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What is Duckpin Bowling?
After a 100+ year legacy, duckpin bowling is steadily gaining popularity in 2022, as a result of it’s extremely fast gameplay and very simple interface. What actually is it about duckpin bowling that is bringing about its sudden comeback? This article shall detail what duckpin bowling is, as well as how to play it, and the reason why it’s so popular at the moment.
Often considered a variation of ten-pin bowling, the balls used for duckpin bowling are slightly larger than softballs weighing 1.5kg to 1.7kg each. They are significantly smaller, without finger holes than those in ten-pin bowling.
The pins are arranged in a triangle – similar to that used in ten-pin bowling. However, they are shorter and lighter, making it more difficult to achieve a strike. Is it for this reason that the bowler is allowed to roll three times per frame instead of two?
Where does it come from?
The origin of duckpin bowling is highly debatable. One of the possible origins of the game is that it began in Baltimore around the year of 1900 at a bowling, billiards and pool hall owned by John McGraw. However, an older article published in the Lowell Sun in the year 1894, confirms the existence of duckpin bowling as a game. Proving that the origin or the game has been undetermined.
Alternatively, bowling itself has been traced to the tombs of an Egyptian child buried in 5200 B.C. The primitive implements included nice pieces of stone at which a stone ‘ball’ was rolled, the ball having first to roll through an archway made of three pieces of marble.
Who is it for?
Duckpin bowling alleys are for everyone. There have been both female and male leagues for over 100 years now. Kids are welcome, as the balls are smaller in size, and weigh about 2 pounds – making them easier to throw. The lack of holes also makes the game accessible for seniors, as they are easier to grip.
How do you play?
The rules of duckpin bowling are somewhat similar to ten-pin bowling. It is a ten-frame game where the bowlers knock down the pins in the fewest rolls in each frame.
The balls used in this game are heavier than the softballs and the pins are smaller and squatter. The bowlers have three rolls per frame.
If the bowler manages to strike down all the pins with their first roll in a single frame, it is scored as a strike. The bowler receives 10 points with the number of points knocked down with the next two balls rolled. He can score a maximum of 30 points.
If the bowler knocks down the ten pins with the first two rolls of the frame, it is termed as a spare scored. The player then gets ten points, as well as the total number of pins knocked down with the next ball, for a maximum of 20 points.
If the bowler takes all three balls to knock down all the ten pins, then the bowler gets just ten points without any bonus.
The final score of the bowler is the total sum of the points earned over ten frames, including the extra one or two rolls earned in the tenth frame for a spare or a strike. The maximum score can go up to 300 points, which can only be accomplished by rolling 12 strikes in a row.
Conclusion
As highlighted above, duck-pin bowling is increasingly gaining traction in modern society. With everyone able to play it, it’s better if you get your tickets in ASAP! There are a few venues within the West Midlands that offer duckpin bowling alleys as a complement to their other attractions, such as That Funky Venue, which also has indoor miniature golf! There’s plenty of fun to SPARE, so get out there!
