Buying your first set of lawn bowls is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a new player. Get it right and you'll have a set that suits your hand, your game and your greens for years. Get it wrong and you'll be fighting your equipment every single delivery.
The good news is that choosing the right bowls isn't complicated once you understand three key factors: size, bias and brand. This guide walks you through each one clearly.
Many beginners borrow their club's loaner bowls for their first few sessions — and this is exactly what we recommend. Club bowls give you a feel for the game before you spend any money. But once you've decided you love the sport, your own set becomes essential.
A bowl that's too large for your hand will cause grip fatigue and inconsistent releases. The wrong bias for your playing style or green type will make it extremely difficult to draw consistently.
Lawn bowls are manufactured in sizes from 00 (smallest) to 7 (largest). Most men play with a size 3, 4 or 5. Most women play with a 0, 1 or 2.
The grip test: Hold a bowl in your dominant hand with your fingers spread naturally underneath it. Your middle fingertips should just be able to touch — or very nearly touch — when wrapped around the bowl. If they comfortably overlap, go a size smaller. If they can't reach, go larger.
Bias is the built-in curve a bowl takes as it slows down, created by the bowl's asymmetrical shape. The amount of bias varies considerably between models, and choosing the right bias is just as important as choosing the right size.
These bowls curve the least. Used by lead players who need to draw accurately in a straight line, and by indoor bowlers. Models include the Taylor Lazer and Henselite Tiger II. Not recommended for beginners.
The sweet spot for most players. Mid-bias bowls curve enough to navigate a typical outdoor green comfortably but remain controllable and predictable. The Taylor Ace and Drakes Pride Professional are the two most popular beginner bowls in the world for exactly this reason.
These bowls curve significantly and are typically used by experienced outdoor skips. Generally not suitable for beginners — the large curve makes weight and line control much harder to develop.
The oldest bowls manufacturer in the world. The Taylor Ace is their flagship beginner model — predictable, durable and available in a huge range of colours. Approximately £250–£320 new.
The Drakes Pride Professional rivals the Taylor Ace as the most popular beginner bowl globally. It offers a slightly wider bias that many find natural on British outdoor greens. Approximately £200–£280 new.
Dominant in Australia and New Zealand. Their Dreamline XG is popular with intermediate players. Approximately £270–£350 new.
Known for innovation — particularly their Z-Scoop grip technology. Excellent for players with arthritic hands. Approximately £280–£380 new.
New bowls come with a manufacturer's warranty and guaranteed World Bowls testing standards. Second-hand bowls can be excellent value. If buying second-hand, check for: a legible World Bowls stamp, no cracks or flat spots on the running surface, and all four bowls matching the same model and size.
For most UK beginners there are two sets that stand head and shoulders above everything else: the Taylor Ace and the Drakes Pride Professional. Both are mid-bias, well-priced, widely available and perfectly suited to new players.
If you play primarily outdoors on British grass greens, go with the Drakes Pride Professional. If you play a mix of indoor and outdoor, go with the Taylor Ace. You genuinely cannot go wrong with either.
Once you've chosen your bowls, master your delivery technique.
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