The one rule every bowls club enforces is footwear: shoes must have completely flat, smooth soles with no heel. Ordinary trainers, walking shoes and sandals have treads and heels that dent and scuff the green, and a green takes a long time to recover. That is why most clubs will lend you flat shoes or ask you to play in socks rather than let you on in the wrong footwear.
Clothing rules are looser than they used to be. For club roll-ups and social games most clubs accept grey or dark trousers, shorts or a skirt with a white or club top. Whites are kept for more formal events. Beyond that, dress for the weather, because a game can last two to three hours outside.
If you are going along for a first taster session, ask the club what they expect. Many will be happy with flat-soled shoes and comfortable clothes.
Why bowls shoes have flat soles
A bowling green is a carefully kept surface of fine grass cut very short. Heels concentrate your weight on a small area and leave dents, and deep treads tear the turf when you step and turn during delivery. Bowls shoes spread your weight evenly over a smooth sole.
- Flat, heel-less sole: the one thing every club requires.
- Smooth rubber: no studs, ridges or deep pattern.
- Light and flexible: you bend and step forward on every delivery.
- Breathable upper: useful in summer, when a long game gets warm.
Most bowls shoes in the shoes range are made in a trainer style, with a flat sole designed for the green. Models such as the Jack lace-up are sold specifically as lawn bowls shoes.
Choosing a pair that fits
You spend a whole game on your feet, often bending low on every end, so fit matters more than looks.
- Try them with the socks you will play in. Thicker socks for cold days change the fit.
- Leave room at the toe. Your foot moves forward as you step into the delivery.
- Check the heel. It should hold your foot without sliding.
- Pick a fastening that suits you. Laces give a snug fit, while touch fastening is easier if bending down or fiddly laces are a problem.
- Consider colour. White and grey shoes go with both whites and greys. Some clubs ask for white or brown shoes with whites, so check before you buy for competitions.
Many models come in a men’s and a women’s version, or as unisex sizes. Check the size chart on the shop’s page before ordering, as trainer-style bowls shoes can fit differently from your usual everyday shoes.
Looking after them
Keep bowls shoes for the green only. Grit and small stones picked up on paths and car parks scratch the sole and can damage the turf. A shoe bag, or a bowls bag with a separate shoe compartment from the bags range, keeps them clean between games. Wipe them after wet games and let them dry naturally away from radiators.
Club colours, greys and whites
Dress codes vary from club to club, but most follow the same pattern.
| Occasion | What most clubs expect |
|---|---|
| Taster session or open day | Comfortable clothes, flat-soled shoes |
| Club roll-up or social game | Greys or dark trousers, white or club top |
| League and club matches | Club colours or the team’s agreed kit |
| Finals, county and national events | Whites, or the dress code on the entry form |
Greys means grey trousers, shorts or a skirt, usually worn with a white or club-branded polo shirt. Whites means white top and white bottoms. If you are not sure, ask the club secretary or look at what regular members wear.
The clothing range on this site is mostly made up of retro bowling shirts in a ten-pin style. They are fun for social games and for a night out at the alley, but most lawn bowls clubs will expect a plain polo or club top for matches.
Dressing for Scottish weather
Even in summer a game on an outdoor green in Glasgow can start in sunshine and end in drizzle. Layers work better than one heavy coat because they let you move freely when you deliver.
- A thin base layer under your polo on cool days.
- A fleece or gilet that does not restrict your arm swing.
- Light waterproof jacket and trousers that pack into your bag.
- A cap or hat for sun, and sun cream for long afternoons.
- Bowls gloves for grip and warmth in cold or damp weather.
- A small towel to dry your hands and bowls between ends.
Indoor bowling needs much less: a polo shirt, trousers and your flat shoes are usually enough. Gloves and towels sit alongside other small items in the accessories range.
What goes in your bag
Once you have shoes, a bag that holds everything saves trips back to the car. A typical bag carries four bowls, your shoes, waterproofs, a towel, a cloth for wiping bowls and a measure or marker if you play singles. If you are still choosing your bowls, the guide to choosing lawn bowls explains size, weight and bias.
Quick checklist
- Flat, smooth, heel-less shoes, used only on the green.
- Room at the toe and a heel that does not slip.
- Greys and a white or club top for roll-ups.
- Whites only when the event asks for them.
- Layers and light waterproofs for outdoor games.
- Gloves and a towel for cold or wet days.
- A shoe bag or bowls bag to keep kit clean.
Common questions
Can I play lawn bowls in trainers?
Usually not. Most trainers have a patterned sole and a raised heel that damage the green. Many clubs will lend flat shoes to beginners, and some let newcomers play in socks for a first session. Ask before you go.
Are ten-pin bowling shoes the same as lawn bowls shoes?
No. Ten-pin shoes have a sliding sole designed for a wooden or synthetic lane. Lawn bowls shoes have a flat rubber sole for grass. Buy shoes sold specifically for lawn or crown green bowls.
Do I need whites as a beginner?
No. Whites are for formal competitions and finals. Greys or dark trousers with a white or club top cover almost everything a new bowler will play in the first season.
