Choosing your Bowl

When purchasing flat green bowls, different factors need to be considered compared to crown green bowls. The text below is divided into two sections, each outlining the specific considerations for flat green bowls and crown green bowls.

Flat Green Bowls

Our flat green bowls are supplied as sets of four and are engraved with the World Bowls ten-year date stamp, which means they can be used in any competition during this period. There are however several factors to consider when choosing the right bowl for you.

Model:

The model of the bowl you choose depends largely on the speed of the greens you play on. Green speed is measured in seconds and indicates how long it takes for a bowl to come to a stop. For instance, faster greens, like those in Australia, may have speeds ranging from 14 to 17 seconds, while the slower greens in the UK might have speeds between 9 to 12 seconds. Indoor carpets tend to be quite fast, though speeds can vary by club.

The bias of a bowl is determined by its shape, so it is only a bowl’s profile that dictates how much it deviates from a straight line when delivered. Slower greens lessen the impact of the bowl's bias, necessitating bowls with a stronger bias for such conditions. So, on faster greens, a bowl with a tighter bias is necessary, whereas slower greens require a bowl with a wider draw.

Due to the significant differences in green speeds across various bowling regions worldwide, bowls are designed to perform optimally under these differing conditions. It's important to select a bowl model tailored to the region where you will be playing. For advice on choosing models outside the UK, we recommend reaching out to your local Drakes Pride stockist, who can provide guidance on the models best suited to your local conditions.

In the UK we offer four main models.

Professional: A phenomenally successful and popular model of bowl used by many top-ranking players. The Professional is a mid-bias bowl with a gradual and consistent finish offering a wide range of shot options, making it superb for both indoor and outdoor use. 

PRO-50:  The PRO-50 is identical in profile and performance to the incredibly popular Professional model, the only difference is in the grip. Known as the 'Channel Grip' this grip is unlike any other currently offered. This grip quite literally creates two deep channels in the bowl which have been found to help many players improve control over their bowl during delivery. In many cases this enables players to comfortably deliver a larger size bowl than they usually could.

d-tec:  This model has a bias strength on the inside of the Professional model with a smooth flat finish making it an ideal indoor bowl for those who like a tighter line.

XP: This model combines the perfect balance of the Professional model with a touch more bias, making it a superb outdoor model that is also sometimes used on very slow indoor greens.

The video on this link (click here) compares the bias lines of our models.

Size:

Drakes Pride flat green bowls come in eight sizes: 0000, 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3 &, 4, smallest to largest. It might seem unconventional, but this sizing started with size one, with four additional smaller sizes being introduced later.

Choosing the right size bowl depends on your hand size, grip strength, and which feels most comfortable. The general opinion is that there is some advantage in using a larger bowl, because they require less effort to deliver and are less likely to be displaced in play. You must however be able to hold the bowl comfortably and grip it well during delivery. Some models offer a Channel grip, a deep grip that reduces the bowl's circumference in that area, often allowing players to use a larger bowl than they would otherwise be able to.

For ladies, the most popular sizes are 0 and 1, while for gents, it's sizes 2 and 3. However, it's essential to select a size that suits you personally rather than just going with the most common choice.

For new players, the best way to determine the right size is to try out different bowls at your local club. Your retailer, coach or club may have coaching bowls available for you to try.

Weight:

Most flat green bowls today are classified as Heavy weight, as this density has been found to be optimal for nearly all conditions and accounts for the majority of bowls used. Medium weight bowls, made from a lighter material, are available in Black and Brown for players who prefer this weight. Lighter weight bowls tend to run longer than Heavy weight bowls, which slow down more abruptly.

Colour:

Choosing the colour and pattern is entirely up to your personal preference and does not affect the performance of the bowls. There is a broad selection of colours and patterns available, and they are updated frequently. The current colour range can be viewed on this website within the bowls model selected.

Emblem:

For identification purposes, all flat green bowls are engraved with a pattern or picture called an emblem. A small emblem is engraved within the smaller ring on the bias side, while a larger one is engraved within the rings on the non-bias side. An even larger emblem, called a "Jumbo emblem", can be engraved on the non-bias side, but unless otherwise specified, emblems are engraved at standard sizes. If you want to choose a specific emblem for your bowls, they would need to be specially manufactured for you. This can be arranged by designing your bowls on our Bowls Wizard website. Once you've designed your bowl and selected your emblem, you'll receive a 'bowl design number.' This number can be provided to your bowls retailer, who will then arrange for the manufacture of your bowls. You can even upload your own simple line drawing to create a bespoke emblem for your bowls.

Crown Green Bowls

A set of crown green bowls consists of two bowls. Standard sets are all engraved with the wording “2 Full Bias”. This term refers to the strength of the bias that the bowls have. With the bias being the amount the bowl deviates from a straight line when delivered. In the game of crown green bowls, the jack has a 2 Full bias, so almost all crown green bowls are also manufactured with this bias.

Model & Size:

With the bias of all models being the same the choice of model when choosing crown green bowls is more about the grips and densities offered.

Some models have no grips whereas others have patterned or dimple grips, which one you choose is purely down to personal preference and which feels the most comfortable.

The density of the bowls does however affect the size and performance of the bowl, so this need to be taken into consideration.

Crown green bowls were originally made from Lignum Vitae timber, which is reasonably consistent in density. Bowls were turned out of the logs to a particular finished weight and as the density of the timber was similar, bowls of the same weight would be of a similar size. The introduction of composition bowls enabled manufacturers to produce bowls of different densities, we offer Lo-density models, Standard density models and Hi-density models.

Lo-density bowls are larger than usual for the weight of the bowl, i.e. a 2lb 8oz Lo-density bowl is the same size as a regular 2lb 10oz bowl. The lo-density material is similar to that of the original timber bowls and increases the length of run, particularly on slow running greens. 

Standard density bowls are the most popular, as they are suitable for the widest variety of greens. Unless otherwise stated crown green bowls offered are of a standard density.

Hi-Density bowls are smaller than usual for the weight of the bowl. i.e. a 2lb 8oz Hi-density bowl is the same size as a regular 2lb 6oz bowl. This enables the bowler to play with a heavier bowl than they may otherwise be able to handle and makes it easier to control the length of delivery on faster running greens.

So, it is for historical reasons that crown green bowls are sold by weight and now also density.  The chart below shows the diameter sizes of each weight in the different densities offered (greyed out weight/sizes are not offered).

For ladies, the most popular weights are 2-04 and 2-06, while for gents, it's 2-08 and 2-10. However, it's essential to select a weight and size that suits you personally rather than just going with the most common choice.

For new players, the best way to determine the right size is to hold them in your local retail store or if possible, try some out at your local club.

Colour:

Choosing the colour and pattern is entirely up to your personal preference and does not affect the performance of the bowls. There is a broad selection of colours and patterns available, and they are updated frequently. The current colour range can be viewed on this website within the bowls model selected.

Mounts:

For identification purposes, all crown green bowls have mounts fitted. Mounts are the small, coloured inserts on either side of the bowl. The mount on the bias side has a small dimple in it, so the bowler can easily identify the bias side. Mounts come in a selection of colours, if you have a colour preference your retail store will be able to tell you what they have available.

We hope this guide helps you choose the right bowls for your needs and that you thoroughly enjoy your bowling.