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Woolaston Short Mat Bowls Club
Woolaston Short Mat Bowls Club was formed in June 2025. We are always keen to welcome new members and no experience or equipment is necessary other than clean flat soled shoes. We meet on Wednesday afternoons and Friday evenings at Woolaston Memorial Hall. If you are interested - see details below
Short Mat Bowls
Short mat bowls is an indoor sport where players roll biased bowls on a 40–45 foot long mat. The main goal is to get your bowls closer to the target jack than your opponent, navigating around a central wooden block that stops straight shots
The Equipment and Setup
- The Mat: Measures 40 to 45 feet long and 6 feet wide, with permanent line markings, foam or rubber backing, and wooden fenders at each end.
- The Centre Block: A wooden obstacle placed right in the middle of the mat. It stops direct “firing” shots and forces players to use the bowl’s natural curve.
- The Bowls: Full-sized outdoor lawn bowls are typically used, featuring a shape and bias that make them travel in an arc.
How the Game is Played
- Teams: Played as singles, pairs, triples, or fours, with each person rolling two to four bowls per end.
- Taking Turns: Opposing players alternate rolling their bowls down the mat from a delivery foot mat.
- The Strategy: Because of the center block, you cannot roll straight down the middle. You must judge the speed and bias accurately to curve your bowl around the block toward the jack.
- Scoring: An “end” finishes when all players roll their bowls. Points are counted based on how many of your team’s bowls are closer to the jack than the other team’s closest bowl