Duckpin bowling

Duckpin bowling is a variation of Ten-pin bowling and is popular along the eastern coast of the United States, from Maryland through southern New England, and in Quebec.

Related Topics:
Duckpin bowling - Ten-pin bowling - United States - Maryland - New England - Quebec

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The origin of the sport is a subject of some debate. According to popular legend, Duckpin bowling began in Baltimore, MD around 1900, at a bowling alley owned by future baseball Hall of Famers John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson. However, according to Appendix B of a 2005 baseball book by Howard W. Rosenberg (Cap Anson 3: Muggsy John McGraw and the Tricksters: Baseball's Fun Age of Rule Bending), an article from 1894 in the Lowell (Mass.) Sun confirms the existence of duckpins as of 1894. Rosenberg traced the story of crediting the origins of duckpins to McGraw and Robinson as far back as Shirley Povich of the Washington Post in the late 1930s.

Related Topics:
Baltimore, MD - John McGraw - Wilbert Robinson - Washington Post

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The rules of Duckpin bowling, or "Duckpins", are very similar to those of Ten-pin bowling. The major differences are:

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• The pins are shorter and squatter. The original Duckpins were simply Ten-pins cut down to size. Regulation Duckpins are 9 13/32 inches tall, with a maximum diameter of 4 1/8 inches, and a minimum diameter of 1 3/8 inches at the base.
• The balls are smaller, and do not have any finger holes. The balls are meant to be held entirely in one hand, similarly to a Bocce ball. Regulation Duckpin balls have a maximum diameter of 5 inches, and a maximum weight of 3 pounds, 12 ounces.
• Much like in Candlepin bowling, bowlers are allowed three shots per frame, rather than two. If all ten pins are knocked down on the third ball of the frame, the bowler is awarded 10 points for the frame, and does not get any 'bonus' on the next ball. (Note that unlike Candlepin bowling, fallen pins are cleared after each shot, which corresponds to Ten-pin bowling.)

Duckpin bowling is a sport popular with all ages. While the size and weight of the balls make it a more feasible game for children and seniors, they also increase the difficulty of the game, making it a challenge for all players. While "perfect" games of Ten-pin bowling (ie, a score of 300) are bowled on a regular basis, no officially santioned Duckpin score of 300 has ever been recorded. The configuration and size of the pins and ball can result in drastically different results for multiple rolls that seem nearly identical.

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