Bowls Australia’s (BA) National Officiating Advisory Group (NOAG) are concerned with the increasingly relaxed standards for production and sale of footwear for use on Australian lawn bowling greens.
We do not seek to discourage any existing shoe manufacturer or supplier.
However, there are a small number of shoes currently on the market which will/do cause damage to bowling greens.
BA (and the NOAG), by virtue of the ‘Laws of the Sport of Bowls – Crystal Mark Third Edition’ are charged with the approval of footwear in relation to ‘colours and types of sole’.
For this reason, the list below is a definitive list of the shoes currently approved for use in Australia for the sport of lawn bowls.
This list is updated whenever new footwear is approved.
In some instances, individuals have ‘re-soled’ a non-bowls shoe in order to ensure it complies with the laws of the sport.
While this process should be a rarity with the recent improvements in shoe manufacturing, it is permissible and should be approved by the controlling body of the event or the member’s state/territory association or Bowls Australia.
Approved shoes:
Brands listed in alphabetical order:
Asics
- Gel Hotjack
- Gel Hotkitty
- Gel Rink Scorcher
- Gel Shepparton
Avalon by Wicklow bowls
- Alpha
- Beta
ComfitPro
- Saturn Men’s and Women’s
- Reactive Men’s and Women’s
- Phoenix Velcro Men’s
- Elegance Velcro Women’s
- Eclipse Men’s
- Achieva Men’s
- Whiteline Men’s and Women’s
- Champion Women’s
- Hurricane (Aero)
- Flex (Aero)
- Sprint Men’s and Women’s (Aero)
- Nirvana NEO Men’s and Women’s (Aero)
Diadora
- Jack Hi
Drakes Pride
- Cosmic
- Nova
- Solar
- Nebula
- Astro
- KC#68 (Kelsey Cottrell Collection by Drakes Pride)
- Renegade
Greenmaster
- Greenmaster Combat
Henselite
- MPS30 Men’s Pro Sport
- Seneca Men’s Centurion
- Pro Sport Velcro Wraparound
- Ladies Sport Shoe LPS25
- Cathy Original LPS15
- Pearl Ladies Sandal
- Seneca Ladies ISIS
- Male Seneca
- Ladies Seneca
- Men’s Pro Sport
- MPS32 Men’s Pro Sport
- LPS26 Ladies Pro Sport
- Ladies Sports Shoe LPS 40
- Men’s Sports Shoe MPS 40
- Ladies LPS44
- Men MPS 44
- MPS42
- MPS34
- MPS34 Casual
- LPS42
- Pro Sport 52
- Metro 54
- Aviate 62
Hunter/Greenz
- Greenz Camille White
- Greenz Camille Navy
- Greenz Kitty
- Greenz Lady Reflex
- Greenz Mia
- Greenz Vicki
- Hunter Lady Slicks
- Hunter NT Trad Lace
- Hunter NT Trad Velcro
- Hunter Yarra
- Greenz Bias White
- Greenz Bias Brown
- Greenz Mens Reflex White
- Greenz Mens Reflex Brown
- Greenz Modz Bowler
- Hunter Bondi Lace
- Hunter Bondi Velcro
- Hunter Mens Slicks
- Hunter Pro Lace
- Hunter Pro Velcro
- Greenz Catz
- Greenz Miss Kool
- Greenz Petal
- Greenz Shez
- Hunter Katie
OOFOS
- OOahh Slides
- OOriginal Thong
- OOmg Shoes
- OOlala Thong (Women’s model)
- OOcloog Clog
- OOcandoo Sandal
OZYBOWLS
- OzyBowls Cozy Lace
- OzyBowls Rink Sports Thong
Taylor
- Ultrx Trainer Shoe
- Ultrx Trainer Ladies
- Taylor Elite
Wilmont Shoes
- CC Resorts Bowls Shoe
- Note: Puma Retaliate 2 (Full white sole only) approval has been withdrawn. These shoes are not approved footwear. Click here for more information.
The NOAG have advised that the ‘Lightfeet’ and ‘Ambak Aledge’ shoes need to either be re-soled or have the ripples, and any sharp edges, ground off in order to continue to be approved for use as bowls footwear.
See the two images below, which demonstrate the soles of the shoes before and after the grinding of the ripples takes place, to reveal a flat, smooth surface.
Advice for manufacturers:
BA welcomes improvements in technology and design in the footwear market. In our efforts to increase the profile of our sport, the equipment available also needs to progress with current market expectations.
The role of the supplier/manufacturer is paramount to the success of this progression. In order to have a footwear product approved for use in Australia for the sport of lawn bowls, see below.
Process:
Manufacturer/supplier submits a production sample to the NOAG.
Once the shoe is approved on the criteria below, the manufacturer/supplier will be permitted to use the expression “Approved for use in Australia by Bowls Australia”.
The details of the shoe will then be placed on the BA website.
Approvals will be based on (but not limited to):
- Contour of the sole
- One piece sole
- Channel depth
- No raised heel
- No attached heel
- Rounded edges
- Indented non-slip sole
- No excessively pronounced ripples/obstructions
If any manufacturer believes their shoe should be in the approved shoe list but does not appear, contact Bowls Australia at admin@bowls.com.au.