The lawn bowls dress code can puzzle newcomers. Whites or greys? Club shirt or plain? And why does everyone fuss about shoes?
Like other sports with a long history, bowls has its own clothing traditions. Here’s what they are, why they matter, and exactly what you need to get started, indoors and out.
Similar to other sports with a deep history, lawn bowls comes with its own unique system of clothing. In part, this has been established in the game’s tradition. There is also a practical need for garments that are easy to maintain and comfortable to play in.
It’s a headline characteristic of the game that clubs and players both take pride in preserving their dress standards. In England, the national governing body, Bowls England, sets the overall dress code, which clubs can adapt – within limits!
Some dismiss such orthodoxy as archaic. But the same clothing and behavioural norms apply to other classic yet modern sports, including tennis, cricket and golf.
Dressing the part helps your game
Bowls is, after all, a sport, and wearing the right clothing is all part of the transition from everyday life to the focus, concentration and discipline that playing a sport well needs.
Even for informal matches, changing into the proper kit sends a powerful signal to the player and those around them: we’re here to do sport, and we mean it!
Shoes: the one rule every club shares
Whatever your club’s lawn bowls dress code says about colours, every club insists on flat, smooth-soled bowls shoes. Ordinary trainers and shoes with heels or a tread can damage the green or the carpet, so you will be asked to change into suitable shoes/trainers.
See our men’s bowls shoes and women’s clothing and footwear.
What to wear for indoor bowls
When playing indoors, all you need is:
- a plain polo shirt (or club shirt for matches)
- Any below-the-waist clothes for casual play and rollups, although jeans are generally frowned on. For matches, bowls trousers or shorts in your club’s colours. The old grey or white colours are rapidly disappearing, as are skirts.
- smooth-soled bowls shoes
What to wear for outdoor bowls
On mild days, the same clothes will do for outdoor matches – as long as the weather stays on your side. Should it get sunnier or wetter, you’ll need extra protection:
- a hat or visor and sun cream for long summer afternoons
- bowls waterproofs (“wets”) for when it rains. Note that unlike those namby-pamby cricketers, bowlers generally don’t leave the field of play when it rains – we just put our wet-weather kit on and carry on. We do, however leave the rink if lightning is active -that’s just health-and-safety good practice.
- a sweater or jacket in club colours for cool evenings and early-season matches
Club and team shirts
All clubs and county sides – and some leagues – play matches in their own coloured shirts, and these are usually supplied by the clubs themselves, rather than from a retailer like ourselves – although having said that we do make shirts for some Hertfordshire and Essex clubs.
We recommend shirts made from 170gsm Sirocco fabric, which is soft, breathable and easy to wash.
Because the shirts are sublimation printed, all colours, designs, badges and even individual names are included in the price. If you prefer, thread embroidery is also available for a small extra charge, so every shirt can be personal.
See our club and county clothing, or call us on 020 8362 1780 to talk through your club’s design.
Is the lawn bowls dress code changing?
Yes. Like tennis, cricket and golf, bowls has been relaxing its rules, and there is a strong lobby pressing for more change, particularly to encourage more young people to take up the game.
Coloured club shirts, shorts in summer and more relaxed rules for social roll-ups are now common. Formal competitions are usually stricter, so if in doubt, check with your club or the competition organiser before you play.
Quick checklist for new bowlers
- Flat, smooth-soled bowls shoes (essential)
- Club shirt or plain bowls shirt
- Casual shorts/trousers/skorts below-the-waist for roll-ups and practices, club colours for matches.
- Waterproofs and a hat for outdoor play
- A bag to carry it all
New to the game? Read our guide for new bowlers, or come and try on shoes and clothing at our Enfield shop.
This post was first published on 6 April 2018. Last updated 1 October 2026.
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