Weird Sports: Candlepin Bowling

Unless you grew up in New England or parts of Eastern Canada, you probably have never heard of candlepin bowling. In some form or another, the sport of bowling has existed for over a thousand years. Candlepin, however, was first played during the early 1880s in Worcester, Massachusetts. Its rules differ considerably from traditional ten pin bowling, or "big ball" bowling as many New Englanders refer to it.

The objective of candlepin bowling is fairly simple. You roll the ball down the lane and attempt to knock over the pins. However, the candlepin bowling ball is considerably smaller than a ten pin bowling ball. In fact, the ball measures only 4.5 inches in diameter and cannot weigh more than 2lbs. 7oz. In many ways, the candlepin bowling ball resembles a slightly larger and heavier skeeball. Similarly, the bowling pins also take a unique shape. A candlepin is a skinny pin that somewhat resembles two fountain cups stacked on each other and connected at the rims. Pins measure 2.9375 (15/16) inches in diameter and 15.75 inches in height. The maximum weight of a pin is 2lbs. 8oz., making it only slightly heavier than the ball itself.

Like traditional bowling, candlepin is comprised of ten frames per string, and it follows the same strike and spare scoring rules. However, there are two major differences. First, a candlepin frame consists of rolling three balls, instead of two. If all ten pins are knocked down with the third ball, no mark is awarded. Additionally, candlepin utilizes deadwood. Unlike ten pin bowling, a candlepin lane is not cleared after each shot. Thus, any pins that have fallen down, remain on the alley surface until the frame is complete. As a bowler, you can use the deadwood to your advantage. Unfortunately, there are cases where the deadwood can backfire and misdirect the ball away from the target.

Scoring in candlepin bowling is generally much lower than ten pin bowling, despite the additional rolls. In 1984, 38 year-old Ralph Semb bowled a 245 in Westfield, Massachusetts. He started the game with seven consecutive strikes, and finished with three consecutive spares. Semb's score is the closest instance of a perfect game that candlepin has ever seen. Although possible, the likelihood of recording 10 consecutive strikes in candlepin is extremely small.

Massachusetts Candlepin Association Introduction to Candlepin, Mass Candlepin

International Candlepin Bowling Association Rules, ICBA Home