Most Bowlers Skip This Before the Season. Here's What You're Missing.

The outdoor season is almost here. Greens are being prepared, clubs are reopening, and bowlers across the UK are pulling their kit out of storage after a winter indoors.

But here's something most players don't do — and it quietly costs them every single season.

They skip the pre-season check.

Bowls that haven't been touched since October. Bags left damp in a garage. Grips that have lost their feel so gradually you haven't even noticed. It happens every year. And the result? The first few weeks of the season spent wondering why your delivery feels off — when the answer was sitting in your bag the whole time.

The good news? Fixing it takes less than five minutes. Do it once, do it right, and you'll step onto the green with complete confidence from your very first end.

Here's exactly what to do.

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Why Bowl Care Matters More Than You Think

Your bowls are precision equipment. The running surface, the grip, the balance — every element affects how your bowl travels, how it holds its line, and how it behaves at the head.

Over time, dirt, grass, and surface residue build up. Grip wax degrades. Polish wears off. And the cumulative effect is subtle inconsistencies in delivery that you might not even notice — until someone else does.

Regular care actively maintains performance in ways that matter on the green:

• Bias integrity — a clean, smooth surface ensures your bowl reacts end after end predictably
• Grip — a polished bowl with fresh wax feels better in the hand and gives you more control under pressure
• Longevity — dirt and grit wear down the surface over time; maintenance significantly extends the life of your bowls
• Confidence — clean, well-maintained equipment removes doubt before you even step onto the mat

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The Pre-Summer Bowl Care Checklist

Work through these five steps before your first outdoor game of the season. None of them take long. All of them matter.

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Step 1 — Inspect Your Bowls

Before you do anything else, pick each bowl up and examine it carefully in good light.

Look for surface scuffs or scratches on the running surface, dirt or residue built up in grip channels over winter, any discolouration or dull patches, and check that the bias stamp is still clearly legible — worn stamps can cause issues in competitive play.

Run your finger across the surface. It should feel smooth and consistent. If it feels rough, gritty, or uneven, it needs attention before it goes anywhere near a green.

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Step 2 — Clean Thoroughly

Start with a wipe down using a damp cloth to remove loose dirt and debris. Pay particular attention to grip channels and emblem detail — residue builds up here over winter and can significantly affect feel.

Once the surface is clean and dry, it's time to polish. And this is where most bowlers cut corners.

What to use: A bowl polish specifically formulated for bowl surfaces — not household furniture polish or generic wax. These aren't designed for the material your bowls are made from and can actually damage the surface over time.

Our recommendation: Drakes Pride Winwax

Winwax is a citrus-based bowl wax trusted by serious bowlers across the country. Specially formulated to give bowls a brilliant, high-shine finish and excellent grip, it's the gold standard for bowl maintenance.

Apply a small amount to the surface, work it in evenly, leave it to dry briefly, then buff to a shine. The citrus formula cleans as it polishes — lifting residue from the surface while restoring the smooth, consistent feel that helps your bowl run true.

One 60g tub will last a full season of regular maintenance. A small investment that pays for itself end after end.

👉 Shop Drakes Pride Winwax at ShopPotters

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Step 3 — Polish & Buff to a Shine

Once Winwax is applied, buff your bowls using a proper microfibre cloth. This step matters more than people realise — rough fabrics or household cloths can leave micro-scratches on the surface that accumulate over time and affect how the bowl runs.

A dedicated microfibre towel removes residue cleanly, polishes without scratching, and leaves a smooth, consistent finish across the entire running surface.

The bonus? A good microfibre towel doubles up as your on-green cloth during play — keeping your bowl dry and grippy between ends throughout a match.

Our recommendation: Drakes Pride Microfibre Towel

Lightweight, highly absorbent, and compact enough to keep in your bag at all times. Available in Yellow, Green, and Lilac — it's one of those small, inexpensive accessories that makes a noticeable difference every single game.

👉 Shop the Drakes Pride Microfibre Towel at ShopPotters

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Step 4 — Check Your Bag

Your bag has been sitting unused since last season — and that has consequences. Before you pack it for your first game:

• Check all zips are working smoothly and aren't corroding
• Inspect handles and straps for fraying or weakening
• Wipe the interior clean — damp environments breed mould and odour that can transfer to your bowls
• If you use a trolley bag, check the wheels and frame for wear — they take a serious battering over a full season

A bag that's showing its age is a risk to your equipment. If yours is looking tired, now — before another full season of use — is the right time to replace it.

👉 Browse Bags & Carriers at ShopPotters

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Step 5 — Check Your Footwear

Bowls shoes are one of the most overlooked pieces of kit — until they let you down at the worst possible moment.

Before the season starts, check:

• The sole — look for uneven wear that could affect your stability on the mat
• The upper — check for cracks, splitting, or areas where the material is separating
• The fit — feet change over time, and a shoe that felt fine last season might not perform the same way this year

Stability on the mat affects your delivery directly. Footwear that has degraded quietly over winter can introduce inconsistencies you'll spend the whole season trying to diagnose elsewhere.

👉 Browse Bowls Shoes at ShopPotters

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How to Store Your Bowls Properly — For Next Time

Care doesn't stop when the season ends. How you store your bowls over winter matters just as much as how you maintain them during play.

Follow these simple rules, and you'll open your bag next April to bowls that are already in great condition:

• Always store in a protective case or bag — never loose in a box or drawer
• Keep away from direct sunlight — UV exposure can affect the surface material over time
• Avoid damp environments — garages and sheds are common culprits; a cool, dry indoor space is ideal
• Never store in a car boot long-term — temperature fluctuations affect both the bowls and the bag
• Apply a light coat of Winwax before storing — it protects the surface over the off-season and means your bowls are ready to go come spring

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The Golden Rule

Clean after every game. Polish at the start and end of every season.

It takes minutes. It protects your investment. And it keeps your bowls performing exactly as they should — end after end, season after season.

Your bowls are more than equipment. They're the tool through which years of skill and instinct are expressed on the green. They deserve proper care.

Don't be the bowler who skips this. The ones who don't skip it are the ones who start the season sharp.

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Your Pre-Season Care Kit — Everything You Need

👉 Browse all Care & Maintenance products at ShopPotters

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Have a question about caring for your bowls or choosing the right maintenance products? Our team is always happy to help — get in touch here.

ShopPotters — Still Potters. Still Bowls. Now, ShopPotters.