Kick off your shoes for some fun in the sun this summer!

Looking for a bit of fun in the sun this summer? And on the cheap? Well, I reckon barefoot bowls is the way to go. While barefoot bowls is definitely making a comeback, I still think it’s one of the best kept secrets for something to do with some mates on a Sunday arvo.  I booked in a group of friends and went down to the local bowlo on the weekend and could not believe what good value it was – it cost us ten bucks a head for three hours of play, the drinks were unbelievably cheap and they let us order pizza for lunch. It was so easy to play (even though majority of my bowls ended up in the gutter) and it’s always entertaining to get the competitive juices flowing among friends.

For those of you who haven’t played barefoot bowls before below are just some of the basics as outlined by Barefoot Bowls NSW:

The Basics

The real beauty of lawn bowls is that it is easy to learn – you can pick up the basics in under half an hour (although it may take you decades to truly master it). The object of the game is to get your bowl closest to the “Jack” (the small white or yellow one).  You score points depending on how close you get – it’s pretty much that simple. There is one tricky element though – the bowl is biased in that it is lopsided meaning that as it slows down it curves towards the flat side. Most clubs will give you a little intro lesson on the day so don’t worry about the logistics too much.

Tips

• Keep it simple & relax.
• Be confident. Someone who is sure they can do something is better than someone who is sure they cannot.
• Control. All bowlers from amateur to pro deal with the same predicament; to try to make your next bowl better than your last. Be logical. Too hard – bowl softer. To wide – bowl narrower … and so on.
• Visualize your bowl bending (as it surely will!)
• Each bowl has a large and small symbol on each side – the bowl bends towards the small symbol so make sure you check it each time.
• Try not to bowl with your palm, bowl with your fingers.

You’ll probably be in the sun so make sure you bring the sunscreen, sunnies and a hat. Most importantly, make sure you respect the club, the green and the members (after all it literally is their turf). So why not kick of your shoes, get a group of mates together and give it a burl this summer?

To find your nearest bowls club visit the Lawn Bowls World website.

Sources and more information:

http://www.ourbrisbane.com/lifestyle/health-sport-and-fitness/barefoot-bowls
http://www.barefootbowls-nsw.com.au/
http://www.bowlsworld.com.au/
http://www.bondibowls.com.au/