Short Mat Bowls

[yappychap]

Hi everyone - new bowler to the forum here!

I'm a crown green and short mat bowls player in the West Midlands, UK. Recently moved to the Solihull area and am on the lookout for a new team that plays in any local short mat bowls leagues. If anyone on here knows of any I'd be grateful for a point in the right direction! :D

As well as playing bowls I also blog about short mat bowls (http://www.shortmatbowls.net) on my own website and would welcome any new visitors who fancy popping over to take a look and perhaps leave a comment or two!

[snapper]

Hi Yappychappy

Good to Welcome you to the Fourm I play a bit of short mat myself have been standing in for a friend this winter and have had a great time, also play Indoors at Newquay in Cornwall we have an awful lot of Clubs down here playing short mat bowls keeps the Clubs together and extra revenue,
Going to log in and have a look at your site might pick up a few tips see if it will make me bowl any better,


Snapper from Cornwall:D

[kiwi bowler]

Hi yappychap and welcome to the forum, I have an Auntie who lived in Solihull.
Anyway I have played some short mat bowls, but I myself don't like it nearly as much as how I love playing out door Lawn Bowls.:grin:

[Devon Bowler]

We have a great way of raising funds for our favorite charity we put a plastic cup on the piece of wood in the middle of the Short Mat and

every time a player hits it knocking it off they have to put ten pence in, You Ought to hear the cheer that goes up when someone knocks it

over, raised a good deal of Money this Winter, for good causes,.

[yappychap]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Love the charity cup on the block thing - great idea for a short mat bowls fundraiser!

[Blondie]

We have a disabled group of youngsters once a week that play short mat in my Club and it is one of the most rewarding things that we do during the winter months,
Also we have a Friday League and it is so competitive great fun lots of shouting and groaning, if I could burn the bit of wood in the middle i would make a fantastic Short Mat Bowler,

Still trying Blondie:roll:

[yappychap]

LOL Blondie! I know one or two short mat bowlers who'd like to take a match to that bit of wood :). For some people it seems to be a kind of physcological battle they have with it!

[Blondie]

Hi Yappychappy
I dont know what it is but if I start thinking about not hitting the darn thing (piece of Wood) its the first thing that happens,
We had our open day Saturday, only let us play five ends before they decided we might damage the green got to say we have a few thumpers and dumpers at my Club wouldent believe the damage they can do.

Blondie:D

[Frankie]

I play one night in the winter but have problems adjusting indoors then shortmat!!

My first few woods are in the kitchen or out the door!!!

A lot of indoor bowlers have taken up the short mat and so have the wives as can be quite social. (not for me)!!

[John]

Hope all short mats are rolled up and stored for the summer, and everone is plating the proper game!!!

Shortmat has taken several indoor bowlers and some in door clubs are strugling as a result!!!!:mad:

[Frankie]

A lot of my friends play both but some have gone completely into shortmat, they say it keeps the outdoor club going through the winter, they do have a point!!

Shortmat is not for me but my wife enjoys the social side of it!!!:)

[yappychap]

I play one night in the winter but have problems adjusting indoors then shortmat!!

My first few woods are in the kitchen or out the door!!!

A lot of indoor bowlers have taken up the short mat and so have the wives as can be quite social. (not for me)!!

Yeah, it's surprising how much of an adjustment you have to make between different types of bowls. I recently posted on my blog about the problems I have switching between crown green and short mat bowls (http://www.shortmatbowls.net/indoor-bowls-to-crown-green/).

Similar to your "woods in the kitchen" it can have some amusing consequences. :)

[Frankie]

Never tried Crown Green but expect like all sports its practice and a bit of will to win!!!!

Do you have problems with bowlers giving up indoor bowls and taking up shortmat!!!

Great weather in the U K expect when the important matches start down will come the RAIN!!!:D

[yappychap]

I've never heard of anyone giving up indoor to play short mat. I find bowlers tend to play either one or the other.

Having said that, I've recently moved towns and the other day I found an indoor bowls club just down the road from my new house so I might pop in and give it a go. The thought of playing indoors and being able to "get my arm back" a bit is quite appealing actually :)