The Differences Between Candlepin Bowling, and Ten Pin Bowling

The sport of candlepin bowling was invented in 1880 by Justin White in Worchester, Massachusetts. Shortly after ten pin bowling was regulated in the United States by the American Bowling Congress in 1895. Although some of the basic principals are similar in both games this is where the similarity ends.

Just in case you're thinking about trying candlepin bowling for the first time, here are a few basic differences between the two bowling games. Be prepared for a different kind of game than ten pin bowling when you try this ingenious style of bowling. Candlepin bowling was specifically designed to be more difficult than regular ten pin bowling.

Comparison of Bowling Balls

The first obvious difference in these two games is the size and weight difference of the bowling balls.

Ten pin bowling balls have a diameter of 8.5 inches and are allowed to weigh up to 16 pounds in regulation play. Ten pin bowling balls also have finger holes drilled into the ball which increase the grip of the ball, and also the accuracy of the throw.

Candlepin bowling balls are much smaller with only 4.5 inches in diameter, and weigh only 2 pounds 7 ounces. These bowling balls also do not have any finger holes in the ball, so good luck throwing this ball down the lane.

Difference in Bowling Pins

Ten pin bowling pins are 15 inches in height, and are 4.7 inches in width at the widest point of the pin. Ten pin bowling pins are tapered to give the pin an oblong shape.

Candlepin bowling pins are 15.75 inches in height and have a diameter of 3 inches. This is where the game got its name as the pins are straight up and down and resemble the shape of a tall white candle.

Game Play

Although each game consists of ten individual frames of play, ten pin bowling allows two balls to be thrown in each individual frame, while candlepin allows three balls to be thrown in each frame of play. Each individual round of play is called a frame in ten pin bowling, while candlepin refers to the frame as boxes.

In the game of ten pin bowling after the bowler has thrown their first ball any pins which were knocked down are considered deadwood and are the swept away from the remaining pins. The ten pin bowler then takes their second shot at the remaining pins and the frame ends. This is where candlepin bowling really starts to get interesting, and also very difficult.

When bowling candlepin style any pins which were knocked down are left on the lane as the bowler attempts to knock down the remaining pins. Now is when strategy and skill really comes into play.

Although three attempts are given per "box" in candlepin bowling, each attempt is greatly deserved in this game with the increased level of difficulty. Now you're really talking pin action.

Foul Difference

Ten pin bowling has only one foul line, which is referred to as the foot foul line. If your foot or feet cross this foul line a light is triggered and the throw for this ball is considered a zero. All you can do now is hope for a spare if you knock down all of the pins with your remaining throw.

And now just to make candlepin bowling even more difficult, be prepared for three foul lines when you play this game. The foul lines in candlepin bowling are: the foot line, the lob line, and also the pin line. While the foot foul line is the same as ten pin bowling the other two foul lines are completely different.

The lob foul line in candlepin bowling is located ten feet out from the foot foul line. The candlepin ball must touch the surface of the lane before it hits this line or a foul is awarded to the bowler. The third foul line is the pin foul line.

If any ball strikes and scores any points while hitting any pins in this area another foul is imposed on the bowler, and the score for this ball is also considered a zero. Accuracy and skill are also much needed requirements needed to avoid this foul line if you also want a somewhat decent score.

Scores and Scoring

Point scoring in these two games is also completely different. While ten pin bowling any first ball which knocks down all ten pins is considered a strike and counts as ten points plus the next two balls.

A spare in ten pin bowling is when ten pins are knocked down by two balls and is counted as ten points plus the next ball. Now here is where the scoring difference between the two games begins to change.

In candlepin bowling if three balls are rolled in order to knock down all ten pins it is counted as a ten box and no additional bonus points are awarded. Candlepin bowling refers to a second ball which knocks all of the pins down as a strike; while ten pin bowling refers to it as a spare.

With the difference of deadwood remaining on the lane along with smaller and much lighter balls the scores of candlepin bowling are much lower than ten pin bowling. Ten pin bowling records many perfect 300 games in any given season of play, while the highest game of candlepin bowling ever recorded was 245; although a score of 265 has been rumored.

So, if you're a pretty good ten pin bowler and you think your game is everything it's cracked up to be, take a trip sometime and try your luck at candlepin bowling. At the end of the game when you add up your scores see what the difference is between your score in candlepin and ten pin bowling. You just might be surprised what score you add up.

Sources of information:

www.bowlcandlepin.com/rules.htm

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling