy & medium, no size 00 medium), progrip only. Avail. Black only.

Lignoid The original Taylor model bowl, traditional shape made to mimic the line of the old Lignum’s (wooden bowls), they take a wide draw line, with a strong hook finish, ideal on slower pace surfaces, good beginners bowl for outside, most recently lost its popularity to the Legacy SL. Sizes 00 to 5 heavy & medium, no size 00 medium), progrip only. Avail. Black only.


Henselite Bowls Range (Australian)

Dreamline Originally designed for the very fast greens in Australia, The dreamline satisfies the needs of competitive bowlers, it is ideally suited to indoor of fast running outdoor surfaces, it has a flatter profile and a narrower width, with the scallop shape grip, it will suit leads and number 2’s. Available in sizes 0 to 5 in Heavyweight black. And Red,Blue, Green, and Burgundy Colours.
Tiger II The Tiger II is a contemporary design of bowl with a gentle and predictable trajectory, it has a narrow to mid bias, It is highly suited to second’s, thirds and skips, who are playing on free running surfaces, that require a bowl that has a relatively strong finish to the draw, which will allow draw shots around short bowls in the head, but still has a narrower line. The ergo profile, with the scallop grip will maximize comfort and add precision to every delivery. A narrow to mid bias bowl offering both the experienced and new bowlers alike, the greatest potential range of shots. Available in sizes 0 to 5 Heavyweight only. Black, Red, Green, Blue, Burgundy, Galaxy, Planet Earth, Comet, Midnight, Ruby Rich, Austral, White/Red Speckle.
Classic II The Classic II was first introduced as a result of standardisation of the WBB Rules (at the time IBB) for the Game of Lawn Bowls, The Classic II is manufactured with a narrow bias and has less bias than the original 'Classic' bowl. It also features a distinctive finish (commonly referred to as a 'hockey stick' finish) which is reminiscent of the original Classic but without the wider draw of the Henselite Original bowl. Since its release, Classic II became the most consistent selling of the Henselite models in all states of Australia and New Zealand. This was due to its adaptability for bowlers changing from the old bias to the new. The Classic II, despite it's narrow draw, is very well suited to medium paced greens, because it is truly a narrow biased bowl, the Classic II is well represented on the faster greens of Australia and New Zealand. It also performs well on the faster indoor or carpet greens here in the United Kingdom. It is regarded, at all levels, and under all conditions, as one of the 'best performing' modern bowls. Available in Sizes 0 to 5 medium & heavyweight, Black, and colours Red, Blue Green, and Burgundy.
Tiger The championship winning ‘Tiger’ Bowl has taken the UK outdoor market by storm over the last 5 years, originally described as a ‘Mid’ bias bowl, it is felt by many to be a mid to wide drawing bowl, most suited to our outdoor playing conditions, and those requiring a wider drawing bowl indoors. It has a slimmer shape, with scallop grip, and the ergo profile with its self correcting properties, it is a very comfortable bowl to hold. Ideal skips and no.3’s bowl for all playing conditions. Available in sizes 0 to 5 heavyweight Black, Red, Green, Blue, Burgundy, Galaxy, Planet Earth, Comet, Midnight, Ruby Rich, Austral, White/Red Speckle.
Classic The Classic has derived from the original henselite supergrip/ championship bowl, it has gone through a couple of name variations through the years (ie Classic Deluxe), but essentially is still the same bowl with the renown ‘hockey stick’ finish, It was the most popular bowl on the UK market throughout the 70’s 80’s & 90’s, but has now lost some of its appeal to the Tiger. Ideal skip’s bowl on heavier grass green’s. Available in sizes 0 to 5 medium & heavy weights, Black Only.
Almark Bowls (Australian)
Almark Bowls came onto the market in the mid 80’s, with a bit of a ‘Bang!’, they became known for cracking in half, due to a faulty batch which was made, unfortunately this reputation did the brand no favors over the proceeding years, even though it was just one batch in the 80’s. The factory in Cumbernauld closed a few years ago, and now all production has been taken back to the Henselite Factory in Australia. The Edge model is very popular in Australia on their very quick greens.
EdgeThis is probably the narrowest drawing bowl available on the UK Market, it has the unique square grip associated with all Almark Bowls. Feels comfortable in the hand, would suit lead’s who play on very quick greens, on indoor surfaces, if you can’t play the ditch hand with these, nothing will !.
Sterling Slimline This Mid-Bias bowl has a very narrow profile, making it easy to hold, has the square grip, ideal for leading or number 2’s, very popular with smaller hand players, and beginners being at the lower price end of the market. Available in one weight heavy/medium sizes 00 to 4 Black, Red, Blue, Green, and Burgundy.
Sterling Gold The gold has a wider draw making it more suited to the heavier grass greens in the UK. It has the square grip associated with all the almark range of bowls. Ideal bowls for those on a budget, being at the cheaper end of the scale. Available in medium & heavyweights, sizes 00 to 5, Black Only.

Drakes Pride Bowls Liverpool, England)
Advantage predominately a leads bowl has a very narrow draw, suited to very fast playing surfaces, such as indoors, or artificial outdoor surfaces, made with dimple grips or plain, Heavyweight only. Sizes 0 to 5 Black and range of colours see www.bowlsworld.co.uk
Professional The best selling Drakes Pride Bowl, has been arounf for what seems like forever, but is still as popular as ever, probably for its easy to read line, it has a steady constant draw, and will play well on almost any pace surface you throw at it, a good all-round bowl, for any position of play. Available in medium & heavyweight, sizes 00 to 5 and some ½ sizes to order, dimple gripped or plain. Full range of colours available see www.bowlsworld.co.uk
Jazz The newest model added to the Drakes Pride range this year, it has a wider draw, more suited to outdoor play, but still has the constant draw line of the Professional, new modern design. Available in Heavyweight only, sizes 00 to 5, and full range of colours, see www.bowlsworld.co.uk

The Bowls Buying Guide

First and foremost is the size of bowl that you choose to play with, it must fit your hand without being so big as to slip, but equally not to small so that it sits too far back in the hand, which leads to you coping the bowl out, instead of it rolling of the fingers. There are a few ways you can tell if a bowls is the right size for you. Firstly place the bowl in your hand that you would normally bowl with, place your fingers around the bowl in your normal 'claw grip' then extend your arm to arms length, at this point turn your hand upside down, you should be able to do this without the bowl starting to slip, and without your hand shaking. Taking this into account, you should play with the largest bowl you can execute this exercise with. As a guide the most common Gents size bowl is a size 4, a size 3 being the smaller hand gent, and a size 5 being the larger hand gent. most popular Ladies size is a size 1, with a size 0 being a smaller hand lady, and a size 2 being a larger hand lady, but remember this is only a guide it will greatly depend on the size of your hand, length, width, and strength of grip. Measuring your hand is unsatisfactory as you cannot determine if you will be able to handle the weight of the bowl you have chosen, this particularly applies to Ladies with long slender fingers, which upon measuring leads you to buy a much larger bowl then is suitable, because is has not got the width in her hand, nor the strength required. You will normally find players at your local club, will let you hold their bowls for this purpose, If you haven’t got a specialist bowls shop nearby.

Next is the weight of bowl, this is not quite so important, most bowls are made in a medium and heavyweight, and some slimmer shape bowls made in a heavymedium weight. The weight difference is very small only 3oz on a size 5, dropping down to under 1oz on the size 0 bowl, but surprisingly it is noticeable when coming to bowl. I would normally recommend a mediumweight bowl for outdoor grass surfaces, and a heavyweight bowl for indoor and artificial surfaces, mainly because the mediumweight bowl will get a little more turn at the end of the draw, which is usually a good thing on the heavier grass surfaces, and with heavyweights it is the reverse, just stoping them from getting a couple more rolls on the indoor surface, it can also help the bowl from being displaced so easily, particularly indoors. It is a popular misconception that the heavvweight bowl will roll further having the momentum to carry it on, not so we are told. From research we know that although the heavier bowl will be carried by the momentum in the first half of the draw, it will slow down quicker as it comes to rest, as the heavier weight begins to dig into the surface, of course the heavier or wetter the surface the more this will be noticeable.

Now the interesting part, well for me anyway. What make and model shall I buy ?, This is where your bowls specialist can really play a part in determining you go away with the right bowl for you. There are now over 15 models available in the UK, from 3 different manufacturers, then given the various weight, grip, size and colour combinations, there is hundreds of outcome’s. Taylor bowls are the oldest manufacturer, dating back over 200 years, they are based in Glasgow, Scotland, in the UK, they have 6 current models available, The Lignoid, Legacy SL, International, Ace, Vector VS, and Lazer. In Liverpool we have Drakes Pride, the only English bowls manufacturer; they have the Jazz, Professional, and Advantage models on the UK market. Then we have probably the most well known manufacturer, Henselite, they are based in Australia, and were the first company to develop a composition bowl as we know it today, it was developed in Australia with the help of a British scientist during the early 50’s to combat the heat from the sun, which was shrinking the wood in the old wooden bowls and having an effect on the bias.

You should first determine where you will play most of your games, is it indoors or outside, is the surface, considered fast or slow, are the end rinks a problem (being able to take enough green) what position will you play most of your games Skip, No3. 2^nd, or Lead. Armed with this information, your chosen Bowls Specialist should be able to steer you through the minefield of different models available.