Variations of 10-pin bowling: 5-Pin, Duck, and Candlepin Bowling

[NewToBowling]

Just discovered these other variations of 10 pin bowling. Let's say they are "interesting", especially the 5-pin version with the marionette pins.

I think duck bowling would probably be the funnest of these variants. These seem to be popular in Canada and the Northeast.

I don't think they have specialty balls like regular 10 pin bowling does since the balls are smaller and hook isn't really utilized.

[mc_runner]

I have a couple of duckpin alleys near me (CT) and let's just say there's a reason I prefer 10 pin. I think last time I went duckpin I got like a 95, haha. Never been candlepin but it's another popular one up in MA and as far as I know, there's never been a perfect game thrown.

5 pin sounds really interesting - I think it's popular up in Canada.

[NewToBowling]

I'm amazed that there has never been a perfect game in duckpin bowling. That just astounds me. So no 12 strikes in a row?

Curious about candlepin and 5-pin perfect games

[J Anderson]

I'm amazed that there has never been a perfect game in duckpin bowling. That just astounds me. So no 12 strikes in a row?

Curious about candlepin and 5-pin perfect games

If you get a chance to try duckpins you'll quickly realize why there have been no perfect games.

I've never tried candlepin or fivepin, but candle pins look like they would be even more frustrating than ducks.

[NYMIKE]

If you get a chance to try duckpins you'll quickly realize why there have been no perfect games.

I've never tried candlepin or fivepin, but candle pins look like they would be even more frustrating than ducks.

In candlepins the ball is lighter than the pins, it does sound crazy. Baltimore is the place for duckpins, Boston for candlepins.
http://www.duckpins.com/houses.htm

http://www.oocities.org/wheretobowlcandlepins/mabowling.html

I was told that about 30 years ago there was an alley here in my neighborhood in Queens that had duckpins, now we down to 5 regular bowling alleys in Queens, and other NYC boros are not better.

[rv driver]

I may have to drive over to Tulsa and try duckpins...

[foreverincamo]

Last time I checked, the highest score in duck pin bowling was 289. I've never tried it but I sure want to. You can find duck and candlepin bowling tournaments on YouTube. Some guys were damn good at those sports.

[Perrin]

They all look interesting but like you guys say.... they look like they would be really frustrating for someone that throws standard 10-pin :)

There is an alley in my area that has a duck pin bowling game in the arcade the lanes are only like 15 feet long though.

[NYMIKE]

One of my teammates bowls in a skeeball league, he says its more of a beer league than a serious game. I been researching the subject there was an all around publication for these games, even skeeball got mentioned. http://www.northamericanbowling.com/variations.html One day I will play duckpins and candlepins, but there is a reason why one specific variant has been more popular than others. Being 200 pounds I must throw a heavy ball.