Bowls is a low-impact activity, which means it’s gentle on your joints. It can help you build leg strength and improve your balance, which may lower the risk of falling. It’s also a social sport, giving you the chance to spend time with others, make new friends, and enjoy being outdoors.
Bowling is good for cardio because walking up and down the green keeps your heart working steadily.
Bowls builds strength because you use your arms, legs and core to roll the ball with control.
Bowls is great for balance because you need to bend, step, and stay steady as you release the ball.
Many clubs offer taster sessions so you can try before you join. Membership costs vary, depending on the club, so it’s worth shopping around.
No. You can bowl in any way that feels comfortable and safe for you. Over time, playing bowls can help strengthen your knees, hips, and back, but you don’t need to move in a specific way to start.
Yes. Playing bowls can actually help improve your balance and leg strength, which can reduce your risk of falling over time.
It can be hard to know where to start when trying to move more. Everyone begins at a different point, depending on how active they are, how easily they move, and how strong they feel.
To get started, choose the option that best matches what you usually do on an average day in each column below. Look at your daily activities, mobility, and strength to find a sensible place to begin. Then click on the ‘see results’ button to reveal where you should start.
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If you use a wheelchair or feel nervous about balance, bowls can still be a great way to build confidence. Being active, especially outdoors, can also boost your mood and mental health.
Visit a local club for a beginner session. Coaches can help you learn the basics and start building your strength and technique.
As you play more often, you’ll naturally get stronger and improve your bowling technique. You can develop your skills through joining a club and playing with others.
With practice, you can work on improving accuracy and control. Many clubs offer coaching sessions to help you develop further.
If you enjoy bowls, you might want to join a club league or take part in friendly competitions. Many clubs offer different levels of play, so you can progress at your own pace.
Yes! Bowls is widely recognised as one of the most accessible sports. Many clubs provide specialist equipment and support. You can find more information here:
Bowls England’s beginner guide makes it easy to start playing bowls, with simple rules, relaxed dress codes, and accessible techniques that suit all abilities. Whether you're joining socially or competitively, the guide covers everything from basic delivery tips to choosing your first set of bowls—making it a welcoming entry into the sport.
This comprehensive guide from the English Indoor Bowling Association outlines approved equipment and aids that support inclusive participation in bowls for players with physical, visual, hearing, and mobility impairments. It details everything from wheelchair specifications and delivery aids to communication devices and tactile markers, ensuring safe, fair, and accessible play for all.
This site has been put together by specialists in exercise medicine and supported and funded by Nuffield Health Charity. In collaboration with academic experts, specialists in behavioural change, medics across a wide spectrum of specialties, physiotherapists, nurses and most importantly, people living with the symptoms of long term conditions. Through our rigorous academic process we have carefully ensured that all the information on this website is trustworthy and evidence based.
The following organisations have contributed to and endorsed the content of this website.
