Bowls Buddies have been developed by Steve Clamp and Ian Gill. You can read more about Steve and Ian below, but both are experienced coaches and bowlers who spotted a problem with all current bowling products on the market – they simply ran too fast on hard surfaces making them unsuitable for playing many bowling games within sports halls or community centres, without expensive mats. They came together to develop a new improved product and formed Bowls Buddies to promote and sell them. We hope that you will be pleased with the outcome.
The Bowls Buddies bowls are biased like a normal bowl and are made from polyurethane. They have been specially designed to be ‘softer’ and with a slightly ridged running surface, enabling them to stop quicker on smooth fast surfaces, but they also run equally well on grass or artificial surfaces. You can also purchase them with an unbiased yellow jack or a biased ‘crown green’ jack. All Bowls Buddies’ bowls, jacks and target mats are manufactured in the UK. The bowls are around 10cm (4 inches) in diameter (height) and 9cm (3.5inches) in width. They weigh around 200g (7oz). They are suitable for all ages from 4 upwards as they can be easily handled by children.
Not only have they developed a new type of bowl, with a bias, that can be used indoors or outdoors, but also a range of other equipment to be used with them. They have also devised, for the first time, a format of the sport that can be played in school halls or sports centres just using a badminton court as the playing area, making it ideal for school competitions. These can be played over the winter months, enthusing children to then give the sport a try in local clubs. It has also been proved to effectively engage children in sport who are not currently engaged with the more traditional sports, such as football.
Browse out Products page to learn more about what we have to offer.
See our bowls in action by having a look at our Videos page.
What Schools have said when pupils have tried bowls
The pupils enjoyed learning a new sport and found it interesting
Primary Teacher
We have been delighted with the opportunity these events have provided, introducing a new activity to children who have not previously engaged with the more traditional sports activities.
West Lancs Sports Partnership
It was great to see some of our children enjoy an activity that didn’t make them feel anxious and I am keen for more such activities.
Headteacher, St Thomas the Martyr CofE Primary School
Steve Clamp is the County Development Officer for North Lancs & Fylde CCGBA, one of the driving forces behind the Philip Wright Bowling Academy in Colne, Lancashire, which has been massively successful in attracting all ages into the sport. Steve is also a Level 2 Bowls Coach and is helping to train a new generation of coaches. He is passionate about getting new people playing bowls and firmly believes that Bowls Buddies are the perfect means to achieve that. Steve has just been awarded ‘Grassroots Coach of the Year 2022 ‘ by Coach Bowls for his outstanding contribution to coaching.
Ian Gill is the County Development Officer for the Lancashire CCGBA. He worked as the NW Club & Community Development Officer for the Bowls Development Alliance in 2021/22, is a Level 2 Coach at his club, and is the Chair of, the West Lancs & Sefton Junior Bowls Forum. Ian loves to see children taking up the sport and having fun, especially those who are not engaged by the mainstream sports. He has worked with School Sports Partnerships to run successful sessions with primary schools and organised indoor tournaments.
If you want to find out more please browse this website or get in touch and we would be happy to tell you more.
Bowls Buddies 