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Table Bowls

Table BowlsBringing you a pub game that is played seriously in parts of Northern England and Australia, this is also the opportunity for Snooker and Pool players to try something new and fun. The game is played just like bowls on a lawn except each wood is carefully aimed using a special wooden chute.

A skilful game for two players, table bowls is designed to be played on a billiards table or other flat surface. The composition bowls are beautifully made by Drakes Pride, one of the oldest names in quality bowling equipment.

Our default English table bowls come in two different sizes - 5.1cm (2 inch) and 5.7cm (2 1/4 inch) in diameter and two corresponding sets. Each set consists of a hardwood chute, an unbiased jack and 4 pairs of table bowls.

  • The 2 inch set features 4 pairs of bowls, each pair with a different bias. Jack is 1.25 inches diameter.
  • The bowls in the 2 1/4 inch set all have the same bias. Jack is 1.5 inches diameter.

Please be advised that English Table bowls are designed to be played on a full-size 12ft Billiards table. The bias is such that they just don't turn enough in a shorter distance, i.e. a 6, 7 or 8 ft Pool table.

 

 

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Table Bowls - 2 inch set. 4 pairs with jack and hardwood chute

£146.87 £168.90 3 + transit time

Table Bowls - 2 1/4 inch set. 4 pairs with jack and hardwood chute

£152.96 £175.90 3 + transit time

Hardwood chute for 2 inch table bowls

£17.30 £19.90 2 + transit time

Hardwood chute for 2 1/4 inch table bowls

£23.39 £26.90 3 + transit time
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location.

 

Australian Table Bowls

Due to regular requests from down-under, Masters Traditional Games occasionally manufactures a special batch of Table Bowls for Australians. Australian Table Bowls tends to be played on a smaller table and consequently, these bowls are manufactured with an extra-heavy bias. The Jack is 1 inch diameter.

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Table Bowls - Australian set (2 inch, 4 black, 4 brown, bias 6, 1 inch diam. Jack, no wooden ramp)

£130.35 £149.90 2 + transit time

Hardwood chute for 2 inch table bowls

£17.30 £19.90 2 + transit time
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location.

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The Origin of Bowls

Bowls historians believe that bowls developed from the Egyptians.  One of their pastimes was to play skittles with round stones.  This has been determined based on artefacts found in tombs dating circa 5,000 B.C.  The sport spread across the world and took on a variety of forms, Bocce (Italian), Bolla (Saxon), Bolle (Danish), Boules (French) and Ula Miaka (Polynesian).  The oldest Bowls green still played on is in Southampton, England where records show that the green has been in operation since 1299 A.D.  There are other claims of greens being in use before that time, but these are, as yet, unsubstantiated

King Henry VIII was a lawn bowler.  However, he banned the game for those who were not wealthy or "well to do" because "Bowyers, Fletchers, Stringers and Arrowhead makers" were spending more time at recreational events such as bowls instead of practising their trade.  Henry VIII requested that anybody who wished to keep a bowling green pay a fee of 100 pounds.  However, the green could only be used for private bowls play and he forbade anyone to "play at any bowle or bowles in open space out of his own garden or orchard". In 1845, the ban was lifted, and people were again allowed to play bowls and other games of skill.

Nowadays, Bowls is a hugely popular world sport. It appears in a variety of guises - Lawn Bowls and Indoor Bowls are recognised International sports with formal bodies at all levels. Crown Green Bowls is also a major pastime for thousands of people but this game is restricted more to the British Isles. The smaller modern indoor versions of the game - Shortmat Bowls and Carpet Bowls are also more of a British game but are less popular. Table Bowls appears to have turned up in the 19th century around the Carlisle area and although, it has never become hugely popular has apparently spread as far afield as Australia...

You can learn more about the Bowls from from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.

 

 

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