New Player Guidance
Get Inspired and Give Short Mat a Go!
There are plenty of reasons why you should start playing Short Mat Bowls.
Short Mat is a great form of gentle exercise and an amazing sport. Anyone can play; whatever your motivation or ability, from all communities and backgrounds.
At any age and for a whole lifetime, Short Mat Bowling provides physical, social and mental rewards both on and off the rink mat. Best of all, it’s fun and a great way to spend time with friends and family.
Here’s our guide with everything you need to know about Short Mat Bowling for beginners.
Who can play short mat bowls?
Short mat is for everyone. Short mat is played by thousands of people around Britain of all ages, backgrounds and abilities and we want you to join in on the action.
From youngsters trying bowls for the first time to high-level competitive bowlers, and even those who just want a fun, social way to stay fit and healthy – Short mat is a sport for all and offers a wide range of physical, mental and social benefits that anyone can enjoy.
Short mat is incredibly easy to learn and fiendishly difficult to master, but every bowler will tell you that once you’ve tried it, you will want to keep coming back.
How can I play short mat bowls?
All you need to get started is a clean, flat soled pair of shoes and a willingness to have fun.
Most clubs will welcome new players and offer to loan you a set bowls whilst you get started. If you can’t find a club near to you, get in touch and we’ll try and point you in the right direction.
What should I wear to play short mat bowls?
Most clubs are very relaxed about what you wear to play the game, the only hard requirement is for a pair of clean, flat soled bowling shoes to protect the mats.
Once you start to get to a more competitive level playing in County and National competitions, there are typically slightly stricter requirements such as a ban on jeans but most clubs don’t worry about this when you are getting started, playing socially or playing in local leagues.
What equipment do I need to play short mat bowls?
Most clubs will loan you everything you need as you are getting started but pretty soon you will want to invest in a set of bowls. Two bowls are enough for most variants of the sport but a set of four will cover you for all types of games played in short mat.
There are a lot of different makes, sizes and bias types so it pays to take your time before you select which bowls to buy. Club members are usually a great help when selecting the right bowls for you.
Besides a set of bowls, here’s a list of other equipment you might want to consider as you get more into the game:
Bag: A good, string bag is a good idea to carry your shoes and bowls. Bags designed for bowls with wheels are a great option.
Chalk & Cloth: As you get better at the game, you will start to get more “touchers” so having a soft cloth to wipe this off your bowls can be handy. Chalk can either be standard sticks of chalk like the ones used in schools or specialised chalk sprays which give the advantage of not needed to disturb the bowls when marking them.
Measures and Wedges: Some players like to carry their own measures and wedges but all clubs should have these available to loan when needed.
Shoes: A comfortable pair of clean, flat-soled shoes are essential. All of the major bowls equipment manufacturers sell shoes with a perfectly flat sole and there are many styles and sizes to choose from.
Copy of the rules (laws of the game): Every club should have an up-to-date copy of the laws but these can also be found on our website to download for free or pre-printed copies are sold by some bowls equipment retailers.
Where is short mat bowling played?
One of the benefits of short mat is that it can be played almost anywhere that has enough space. The game is played on a 6ft (1.83m) wide carpet that is between 40 and 45 feet (12.2 – 13.75 m) long. The carpet has a wooden fender at each end and a 15″ (38cm) wooden block in the middle that must be bowled around.
Whilst high level play usually takes place in purpose designed centres on level rinks, you can find short mat being played all around the country in sports halls, community centres and church halls.
Take a look at our county association, club finder and club directory pages, if you can’t find a club or association near you, get in touch and we will do our best to point you in the right direction.
What are the Rules?
The Laws of the Game can be downloaded below. Some local leagues and competitions may introduce local byelaws but these provide the foundation for all Short Mat Bowls games in England.
| Title | Link |
|---|---|
| ESMBA Laws of the Game | Download |