I will be travelling to Washington, D.C. in a couple weeks. Among other, much more important things, I hope to satisfy my insanity for bowling somewhat by trying out Duckpin bowling near the place where it thrives (some might argue that last point). I’ve bowled a similar game before, Rubberband duckpins, which is a similar game, but not quite the same I’m sure. Also, the respective alleys were nowhere near the eastern seaboard, which might make for a certain loss of ambiance. I was wondering if there were any like-minded Dopers out there who might have some first-hand experiences, advice, interesting recollections, and so forth. I’ve exausted the Internet resources on this subject, and I was looking for a somewhat more personal touch as far as information on Duckpins. Thanks!
Being from Baltimore, I know all about Duckpin bowling. Of course it’s common knowledge that very first duckpin bowling alley was on Howard St. in downtown Baltimore. I ran a thread on this very subject a year or so ago and got some pretty interesting comments. Aparently there’s something in the New England area called candlestick bowling that’s somewhat simular. Since duckpin bowling is so popular here, the “big balls” bowling is called ten pin bowling, which really never made much sense to me. Anything you’d like to know about it just ask me…
I grew up going to a duckpin bowling lane in Fredericksburg, VA (Rebel Bowl - How’s that for a good, Southern name for a bowling alley?). My parents were both on a league and we went every Friday night. My brothers and I would be parked at the end of the lanes and given enough money to bowl a few games ourselves. My mother even had her own set of bowling balls.
I distinctly recall one of the league bowlers bowling a 200+ game - which is pretty damn hard given the equipment of the game. The whole bowling alley was standing behind the guy watching him.
Also, Rebel Bowl was the first place I ever had Dr. Pepper soda.
Hell I duckpin bowled on a league last year. I didn’t do it this year because of time but it was a lot of fun. I had an average of 103 or so with a high of 160. I haven’t been in a few months but if you shoot me an email maybe we can get together and bowl a few. I know of at least three in the area.
I’ve not been duckpin bowling, but being from Maine, I did a lot of candlepin bowling growing up (nostalgia is clamoring for me to go back to do it again).
My understanding is the main difference between the two are the pin shapes. Duckpin bowling pins are the same shape as norm pins while candlepins have the same shape as the bottom half of a duckpin, and the top half is identical to the bottom, meaning that it can be stood up either way. Also, not sure about duckpin, but in candlepin, the pins are not cleared after rolling a ball. Though this can help (hit a pin on your second ball, send it spinning and clearing out a few others), more often than not it servers as a ‘block’ that kills the momentum of the ball. Lastly, again not sure of duckpin, but in candlepin you get three balls per frame and if you clear all the pins on your third ball, it is worth just the standard 10 with no carryover to the next frame.
The above is reason 17 of 100 in the “Why I need to move back to northern New England”
Yes in Duckpin you clear the pins after each throw. You get three tries, but only 10 in the third. Breaking 100 can be hard if you are not having a good night. Then again you can get in the 90s with out a spare or a strike. I’ve done that before.