Pin games can differ in setup, resetting, attempts and scoring. Real sporting lanes also differ. A useful rule description therefore identifies both the playing programme and lane type. Our mobile edition does not offer a selection of physical sporting lane types.
In this guide
Our three available nine-pin variants
Variants beside Throw contains Full Rack, Clear the Rack and Figures. Battery-saver rendering leaves their rules unchanged. This table describes our current browser edition rather than a complete sporting rulebook.
| Mode | Format | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Full Rack | 10 throws, nine pins reset each time | Each fallen pin: 1 |
| Clear the Rack | 10 rounds, at most 3 attempts per rack | Each fallen pin: 1 |
| Figures | 10 preset formations, at most 3 attempts each | Complete: 10; incomplete: 0 |
Lane types are distinct disciplines
The DKB distinguishes Ninepin Classic, Ninepin Bohle and Ninepin Schere alongside Tenpin Bowling. The nine-pin disciplines share a pin count but have their own technical and sporting rules. Our play page has no switch selecting those three physical lane types.
Further reading: DKB: Bohle, Classic, Schere und Bowling
Regional names and house games
In German usage, Kegeln may mean a recreational evening or a regulated sport. English skittles likewise covers different local games. Check pin count, layout, ball and programme before adopting another guide. Our English section explicitly names this edition Nine-pin skittles.
An agreed house game may use another objective, such as selected formations or an exact target total. Such agreements are not additional modes on our site. A new game’s rule card should also specify misses, resetting and ties.
Avoid a common confusion
Nine-pin no-tap uses a ten-pin bowling rack, crediting nine hits as a strike under that rule. Our nine-pin skittles actually sets nine pins in a diamond and has no strike/spare bonus chains. Nine therefore describes a scoring threshold in one case and the actual rack size in the other.