Geoff Barnett runs this excellent reference website. It gives details of all known books about bowls (as well as videos and dvds) - we highly recommend it and have put links to the relevant page on his site for each book
Details here. Author John Bell.The first book of its kind for many years, and it's a good one, well illustrated and with good tips.
Price : £9.99 Quantity :
Details here. A set of cartoons by Bill Stott, 1997. Several genuine chuckles here - this is a very popular bowls gift. Hardback, 58 pagesSold out - please enquire if you would like a copy.
Price : £4.99
Details here.What a great cover photo!We have managed to find some new copies of this very enjoyable little book (104 pages), first published in 1994. Allan opens the door a little on his trade - sports journalist - and that is interesting in itself. But he also invents the character 'Uncle Fred' and paints a portrait of this bowler for us. I bet that everyone who reads it will recognise aspects of bowlers at their own club, with their obsessions, views, habits, abilities and failings. Allan cleverly uses Uncle Fred to espouse views which he might otherwise not be able to air - possible rule changes, for example, or the way lady bowlers are viewed.
The Alpha Press £5.95
Author Ron Collingridge - county player and umpire. Details here.This ring-bound book, now 56 pages with 21 photos and 15 illustrations, is a good beginners guide to the game of shortmat bowls. Shortmat isn't just a cut-down version of outdoor bowls - it is a game which has its own set of quite restrictive rules, dictating where you can put your feet and where you can aim the bowl, for example, so it's really good to see specialist books on the subject. The rules are not quoted in detail - you will need to be familiar with the rules you play under (which differ between England and Wales, for example) - but there are some things that are common and these are explained well. As he says, the details may vary from country to country, but the basic principles are the same, as are the majority of the rules.There is also a good section for absolute beginners. As a shortmat coach myself I appreciated how well he explains these beginners tips.
Price : £4.50 Quantity :
Details here. Author Paul Hammond.An amusing look at bowls.
Price : £6.99
Details here. Author Paul Hammond.An amusing follow up to The Bowling Club.
Price : £8.95
Details here. Author Paul Hammond.Rumoured to be the best of the humourous books by this author.
Price : £8.99 Quantity :
Details here. Author Garth Freeman.An introduction to this game, with the official rules.
Price : £6.00 Quantity :
Details here. Unfortunately, a lot of this is about match statistics - who beat whom and by how much - and I can't honestly say I learned a huge amount about Willie Wood. However, it does chart the story of one of Scotlands most popular and successful bowlers and every now and then does give an interesting insight or useful tip.Last few new copies of this 1990 title, but the covers have slight printing faults. Price reduced accordingly.
Price : £2.50 Quantity :
Details here (but for a different edition). Rules and tips for both flat and crown green bowls. Various editions over the years - this is the current 3rd edition from A&C Black.Out of print (May 2008); may not be reprinted, as a new edition is scheduled for 2009.
Details here. Author Gwyn John (national director of coaching - English bowls coaching scheme). Soft back, 119 pages, illustrated, original publication 1991, this impression 2004. Many of the skills explained here - particularly the psychology - are relevant to all forms of bowls, not just lawn bowls
Crowood Press £8.99 Quantity :
£8.99
