What is a string in bowling?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 23, 2026
A game of candlepin bowling, often called a string in New England, is divided into ten rounds, each of these rounds being most commonly referred to as a box, rather than a "frame" as in tenpin bowling. In each normal box, a player is given up to three opportunities to knock down as many pins as possible.
How does string bowling work?
How Do String Pinsetters Work? With a string pinsetter, you have strings attached to the top of each pin. There is no interference with how the pins fall. The pins are pulled back into the rack, and the machine then resets the ones that weren't knocked down after the roll.
How many strings does a bowling have?
Without traditional names for other strings of strikes, bowlers and fans have taken to name the entire set of 12, though some of those names are not widely recognized.
Do bowling alleys use strings?
Sport bowlers are accustomed to the free fall pinsetter, but more and more sport bowling centers are moving toward string as the USBC considers sanctioning string machines.
What are terms used in bowling?
Strike – Knocking down all the pins on the first throw. Spare – Picking up a spare is knocking down all remaining pins on a bowler's second throw. Double – If you get two strikes in a row, you've just made yourself a double. Turkey – Three strikes in a row is a turkey.
28 related questions foundWhat are 5 strikes in a row called?
BAGGER (SUCH AS FIVE BAGGER)
A string of strikes; i.e., five bagger is five in a row.
What do you call 12 strikes in a row?
A perfect game or 12 strikes in a row is also colloquially referred to as the « Thanksgiving Turkey. »
How heavy is a bowling pin?
The standard weight of a bowling pin is 3 pounds and 6 ounces or 1.5 kilograms and must not be more than 3 pounds 10 ounces or 1.6 kilograms. In the United States, the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) establishes the pin specifications.
Are bowling pins attached to strings?
String pinsetters offer the same concept as my old plastic pin set. Each wooden pin is attached to a heavy nylon cord.
What is mini bowling?
Mini Bowling is a tremendously fun game of miniature bowling suited for both kids and adults with shorter lanes, automated bumpers and a lighter ball. A game based on the traditional tenpin rules with a thrilling twist of alternative excitement.
What are 4 strikes in a row called?
Strikes & Spares
Two strikes in a row are called a double, three strikes in a row are called a Turkey, while four and five strikes in a row are called four/five-bagger(s) and so on and so forth.
Why is it called a strike in bowling?
1 Strike. The first strike you will throw is simply called a “strike”. This means that you knocked over all the pins in that single frame. In Ten Pin bowling, you get 10 points.
Why was bowling illegal?
In 1366, the first official mention of bowling in England was made, when King Edward III banned it as a distraction to archery practice.
How many pins are in bowling?
Ten pins are arranged at the end of the bowling lane at the beginning of every frame. They are arranged in a triangle formation, with the point of the triangle facing the bowler. There is one pin in the first row, which is the head pin, two pins in the second row, three in the third, and four in the fourth.
What is a turkey in bowling terms?
That's because three consecutive strikes in bowling is called a turkey.
How does a bowling pin setter work?
So how do they work? Pinsetters are activated by a bunch of sensors that detect your ball as it approaches the pins. As soon as your ball knocks down the pins, the 'sweep' comes down and acts as a barrier in front of the pins while the 'pin table' is lowered onto the remaining pins.
Are string pins sanctioned?
String pinsetters currently are non-approved equipment and may not be used in USBC-certified competition, including USBC-certified leagues and tournaments.
What is behind the bowling pins?
The ball pit is the area directly behind the rack of pins; it handles the initial impact of both the bowling ball and the flying pins. The sweep lowers itself into a "guard" position in front of the pins.
Has duckpin bowling ever had a perfect game?
According to the United States Bowling Congress, there were 55,266 certified 300 games — that is, 12 consecutive strikes, for a perfect score — in the 2013-14 season of tenpin bowling. But there has never been a 300 game in duckpin bowling. As all serious duckpinners know, a Connecticut man named Pete Signore Jr.
What are the 4 basic shots in bowling?
There are basically four different types of shot, or deliver in Lawn Bowling:
- The Draw. A drawing Shot is the most common and it is really what the game is all about. ...
- The Yard On. ...
- The Running Shot or Ditch Length Shot. ...
- The Drive.
What are bowling balls made of?
Overall, bowling balls can be made of three different types of coverstock materials – polyester, urethane, and resin (reactive urethane). The least expensive material, polyester, doesn't give as much hook since it's unaffected by the oils on the lane.
How do you bowl correctly?
First: Straighten your hand and wrist. Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you're bowling. Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle. Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.
Why are 3 strikes called a turkey?
At some point (no one knows the exact first instance), one tournament decided to give away a turkey to people who managed to bowl three strikes in a row. This practice spread and eventually embedded itself in common bowling vernacular, long after giving away actual turkeys stopped.
What is a 300 game in bowling called?
In bowling, a perfect game (in 10 pin at least) is 300 points – strikes in each of the first nine frames, and three in the tenth.
What are 3 spares in a row called?
Since throwing three strikes in a row is referred to as a "turkey," three spares in a row is sometimes called a “chicken” and in rural areas three spares in a row is called a “sparrow”.