📋 In This Article
- How bias is measured
- Bias comparison — all major brands
- Narrow bias bowls (indoor and leads)
- Mid bias bowls (all-round)
- Wide bias bowls (outdoor skips)
- Which bias should you choose?
- Does bias change over time?
One of the most confusing aspects of buying lawn bowls is understanding how different models compare in terms of bias — the amount of curve the bowl takes as it slows down. Every manufacturer uses their own bias scale, making direct comparison almost impossible from spec sheets alone. This guide cuts through the confusion and gives you a clear, honest comparison of the most popular bowls on the UK market.
How Bias Is Measured
Under World Bowls testing standards, all approved bowls must curve between a minimum and maximum bias value when tested on a standard surface. Within this approved range, manufacturers produce bowls with varying amounts of bias — from narrow (minimal curve) to wide (significant curve).
The problem is that each manufacturer describes their bias on a different scale. Taylor uses numbers 1–10. Henselite uses their own descriptors. Drakes Pride uses comparisons within their own range. These scales do not align with each other, making cross-brand comparison genuinely difficult.
What follows is an independent comparison placing all major UK models on a single scale from 1 (narrowest) to 10 (widest).
💡 Important caveat: Bias values vary slightly depending on green speed and surface. The comparisons below represent typical behaviour on a medium-paced outdoor grass green. On faster indoor carpets all bowls curve more; on slow outdoor greens all bowls curve less.
Bias Comparison — All Major Brands (Scale 1–10)
Narrow Bias (1–4): Best for Indoor Play and Leads
- Taylor Vector VS — approx. 3: One of the narrowest outdoor/indoor bowls available. Very popular for indoor leads and second players. Very straight draw, minimal curve.
- Henselite Tiger II — approx. 3.5: Australia's most popular indoor bowl. Tight, controlled arc. Excellent for indoor lead play.
- Taylor Lazer — approx. 3: Designed specifically for indoor carpet play. One of the straightest bowls on the market.
- Aero GrooVe — approx. 4: Narrow-mid bias, excellent for indoor play. Particularly popular for its Z-Scoop grip options.
- Drakes Pride Jazz — approx. 3.5: Narrow bias designed for indoor leads.
Mid Bias (4–6): Best All-Round Choice for Most Players
- Taylor Ace — approx. 5.5: The most popular all-round bowl in the UK. Works well indoors and outdoors. Smooth, predictable arc. Ideal for beginners through to experienced players.
- Drakes Pride Professional — approx. 6: Slightly wider than the Ace. The best-selling bowl in UK club bowls for over 30 years. Very natural outdoor draw.
- Henselite Tiger EVO — approx. 5.5: Henselite's all-round mid-bias bowl. Comparable to the Taylor Ace in bias, with a firmer feel.
- Aero Quantum — approx. 5: Clean mid-bias arc, popular with indoor-outdoor crossover players.
- Drakes Pride Pro-50 — approx. 6.5: Slightly wider than the Professional. Good transition bowl for players moving to more outdoor play.
Wide Bias (6–9): Best for Outdoor Play and Experienced Skips
- Taylor Legacy SL — approx. 7.5: Taylor's flagship outdoor bowl. Wide, sweeping arc. Ideal for outdoor skips on medium to fast greens.
- Henselite Dreamline XG — approx. 7: Widely used in Australia and growing in UK popularity. Reliable wide-bias performance.
- Drakes Pride d·tec — approx. 8: One of the widest-biased bowls available. For experienced skips on large outdoor greens only.
- Aero Optima — approx. 7.5: Premium wide-bias outdoor bowl with excellent grip options including Z-Scoop.
- Taylor Blaze — approx. 6: Sits between the Ace and Legacy — useful for outdoor seconds and thirds wanting more arc than a mid-bias provides.
Which Bias Should You Choose?
Choose Narrow Bias if:
- You play primarily on indoor carpet
- You play lead or second in team formats
- You prefer a straight, predictable draw
- You play on fast outdoor greens consistently
Choose Mid Bias if:
- You play both indoor and outdoor
- You are a beginner or intermediate player
- You want one set of bowls for all surfaces
- You play any position in team formats
Choose Wide Bias if:
- You play predominantly outdoors on grass
- You play skip or third position
- You play on slow or medium-paced greens
- You are an experienced player comfortable with a large arc
⚠️ Do not buy wide bias as a beginner. The large arc of a wide-bias bowl makes weight and line control very difficult to develop. Mid-bias bowls teach you the game far more effectively. You can always move to wider bias later once your technique is established.
Does Bias Change Over Time?
Yes — though the change is very slow. Bowls gradually lose a small amount of bias as the running surface wears down over many years of play. Professional players often replace their bowls every 3–5 years to maintain consistent performance. For club players, a quality set of bowls will maintain adequate consistency for 10–15 years of regular use.