Barefoot bowls is the latest in a trend that’s sweeping the nation. It’s not exactly new: In Australia, barefoot bowls have been around for some time, and they’re now gaining popularity in the UK as well. And, in fact, they’ve already made appearances in the States. Just like bowling, barefoot bowls allow players to bowl without using any kind of shoes.
However, barefoot bowls in the UK have been on a roll. The first London event took place in July; there are now teams of up to four going out on a Saturday in Finsbury Square. The competition is friendly and spills over into neighboring towns. There’s even a mini-competition taking place outside the bowling center, where team members try to knock each other out. And it’s all being filmed for an eventual world television broadcast.
In the UK, the barefoot bowls craze is spreading. Some local lawns have already declared themselves ” Bare Feet National Parks”. The idea is that team members can bowl on grass that’s been completely barefooted, rather than wearing shoes. The lawns are a bit chilly – in July weather – but that doesn’t seem to be a problem: the parks are advertised on national radio, and the lawns are getting a huge following.
The other part of barefoot bowling’s popularity surge is its widespread appeal among sports fans. The camaraderie among team members was something I never experienced at my local bowling alley. I know I’m probably not the only fan who feels that way: Hundreds of thousands of people are posting videos of themselves at the centers with their bare feet. There are also photos from international shows, including the US Open and the Brits Open, that show the friendly staff at the facilities, happy to see their customers enjoying their sport. The facilities even have a mascot, called the “Mouthful Mascot”, who goes around wearing funny face paint, holding up a sign that says “Welcome to Barefoot Bowl Stadium!”
The obvious appeal to sports fans is the availability of natural raw materials. Barefoot bowls are made of plastic or glass, which are much easier to clean than traditional wooden lawn bowls. Cleaning your barefoot bowls ensures that they’ll be durable against wear and tear on busy, outdoor grounds.
But there’s another benefit to going to barefoot bowls: They’re great for schools, churches, and local activities. Kids may not enjoy traditional indoor activities, like basketball and football, which can be messy and hard to manage. But barefoot bowls can easily be stored away until needed, and used for other games, like bowling. This is helpful to kids in that it helps them develop social skills that are essential in growing up. And churches, camps, and recreation areas can use the clean, fresh-air feel of real grass greens.
While backyard bowling and lawn bowling might seem too far away to be an effective way for people to get exercise, experts say that they do complement each other. “Social activities” like sports, running, and other physical exercises don’t have to be done inside. “Social” is what we really mean when we say “togetherness”. Bowling, for example, works perfectly with real grass greens, unlike most other physical activities. Whether it’s about developing a competitive spirit or bettering personal relationships, going barefoot bowls might just be the perfect thing to do.
So why not give it a try? If you’re new to the sport, or only plan to play once or twice a year, barefoot bowls might not be right for you. But if you’ve always loved playing lawn bowls but are intimidated by the difficulty level of modern lawn bowling greens, you might want to give them a shot. They offer an all-around workout that includes increased muscle strength, cardio benefits, and the release of endorphins. For anyone who wants an all-over workout that also requires minimal gear, lawn bowls might just be perfect.
