What are the differences between 10 pin bowling and duckpin bowling?
In duckpin bowling, the balls are only 4 ¾ inch to 5 inch in diameter, weighing 3lb 6oz to 3lb 12 oz, and don’t have finger holes. Therefore, they are significantly smaller than the balls used in 10 pin bowling but slightly larger than the balls used in candlelit bowling. Duckpins are arranged in an identical triangle to the pins in 10 pin bowling but are shorter, thinner, and lighter. This makes it more difficult for the smaller ball to achieve a strike. Due to this, in duckpin bowling, you are allowed to throw three balls per frame which is different to the two balls you’re allowed to throw per frame in 10 pin bowling.
In duckpin bowling, to get a spare, you have to knock down all the pins in your first two balls. To get a strike, you have to knock all the pins down in your first ball. Duckpin bowling still has 10 frames which is the same as 10 pin bowling, but it is much harder to get a high score. No one has ever bowled a perfect game in duckpin bowling whereas, in 10 pin bowling, many people have thrown a score of 300. Duckpin bowling is not as well known as 10 pin bowling therefore, there isn’t many competitive tournaments within this game.
How long is a duckpin bowling lane?
A duckpin bowling lane can be nearly identical to the typical 10 pin bowling lane. The length of the lane from the foul line to the head pin is 60 foot which is the same as a 10 pin bowling lane however, the width of a duckpin bowling lane is 41 inches wide which is 1 inch smaller than a 10 pin bowling lane. One inch doesn’t sound like much but this can throw your game out of step and take away your normal target used in a 10 pin bowling session. The approach of a duckpin lane is around 15 feet which is also the same as a 10 pin bowling lane approach.
However duckpin bowling lanes can be as short as 31 feet. Making it half the size. Some people would call this mini bowling.
Is duckpin bowling hard to learn/play?
If you are used to playing 10 pin bowling then grasping the technique to play duckpin bowling may be difficult. This is due to the smaller ball and different sized pins. Duckpin bowling is typically harder to knock down pins making it harder to play. However, if you use the same learning techniques you used to improve your 10 pin bowling game when playing duckpin bowling, you will improve.
The main tips to improve your duckpin bowling game is to increase throwing repetitions and target precision. The more you play, the better you will become because over time you will get more experienced. To improve target precision, you should pick the pocket you want to bowl for and keep aiming for it until you can hit it nearly every single time. This will confirm that your accuracy has improved.
When bowling while playing duckpin bowling, you need to have more of a throwing motion with less swinging on the arm. This is due to the ball being smaller and lighter, making it harder to generate power onto the ball. Also, when bowling in duckpin, a ball with little to no curve is preferred because if the ball hooks, it can throw the ball away from your target.
So, to answer the question that is if duckpin bowling is hard to learn/play, the answer is yes. Compared to 10 pin bowling, it is harder to play. This is why you are allowed three balls per frame. The pin weight compared to the ball size and weight is a bigger difference in duckpin bowling than it is in 10 pin bowling. The ball is duckpin bowling is usually compared to a similar size to a softball which is really small. Duckpin bowling needs a lot more accuracy and power when playing compared to 10 pin bowling making the game harder. Some people however may prefer duckpin bowling because it puts less stress on your body and allows you to play for longer. The weight of a 10 pin bowling ball can sometimes be too heavy for some players so duckpin bowling is a great alternative.
