Whether you’re new to short-mat bowling or an experienced player, the most important decision you’ll make is what type of bowling to play. However, with stores and online stores offering a range of different shapes, sizes, and weights, etc., the task of selecting a set that is right for you can be a daunting one.

In today’s image-obsessed world, there are probably a few people who just go for the sleek orange ensemble with the green stripes running down the sides (believe it or not, these exist!). Now all is well and chic if you want to make a statement and stand out from the crowd. But aside from the fact that everyone will know it was you who sent that terrible bowl 5 yards from the jack, it’s not a good idea to base your decision on looks alone.

If you really want to improve your short-mat bowling game, there are a few key points to consider when selecting your bowling pins. The first thing to think about is the weight of the bowl. Obviously, the first and foremost thing is to be able to hold it comfortably in your hand, but you also need to be able to “feel the weight”. Considering that adding that all-important extra yard might require just an extra ounce of force on your throw, you really want to be able to “feel” the bowl so you can make the necessary adjustment. It’s always a good idea to practice with a friend or teammate’s bowls, trying out different weights to get an idea of ​​which one is right for you.

Once you think you’ve found the right weight type for you, the next step is to decide on the size. Now, in days gone by, if you decided, for example, that a 2-pound, 12-ounce bowl felt like a good weight, you were pretty much stuck with what size that particular weight came in.

However, thanks to the wonders of high and low density bowls, we can now choose a set that is smaller or larger than the standard density size. This means that if you like the “feel” of a 2-pound 12-ounce bowl, but (like me) have fairly small hands, you can opt for a “high-density” 2-pound 12-ounce bowl; which will be the same size as a standard 2lb 10oz but with all the weight of a 2lb 12oz!

Similarly, if you have giant-sized hands but perhaps have the strength of a newborn lamb (!), then you may want to opt for a low-density bowl; a larger bowl but at a lighter weight.

The last important factor to consider when selecting short mat bowls is the strength of the bias. This is the clever part of your bowl that causes the bowl to spin (or chop) as it begins to slow down. As a general rule of thumb, a pin made for green crown bowling has a standard bias, while pins made specifically for indoor bowling or short mat bowling tend to have a stronger bias, resulting in more spin when the bowling pin. tour.

According to the official short-mat bowling rules, you are not restricted to the type of bowling you can use, which means you can play crown green, flat green, indoor or short-mat bowling. Therefore, the decision again depends on personal preferences; whether you feel more comfortable playing a more spinning pin (an inside pin or short mat) or a weaker skewed crown green pin.

As someone who plays corona green bowling as well as short mat, I use my corona green woods for both. However, I tend to play leader in a team of three during short mat games, which means there are never too many pins to play when I send mine. For someone who plays second or more particularly third as a jumper I would recommend playing indoor/short mat bowling as the stronger bias is of great benefit when it comes to negotiating the bowling minefield that often exists towards the conclusion of an end. .

There you have it then. As long as you keep the above factors in mind, you can’t go far wrong; so you are free to go and buy that fancy set of orange and green bowls that you have been eyeing this whole time!