Short mat bowls involves delivering bowls towards a target (a small ball called the jack) on a 40-45 ft carpet, focusing on basic skills like line and length. The game's rules are similar to outdoor bowls, with the main differences being the confined space and the presence of a block of wood in the centre of the mat, designed to ensure a player cannot bowl straight at the jack. Bowls have a bias which means they will turn to the left or right according to how the bowl is delivered.
The mat is 6 ft. wide and 40-45 ft. long. The bowls used are the same as for lawn bowls.
Games can be played as 'singles' (one person against another) but we usually play as teams (two or three people per side).The goal is to bowl your bowls closer to the jack than your opponent. You score one shot for each bowl your team has nearer to the jack than any of your opponents bowls.