An Introduction To Bowls

Beginners are always welcome to Forest Hill Bowling Club because they are the future of the club. Bowls can be played by people of all ages up to 90 and beyond! There are aids so that people who are disabled can play.

The Game of Lawn Bowls - The Basics

Bowls is played between two people (singles) or between two teams of two, three or four. The aim of the game is to bowl your bowl, or wood, closest to a small white or yellow target ball, the jack. The woods do not follow a straight path but have a curved trajectory as they have what is called a bias. See  BBC website' A beginners Guide to Bowls here. 

Equipment

Woods or bowls – These come in sets of four and range in sizes, from  00 to 7 as well as different biases and weights. The club has sets of bowls or woods you can use and try out before you decide to get your own. A set of new bowls cost from £200 upwards, although there are lots of second hand bowls that can found much cheaper than that. We would not recommend you to buy woods until you have tried a few different ones. Our coaches can give you advice on which woods to buy.

Shoes – To prevent damage to the green these have to be flat with little or no tread.

Clothing – When you are on the green you are expected to follow a simple dress code, see below. You will need white tops/shirts/blouses and white & grey trousers/skirts.

There are other things like, measures and wet gear,  (yes bowls is played in the rain sometimes!),  which you may want to buy later, but these are not essential for beginners.
 

Dress Code

To beginners this can be a bit bewildering – The are two main kits, Greys and Whites.

"Whites" - for most weekend games.

For ladies

White top/shirt/blouse and white skirt/trousers (full length, knee length) or Bermuda shorts are worn.

For men

White top/shirt and white trousers or knee length. In hot weather knee length  shorts can be worn.

"Greys " - for most weekday matches.

For Women

White top/shirt/blouse and grey skirt/trousers (full length, knee length) or Bermuda shorts are worn.

For men

White top/shirt and grey trousers. In hot weather knee length  shorts can be worn.

At other times - Roll ups (informal games) or practice

Smart casual wear in any colour.

Suppliers of bowling equipment

Bowls Wear Direct trade only on line.  http://www.bowlsdirect.com/.

John Forsey Bowls have a  shop in Welling and also trade  on line  http://www.johnforseybowls.co.uk/

Other Links

Bowls England is the National Governing Body for the sport of Lawn Bowls - Link to website  https://www.bowlsengland.com/ 

The English Indoor Bowling Association - The association that governs indoor bowling. Link to http://www.eiba.co.uk/index.php

Kent County Bowls Association

Organises bowls in Kent.  Forest Hill, Sydenham and Lewisham are historically in Kent

Link to Ladies website http://kcwba.co.uk/. 

Link to Men's website http://www.kentbowls.com/..

Link to The Laws of Bowls   http://www.worldbowls.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Laws_of_the_sport_v3.2.pdf