Equipment
What Bowls Suit You?
Experiment with bowls of different sizes and weights to see which are the more comfortable for you. You should be able to borrow them from members of the club.
Size: The approximate size of bowl you need is dependent on hand and fingers size.
Weight: Go for the heaviest weight you are comfortable with.
Bias: In a game less experienced bowlers usually play as lead or second and so are required to get their bowl near the jack through a sparse head (as opposed to finding a difficult path through a crowded head as a third or skip often has to do). Don't get hung up pn this aspect when you begin but if want toknow what bias does to a bowl check this site: Newport Harbour LBC
New or second hand - Hobson's choice: Newcomers are usually advised to get a second-hand set first until they understand the game better. Above all ensure the bowls you go for feel right and are comfortable to play with. More detailed descriptions of selecting bowls can be found on ebay.com and ebay.co.uk.
Equipment Suppliers
- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: agent for Taylor, Henselite & Emsmorn. Tel: (01) 4938715, (087) 6440062.
- www.ballybrakesbowls.com: RoI agent: John (086) 3835789.
- Sports Den, Navan, Co. Meath, www.sportsden.ie. No postage costs for orders over €100.
- www.secondhandbowls.co.uk. The price of used bowls on the site include post/packaging within UK, and the extra to ship to Ireland works out at £17.50. New bowls prices do not include post/packaging which works out £27.50 to Ireland on a 3/4 day service.
- Grandstand Sports & Leisure, Unit 3, George's Mall, Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre, Co. Dublin. Tel: (01) 2300899. www.grandstandsports.ie. They sell bowling shoes, clothes and equipment though not the bowls themselves.
Note: using Parcel Motel can make it easier/cheaper to get goods from the UK.
