Many people don’t realize that the sport of bowling has a history that goes back thousands of years, and that there is more than one type of bowling. You may be curious about other types of bowling that you have never heard of, as well. There’s a good chance that out of all of the different types of bowling, the one you are used to is the American 10-point variation.
Let’s examine different types of bowling and establish their unique differences. It’s also important to note that there are many regional differences as well.
10-Pin Bowling
There are many types of bowling, but 10-pin bowling is the most common variation worldwide. This version of bowling involves one bowling ball meant to knock down ten pins, and it has existed in the United States since before the Civil War.
There are ten frames in a game in 10-pin bowling. The ball has three finger holes, and the pins are either made of wood or plastic.
5-Pin Bowling
As you can probably tell from the name, this variation involves only five pins. There are many different types of bowling, but this is variation is most common in Canada. The five pins are arranged in a “V” shape.
The bowling balls are so small that they don’t have finger holes, which shows you that there are many different types of bowling. These bowling balls are small enough to fit inside your hand. These pins also have a rubber hand around the middle of them, which means they are more likely to hit other pins once hit.
CandlePin Bowling
There are many different types of bowling, but this one was invented in 1880 in Massachusetts. This variation of bowling is still popular around the New England area, and the pins are shaped much differently – like candles. This is the reason why it is called “candlepin bowling.’
These have arguably the smallest bowling balls out of all of the types of bowling, and they usually come in at about two pounds. The pins are arranged in a triangular shape, but another part of the game makes it more challenging than other different types of bowling: the fallen pins aren’t cleared out each frame. The highest recorded score in this game is 245 out of 300.
DuckPin Bowling
Out of the many types of bowling that exist, duckpin bowling is also quite popular. These pins are larger and heavier than those used in candlepin bowling, but smaller than those used in 10-pin bowling. Some experts believe that this type of bowling emerged around 1900 around the Baltimore area. There are three turns per frame here, but the game is still ten frames.
There are many different types of bowling to enjoy, and some of them may make sense for families depending on the ages or strength of their children. It may be a good idea to research various types of bowling and give a couple a try and see whether you prefer it to the standard ten-pin bowling variation.
If you’re interested in getting into bowling, check out Stars and Strikes! At Stars and Strikes, we offer bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and more. Check out our website or give us a call at 678-965-5707.