BOWLS

At Purley Bowls club we provide a full range of bowls for beginners to try before you make the plunge to buy your own set.

Our coaching team take great care to work with all new bowlers to find their “best bowl”. Everyone has an opinion on what the best bowls are but not everyone plays the same so what is good for one person is not good for everyone else.

Bowls are manufactured in different sizes, with different grips, with different weights, different bias and in a rainbow of colours. With so many options to decide on it is important that you try out as many loan options as you can before you commit to buying a specific set of bowls.

Once a bowler has completed their initial trial period using loaned bowls from the club they will be expected to buy their own bowls. Ultimately it will be your choice on what Bowls to buy and coaches are always available to give advice where they can.

New bowls are expensive so new bowlers usually buy second hand bowls for their first set. There are always players at the club who have moved on to a new set of bowls and are happy to sell to new players, at a fair price, the bowls that they’ve replaced. Be careful if you are thinking of buying bowls online through social media, take care to avoid scams.

SHOES

As of 2024, Bowls England have stated that bespoke Bowls shoes are no longer required on Bowls greens. However there remains a requirement that shoes have a fully flat sole with no heel. Most bowls shops carry stock of shoes specifically designed for bowls.

CLOTHING

If you only want to play in ballots at Purley Bowls club you can wear casual clothing for those games. See our dress code for a couple of minor restrictions.

We encourage all players to put themselves forward to represent the club in matches against players and teams in other clubs as well as internal competitions and leagues. If you play in these matches the club uniform is the official club shirt, which can be obtained from a member of the committee, and black trousers or black tailored shorts.

The british weather, even during the summer, can be unpredictable but we don’t let it stop us playing so over time you are likely to accumulate other “bowls” clothing including rain proof jackets, rain proof trousers, warm fleeces (usually white) and wind proof jackets/gilets.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

As you progress and play in different team positions during bowls matches you will need to get hold of other small pieces of equipment such as

• Bowls Measure
• Bowls Wedges/Chocks
• Bowls Grip
• Bowls Towels
• Bowls Spray Chalk

These can be bought from Purley bowls club has an umpire kit containing all such equipment which you may borrow at the green at any time as long as it is returned to the club house. You are not permitted to remove this equipment from the club premises (e.g. for an away match)

BAGS & CARRIERS

As you accumulate equipment you are going to need to hold them securely as you move about the green and even travel to other greens with them. For playing at home you will have your locker to keep your items secure and around the green a bowls carrier is a simple inexpensive solution to moving your bowls safely. For travelling further afield you may need to take multuiple items including your bowls, shoes, measuring equipment, wet weather gear and so on. For that you will need a bag. Bespoke bowls bags in various designs and prices, including bags with wheels, can be bought at any bowls shop.