There are many different types of bowling pin. They are used in a wide variety of bowling games.
The traditional bowling pins that most people think of are the type used in the game of tenpins. Tenpin bowling pins are generally 4.75 inches wide at their widest point and 15 inches tall. They look a bit like armless, legless people, with a "body" and a smaller "head", or top portion. Most of them also have a reddish colored marking around the "neck".

A tenpin bowling pin generally weighs 3 pounds and six ounces. However, as of 1998, the American Bowling Congress passed a rule, which allows tenpin bowling pins to weigh 3 pounds and 10 ounces.

Another popular bowling pin is the pin used in duckpin bowling. Duckpins look similar to tenpin pins. However, duckpins are a good deal shorter. Regulation Duckpins are 9 13/32 inches tall, with a maximum diameter of 4 1/8 inches, and a minimum diameter of 1 3/8 inches at the base. Duckpin bowling is most popular along the eastern coast of the United States, in such states ad Virginia.

Candlepin bowling pins are another interesting variety of bowling pins. Candlepin bowling is popular in New England. Candlepin bowling pins are entirely unique. They do not resemble the pins used in any other popular bowling game.

A candlepin bowling pin is the tallest of all at 15-3/4 inches, but only 2-15/16 inches wide and 2 lb, 8 oz in weight. They are almost cylindrical in shape. They are flat on both top and bottom. They do not have a "head" or a "neck" like other pins. In fact, candlepin bowling pins, unlike other types of bowling pins, are reversible. They can be placed on the playing field with either end up. In fact, the name "candlepin bowling" comes from the shape of the pins.

Another interesting fact about bowling pins is that bowling pins are made out of hard rock maple wood. The general shape is glued together and then the pin is turned on a lathe to give it its individual shape. After that, each bowling pin is coated in a plastic material and painted. It is then given a shiny finish.

The wood that is required to make a bowling pin has to be of a certain quality. Any wood will not do, since some are prone to easy chipping. The particular wood required to make bowling pins is very hard to come by. As a result, there have been many efforts to make bowling pins out of other materials, such as plastic. So far, these efforts have not been successful.

I hope you have enjoyed these fun and interesting facts about every bowler's friend and enemy, the bowling pin.