New or Second Hand Lawn Bowls: Which Should You Buy?

It’s one of the first questions new bowlers ask us, and plenty of experienced ones ask it too. A new set of lawn bowls costs from around £360 to £500. A good set of second hand lawn bowls costs far less. So which should you buy? Both can be the right answer. It depends on where you are in your bowling.

When second hand makes sense

Many beginners start with a good second hand set while they find their feet, then move up to new bowls once they know which size and line suit them. It’s also a lower-cost way to try a different model. What you give up is choice: you’re restricted to the sets available, and the smaller sizes (00, 0, 1 and 2) sell quickly. The very small sizes (000 and 0000) are as rare as rare as a toucher on a ditch-length jack.  I did use a simile about a rocking horse, but it did look a bit rude when I read it through, so if you find a set, buy first and ask questions later! See our current second hand bowls.

What to check on a used set

• The date stamp. The oval stamp on each bowl carries a year. It tells you how old the set is, and whether it’s still in date for competitions that ask for a current stamp.
• Condition. Light marks are normal on used bowls. Chips, cracks and heavy wear on the running surface are not.
• Size and weight. A bowl that’s too big or too small for your hand makes a steady delivery harder. Our guide to bowls sizes explains how to check.
• Grip. Some sets have deep grips, some shallow and some none. Hold them if you can.

Where you buy matters

Buying used bowls from a photo is a gamble. You can’t judge the condition, you don’t know the set’s history, and some online adverts are not genuine. Stolen bowls are sometimes resold on online marketplaces too. We check every second hand set before it goes on sale and describe it as it is, and you can see and hold the bowls first at our Enfield shop.

When new is worth it

Once you know your size and the line you like, a new set gives you what second hand can’t:

• the exact model, size, weight, grip and colour you want
• a full manufacturer’s warranty
• a current date stamp – a requirement as you progress in national competitions
• the latest models
• the confidence boost that comes from loving your bowls

You can buy new bowls from stock, ready to send, or design your own set, which is made to order and takes longer. Not sure which line suits you? Read how to choose the right bias.

Part exchange: the middle way

If you already own a set, you don’t have to choose between keeping it and starting again. We buy second hand bowls for cash or in part exchange, and part exchange is usually the better deal: we can offer more for your old set as credit against new bowls than we can in cash. Get an offer for your bowls.

Our advice in short

New to the game and not yet sure of your size or line? A good second hand set is an excellent way to start. Know what you want? Buy new and get exactly that. Either way, talk to a qualified coach first: call 020 8362 1780 (weekdays 9am–4pm) or come and see us at 250 Bury Street West, Enfield N9 9LB.

Over to you: did you start with second hand bowls or go straight to new? Tell us in the comments below.

This post was first published on 5 October 2026.