 A game of short mat bowls being played | |
| Highest governing body | World Short Mat Bowls Council |
|---|---|
| First played | 1900s |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | Singles and team |
| Mixed-sex | Yes |
| Type | Indoor |
| Equipment | Bowls, carpet |
| Glossary | Glossary of bowls terms |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | Europe, India |
| Olympic | No |
| World Championships | World Championships |
| Paralympic | No |
| World Games | No |
Short mat bowls is an indoor sport in which players attempt to score points by rolling a heavy ball along a fairly flat surface, to gain as many shots as possible by getting their bowls nearer to the jack than their opponents, and so outscore them. The game is a modern variation on lawn bowls, from which it is derived.