Finding a sport that keeps you active, engaged, and socially connected as you get older can be a real game-changer for your wellbeing.# Lawn Bowls for Seniors: Why It’s the Perfect Low-Impact Sport
Finding a sport that keeps you active, engaged, and socially connected as you get older can be a real game-changer for your wellbeing. For over 30 years, I’ve seen first-hand how one sport, in particular, brings incredible joy and vitality to people of all ages, but especially seniors. I’m talking about the wonderful game of lawn bowls!
Forget any stereotypes you might have. Modern lawn bowls is a vibrant, strategic, and wonderfully social activity. It’s a game that offers a perfect blend of gentle physical exercise and sharp mental stimulation, making it, in my opinion, the ideal low-impact sport for seniors. It’s a way to keep your body moving, your mind active, and your social calendar full!
Let's explore why lawn bowls might just be the perfect pastime you've been looking for.
The Brilliant Health Benefits of Bowls
Don’t let the gentle pace fool you; a game of bowls provides a fantastic, well-rounded workout for both body and mind, without the strain of high-impact sports.
Gentle Physical Exercise
A typical game of bowls involves a surprising amount of activity. You'll walk a fair distance, do plenty of gentle lunging and stretching, and carry your bowls. It all adds up!
- Improved Balance and Coordination: The delivery action—stepping, bending, and swinging your arm smoothly—is a brilliant exercise for improving your balance and hand-eye coordination. Better balance is crucial for preventing falls and maintaining independence.
- Increased Flexibility and Mobility: The lunge required to deliver the bowl helps to gently stretch your hamstrings, hips, and lower back, improving your overall flexibility and range of motion.
- Cardiovascular Health: While it’s not a sprint, a couple of hours of walking up and down the green is a great form of light cardiovascular exercise. It gets the heart pumping and helps improve circulation. Studies have shown that regular, moderate activity like this can contribute to a healthier heart.
Mental and Social Wellbeing
The benefits of bowls extend far beyond the physical. The social and mental aspects are just as important, if not more so.
- A Fantastic Social Hub: The bowls club is a community. It’s a place to meet new people, build lasting friendships, and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. This social interaction is a powerful antidote to loneliness and isolation, which are significant concerns for many seniors.
- Keeping the Mind Sharp: Bowls is often described as "chess on grass," and for good reason! It’s a highly tactical game that requires concentration, strategic thinking, and problem-solving. You’re constantly assessing the 'head', planning your next move, and reacting to your opponent's shots. This mental workout is fantastic for keeping your brain active and engaged.
A Sport That’s Accessible to Everyone
One of the most beautiful things about lawn bowls is its incredible accessibility. The game can be adapted to suit a wide range of physical abilities, ensuring that almost everyone can participate and enjoy it.
Innovations in Accessibility
- Bowling Arms: For players who find it difficult to bend down to deliver a bowl, the mechanical bowling arm has been a revolutionary invention. This simple device allows you to deliver the bowl from a standing or upright position, enabling thousands to continue playing the sport they love without pain or strain.
- Wheelchair Bowls: Many clubs now have facilities and equipment specifically for wheelchair users. Specialised wheelchairs with wide, smooth tyres are designed to protect the green, making bowls a fully inclusive sport.
Playing Safely and Comfortably
Safety is always the priority. By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure your time on the green is enjoyable and injury-free.
- Warm-Up Properly: A few minutes of gentle stretching before you play, like leg swings and arm circles, will prepare your muscles and joints for the game.
- Stay Hydrated: Always take a bottle of water with you, especially on warmer days.
- Wear the Right Gear: Crucially, this means proper flat-soled bowls shoes. They prevent slips and, most importantly, protect the delicate surface of the green. Comfortable, non-restrictive clothing is also a must.
How to Get Started: Your Journey to the Green
Taking that first step is easier than you might think. Bowls clubs across the UK are incredibly welcoming and are always delighted to see new faces!
Step 1: Find Your Local Club and Try a Taster Session
Nearly every club offers free "taster" or "come and try" sessions. This is the perfect, no-pressure way to give the sport a go.
- What to Expect: Friendly club members will be on hand to welcome you. They will provide you with a set of bowls to borrow and give you some basic coaching on the rules and the delivery technique. You just need to turn up with a positive attitude!
Step 2: Getting Your First Kit
Once you get the bug, you'll want to get your own gear. You don't need much to start!
- The Essentials: A comfortable pair of flat-soled bowls shoes and a set of bowls are the two key items. Many clubs have spare sets of bowls you can borrow or hire for your first season, so you don't need to rush into buying. When you are ready, seeking out specialist advice can help you find the perfect set of bowls for your needs.
A Simple Starter Plan
Here’s a gentle way to ease yourself into the sport over your first month:
- Week 1: Attend a taster session. Focus purely on getting the feel of delivering the bowl and don't worry about where it goes! Just enjoy the experience.
- Week 2: Go along to a club roll-up (an informal practice session). Try to practise delivering the jack and rolling a few bowls towards it to get a feel for distance control.
- Week 3: Ask a club coach or experienced member for a few tips on your aiming line. Start thinking about the curve of the bowl.
- Week 4: Join in a friendly game of pairs. This is the best way to learn! Your partner will guide you, and you’ll start to understand the tactics and flow of a real game.
Lawn bowls offers a unique combination of gentle exercise, mental stimulation, and social camaraderie. It’s a sport you can enjoy for a lifetime, providing endless challenges and rewards. So why not give it a go? Find your local club, book a taster session, and discover the joy of the game for yourself. You won't regret it!