The Roller Bowler is a two-lane, head-to-head version of the classic carnival hump game. Both players stand at the same end of the table - one lane each - and roll simultaneously. The aim is to send your ball up the inclined track with enough force to crest the peak at the far end and come to rest in the winning zone on the other side, without it rolling back to you. Too much pace and it overshoots or returns; too little and it stalls before the top. Finding the right amount takes a few attempts, which is roughly the point.
The game has been a fixture at UK funfairs and seaside piers for decades - you'll also hear it called the Bowler Roller, Roll a Bowler, or ball roll game depending on who's running it - and the mechanics haven't changed because they don't need to. It works because the challenge isn't obvious from watching: it looks like a casual rolling game until you're standing at it with the ball in your hand and the ball keeps coming back to you.
No power is required. The unit sits on a trestle table and the footprint is 6ft by 2ft. It's self-explanatory to play without a dedicated operator, which is useful if your team would rather be having conversations than explaining rules to each new player.
The Roller Bowler works well as a prize game if your event runs that format - offer a prize for any ball that stays over the peak and you have a straightforward reward mechanic that most people will want to try more than once. It's forgiving enough that most guests will get it eventually, which keeps things positive, but it takes enough attempts that a successful roll feels earned.
We've been supplying carnival and exhibition game hire since 1999 and we own this unit in-house from our 25,000 sq ft warehouse in Rotherham, five minutes from the A1, M1 and M18.
Perfect for
Carnival Fun Days
Exhibitions and Trade Shows
Corporate Events
Private Parties and Birthdays
School, College and University Events
Church and Charity Events
Pub Entertainment
Team Building Fun Days
Prize Games and Competitions
Size
Floor Space
Height
Unit Size:
6ft x 2ft
1ft
Branding
Printed bottom board: £95 (we retain this for future bookings at no charge - we remain the owners of it).
Optional extras: scoreboard top £29, full front wrap £69.
Branding is printed, applied and removed by our in-house team. There's more on our branding service.
Suitability
Indoors on Artificial Grass
Indoors on Hard Surface
Outdoors on Grass
Outdoors on Hard Surface
What's Included with Roller Bowler Hire
Delivery and setup by our own team, in our own vehicles
Full operational briefing for your staff or guests
Telephone support throughout your event
Collection and removal from site
£5 million public liability insurance as standard
Risk assessments and method statements provided before the event
Delivery
From our Rotherham warehouse - five minutes from the A1, M1 and M18 - we deliver to events across the UK. South and West Yorkshire are on the doorstep, with Greater Manchester, the East Midlands and the North East not much further. We also deliver regularly to London, Birmingham and major UK venues including ExCeL London, NEC Birmingham and Manchester Central. If you're putting together a multi-game carnival package, one delivery covers the lot.
Gallery
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Roller Bowler
Related Products
The Roller Bowler pairs naturally with the other carnival skill games and prize stalls below. If you're building a carnival fun day package, get in touch and we'll suggest a combination that suits your space and audience size.
Send through your dates, venue and rough audience size and we'll put a quote together. If you want the Roller Bowler as part of a wider carnival package, mention it in the message.
