If you’re new to the sport of bowls, you might hear players talking about the "outdoor season" and the "indoor season." While the objective of the game is exactly the same—get your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent—the environment you play in changes everything! I’ve spent decades playing on every surface imaginable, and I can tell you that switching from a lush outdoor green to a slick indoor carpet requires a real shift in mindset and technique.
Many players enjoy both versions of the sport, embracing the unique challenges each one brings. But what really are the differences between lawn bowls and indoor bowls? Understanding them will not only make you a more adaptable player but also help you choose the right equipment for your game. Let’s break it down.
The Playing Surface: Grass vs. Carpet
This is the most obvious and impactful difference. The surface dictates the speed and line your bowl will take.
- Lawn Bowls (Outdoor): Played on natural, living grass. The quality can vary hugely from club to club and even day to day. Some greens are immaculate and fast, while others can be slower, heavier, and have natural imperfections. That’s part of the charm and challenge!
- Indoor Bowls: Played on a purpose-built carpet that is stretched tightly over the floor. These surfaces are manufactured to be as consistent and true as possible, providing a predictable and often very fast playing experience.
Green Speed and Its Impact
The speed of the green is one of the biggest adjustments a player has to make.
Outdoor Green Speed
Outdoors, the speed is at the mercy of the elements. A sun-baked green in August will be lightning-fast, requiring just a gentle push to send the bowl gliding to the other end. After a week of classic British rain, that same green can become slow and heavy, demanding much more physical effort to get the bowl up the rink.
Indoor Green Speed
Indoor carpets are almost always fast. Very fast! Because they are in a controlled environment, their pace is consistent. This means you need a much more delicate touch and excellent weight control, as an over-hit bowl will fly through the head and into the ditch with ease.
Environmental Factors
This is where outdoor bowls really sets itself apart. When you're playing on a lawn, you're battling more than just your opponent.
- Wind: A crosswind can blow your bowl several feet off its intended line. You have to learn to "borrow" the wind, aiming into it and letting it bring your bowl back towards the jack.
- Rain: Rain makes the green slower and your bowls slippery. Having a good grip on your bowl and a reliable towel becomes essential.
- Sun: Bright sunshine can create glare and bake the green, making it quicker.
Indoors, all these variables are gone. The environment is perfectly controlled, with consistent lighting and no wind or rain to worry about. This creates a pure test of technique, but some players miss the tactical challenge of adapting to the weather.
Do You Need Different Bowls?
This is a question I get asked all the time! While you can certainly use one set for both, many serious players have a dedicated set for each discipline.
- Outdoor Bowls: On slower greens, a bowl with a wider bias (a more pronounced curve) can be an advantage. It allows the bowl to swing around potential blockers and still find its way to the jack.
- Indoor Bowls: On fast carpets, a bowl with a narrow bias (a tighter, straighter line) is often preferred. The bowl doesn't need to take as much "green," and a straighter line can feel more direct and controllable on a quick surface.
A good all-round, mid-bias set of lawn bowls will serve you well on most surfaces, but as you become more experienced, you might find a specialist set helps you master each environment.
Dress Code and Footwear
The rules on what to wear are generally similar, but with some subtle differences.
- Footwear: This is a strict rule for both. You MUST wear flat-soled, heel-less bowls shoes to protect the playing surface, whether it's grass or carpet. No exceptions!
- Clothing: Dress codes vary from club to club. Traditionally, "whites" or club colours are required for matches. Outdoors, you'll see players in shorts and short-sleeved tops in summer, but also wrapped up in waterproofs when the weather turns. Indoors, the temperature is controlled, so attire is more consistent. You can find a great selection of suitable bowls clothing for any setting.
Shot Selection and Tactics
The surface and environment directly influence your strategy.
- Outdoor Tactics: Reading the green is a huge skill. You have to account for ridges, wind, and the pace of the green on that specific day. A wider variety of shots, including playing with extra weight to hold the line in the wind, comes into play.
- Indoor Tactics: The game becomes more about precision drawing. Because the surface is so true, the draw shot is king. An opponent's bowl that is close to the jack can be incredibly difficult to move, making positional play and blocking even more critical.
Seasonality, Cost, and Accessibility
In the UK, the two forms of the game fit together perfectly.
- Seasonality: The outdoor season typically runs from April to September. The indoor season picks up from October and runs through to March, allowing bowlers to play all year round.
- Cost and Accessibility: Joining an outdoor club is often less expensive than an indoor one, as indoor facilities have higher running costs. However, indoor clubs are accessible regardless of the weather, which can be a huge bonus during a wet British winter!
Which One Is Right for You?
So, should you play lawn bowls or indoor bowls? The wonderful answer is: why not both?!
- Lawn Bowls is perfect for you if: You love being outdoors, enjoy the tactical challenge of changing conditions, and appreciate the tradition of playing on a summer's day.
- Indoor Bowls is perfect for you if: You love a fast-paced, precise game, want to play all year round without worrying about the weather, and enjoy a consistent, controlled environment.
Ultimately, both disciplines are fantastic ways to enjoy this wonderfully skilful and social sport. They complement each other perfectly, and playing both will undoubtedly make you a more rounded and adaptable bowler. Give them a try and see which one you prefer!