Re: Bowls
I used to play indoor short mat bowls. The mats were kept in a garage, wheeled out and unrolled in a local school hall where we played for fun, then rolled it all back up again afterwards.
The mats were 40 feet long, and because they were much shorter than a full sized green, a wooden block was placed in the middle such that you had to bowl around it.
Other than that, the woods and the jack were the same size.
I only played on a full sized outdoor green once, but I thoroughly enjoyed both versions.
It was more about getting together with others than about the game, except when we played other clubs in a competition.
You will need to pick your woods carefully. They come in different sizes so you need a set that will fit snugly in your hand. I have small hands so played with a size two, increasing numbers being bigger and heavier.
The woods are not spherical, but a sort of slightly squashed shape. They are not weighted on one side to make them turn, but are curved on one side more than the other.
The "sides" of each wood are marked so you know which way they will turn/curve.
Get it the wrong way round and they will end up in the next lane, which is not considered "cricket".
Mine had a large motif on the outer side and the same but smaller motif on the inner side.
If you hold the wood with say the inner side to the left of your hand, when you bowl them they will curve to the left. Consequently you would need to aim to the right so it goes out in an arc and curves back again.
If you hold the wood the other way round then it will curve in the opposite direction.
I'm sure all of this will be explained and shown how it works before you get to lob a wood or two. They will also tell you if there is any particular type of footwear you need to wear, or avoid.
Even if you are no good at it, I'm sure you will have fun. Just don't drop a wood on your foot!