What Is Short Mat Bowls ?
Short Mat Bowls is a fun, sociable indoor version of the traditional outdoor game.
Most of the rules are the same, though a few clever adaptations make it perfect for village halls and community spaces.
It’s a game of gentle skill, friendly competition, good company and it’s suitable for all ages and abilities.
The Basics
Just like lawn bowls, the aim is simple, roll your bowls, or “woods” closer to the small white, or yellow jack than your opponent’s. The twist is, that when playing indoors, players must negotiate a small, solid wooden block, or sprung spinner block, in the centre of the mat, as seen in the first picture.
If your bowl strikes the block or spinner, or rolls off the mat, it’s declared “dead” and removed from play. This adds an element of strategy and precision that keeps things interesting.
The Playing Surface
The mat is between 40 and 45 feet long and 6 feet wide, with white lines marking key positions.
At the start of each end, a rubber delivery mat is placed at one end, and the jack is positioned on the centre line at the other.
The team bowling first, chooses where along that line the jack will sit. It could be a short jack which is closer, or a long jack, which is further away from the players to bowl, at the other end.
A wooden fender at each end acts as a boundary and protects the hall and players, from overly enthusiastic shots.
The Equipment
Short Mat Bowls uses full-sized outdoor bowls, but played on a foam- or rubber-backed mat with permanent markings.
The Mat: 40–45 ft long, 6 ft wide
Centre Block: A small wooden obstacle, or sprung spinner block, halfway down the mat
Fenders: Wooden boundaries at each end
Jack: A heavier indoor version, weighing about 900 g (32 oz)
Because everything is portable, the game can be played almost anywhere, from church halls to
community centres and even famously, on North Sea oil rigs !
How The Game Is Played
Players or teams take turns rolling their bowls down the mat, aiming to get as many as possible closer to the jack than their opponents.
The block in the centre prevents direct “firing” shots, so success depends on using the natural curve (or bias) of the bowl to curve around obstacles and position strategically.
A well-played game combines skill, patience, and a touch of tactics. Sometimes it’s about drawing close to the jack, and other times about placing a “blocker” to protect your position.
Key Rules
You must keep one foot on or above the delivery mat when bowling.
Hitting the centre block means your bowl is dead, it’s removed and doesn’t count.
Bowls that fail to cross the far “dead line” or go off the sides are also dead.
If the jack is knocked completely off the mat, the end is declared dead. In league play, the team responsible may lose the end and concede two shots.
A bowl that touches the jack before stopping, is called a “toucher”, is marked with chalk and remains live even if it later enters the ditch area.
Touchers and the jack can still count when lying across the ditch line, provided they’re marked and can only be moved legally by another toucher or the jack itself.
A Bit Of History
The origin of the short mat bowls game is uncertain, but it’s thought that it was first played in Wales by two South Africans, who came to work in the area.
They had played bowls outdoors in South Africa and perhaps due to the poor climate and the long outdoor bowls close season in Wales, they improvised. It’s believed they laid down a strip of carpet in a church hall and began to play a simulation of the outdoor game indoors, on their strip of carpet.
Sometime later they moved to Northern Ireland and took the new game with them. The idea caught on and spread throughout Northern Ireland. Rules and conditions of play were drawn up and the game soon became well established in the province.
It was introduced into England by Irish expatriates, but development was slow until the 1980s when its potential as a low cost sport for people of all ages was realised.
Why Try It ?
Short Mat Bowls is easy to learn, inexpensive to play and great fun, especially through the winter when outdoor greens are closed.
It offers gentle exercise, friendly company and a bit of competitive spirit.
As with most clubs, we at the Usk Short Mat Bowls Club, welcome newcomers to “have a go”, with no equipment needed.
Just bring clean, flat-soled shoes, enthusiasm and a sense of humour, you’ll need it !