FAQ - Choosing Bowls
The advice on this page is here to help people out whether they buy from our shop or not—we just wish to help people out in a friendly way. However, this advice is not necessarily the best guide for all people in all situations, and we cannot be held responsible for any actions taken as a result of following this advice.
Whether selecting lawn bowls or indoor bowls, most people prefer “gripped” bowls these days, and medium weight is the default for Lawn Bowls. Black is the most popular colour by far.
What size of Lawn Bowls should I buy?
Size is a personal thing relating to the size of the bowler’s hands. However, we can provide these rules of thumb:
- Ladies tend to buy size 00 – 3.
- Gents tend to buy size 3 – 6.
- Most popular sizes are 1, 2, 3, & 4.
- An average gent will probably find size 3 or 4 suitable.
- An average lady typically goes for size 1 or 2.
- Size 00 is for very small hands.
Drakes Pride Professional Bowls Sizes & Weights – Metric
| Size | 00 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 116 | 118 | 121 | 122.5 | 124 | 125.5 | 127 |
| Medium Weight (g) | 1190 | 1220 | 1300 | 1350 | 1400 | 1460 | 1520 |
| Heavy Weight (g) | 1215 | 1280 | 1350 | 1400 | 1460 | 1520 | 1580 |
Drakes Pride Professional Bowls Sizes & Weights – Imperial
| Size | 00 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (inches) | 4 9/16 | 4 11/16 | 4 3/4 | 4 13/16 | 4 7/8 | 4 15/16 | 5 |
| Medium Weight (lbs-oz) | 2-09 | 2-11 | 2-13 1/4 | 2-15 3/4 | 3-1 1/2 | 3-3 3/4 | 3-5 3/4 |
| Heavy Weight (lbs-oz) | 2-10 1/2 | 2-13 3/4 | 2-15 3/4 | 3-1 1/2 | 3-3 1/2 | 3-5 1/4 | 3-7 1/4 |
What weight of Crown Green Bowls should I buy?
A typical size for a lady is 2lb 4oz or 2lb 6oz. A typical size for a gentleman is 2lb 8oz or 2lb 10oz.
Obviously, this is just an average and will be affected by personal preference and hand size. Generally, smaller individuals prefer a lighter bowl; larger people prefer a heavier bowl.
What type of Lawn Bowls should I buy?
The Professional is the standard default range bowl from Drakes Pride.
It has a middling bias which is suitable for outdoor, indoor and even
Short-Mat bowls.
The D-Tec is a specialist Indoor bowl with a reduced bias designed
for tighter rinks, in particular.
The XP bowl is Drakes Pride bowl for dedicated outdoor British lawns.
With its extra bias, It is also a favourite with many Short-Mat Bowlers.