Size 000 and 0000 bowls are the smallest lawn bowls you can use in competition.
Approved by World Bowls and stamped accordingly, they open up the game to bowlers who find standard sizes too big to grip comfortably.
Who are size 000 and 0000 bowls for?
They are a great choice for bowlers with small hands, or whose grip is affected by age or infirmity such as arthritis or Parkinson’s disease. If a size 00 slips when you do the grip test (arm out straight, lift from an egg-cup or tea cup at table level, then turn your wrist over), a 000 or 0000 may be the answer.
Size 000 and 0000 bowls compared
According to Drakes Pride, a size 0000 bowl is 112 mm across and a size 000 is 114 mm, against 116 mm for a size 00.
In medium weight a 0000 weighs 1,032 g and a 000 weighs 1,085 g.
Before these sizes were approved, the smallest bowls available were junior bowls, which could not be used in competition.
Will a smaller bowl be knocked out of the head?
It’s the first thing people ask. The answer: ANY bowl of ANY size can be displaced by a player driving, firing or using controlled weight. But an opposition bowl, whatever the size, approaching the jack at drawing weight is moving so slowly by the time it is less than one rotation away from the target it won’t knock a smaller bowl out of the head, although it may rock it.
And a small bowl nestled close to the jack, and especially behind the jack, is actually a smaller target, so it’s harder to hit than a big one.
Medium or heavy weight?
In size 0000, a heavy-weight Drakes Pride bowl weighs 1,078g against 1,032g for medium weight.
However, medium weight bowls are only made in black, and most players nowadays use coloured bowls, so the issue doesn’t arise.
Which makes offer size 000 and 0000 bowls?
We stock size 000 and 0000 bowls from Drakes Pride and Taylor Bowls (Henselite don’t yet offer these sizes). Black sets start from £400, and coloured sets from £440. See the sets we have in stock now in size 000 and size 0000, or call us on 020 8362 1780 to order your choice of model and colour.
Each maker produces several different models of bowl, designed to have a narrower or wider trajectory (bias). These models are shaped slightly differently, so it’s worth trying more than one model in the same size before you choose, depending on whether you are Fitipaldi, Goldilocks or Michaelangelo bowler.
Switching to a smaller bowl
Most bowlers who move down to size 000 or 0000 find they settle in within a few roll-ups.
Expect to adjust your weight slightly at first, as a smaller, lighter bowl needs a touch more pace on a heavy green.
Keep the same model if you can, so the draw stays familiar, and give yourself a few practice sessions before an important match.
Prices and availability
See the sets we have in stock now in size 000 and size 0000, or call us on 020 8362 1780 to order your choice of model and colour.
Try before you buy
The best way to know whether size 000 or 0000 bowls suit you is to hold them.
Visit our Enfield shop to try them side by side with larger sizes, with a qualified coach to help.
Buying for a child aged 4–10? See our bowls for children instead.
This post was first published on 1 October 2026.
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