| The game of candlepins was invented in 1881 in Worcester,
Massachussetts. The game is quite different from the tenpin
variety, and as a result offers some interesting challenges. For
starters, you are allowed three balls per frame as opposed to
two. Secondly, if downed pins remain on the plate after the
first two balls, they are not removed. Before you say "Oh
that must make it easier," check out the following
statistics: |
| The candlepin ball is only 4.5" in diameter and weighs
between 2lbs-5oz. and 2lbs-7oz. The pins are 15-3/4" long
and skinnier than the tenpin kind. A candlepin
is tapered at both ends and wider at the middle. They are
1-3/4" wide at each end and only 2-15/16" wide at the
middle. The pins are spaced 12" apart at their centers. If
you do the math, you will see that it is very possible to punch
right through if you don't split the pins properly. Also, since
the lane is 60' from foul line to the center pin, the pins don't
look that far apart. I don't mean to diminish the difficulty of
tenpin, but I think it is pretty clear why there has never been
a 300 game in candlepin. |
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