Skittle Balls
Competitive
skittlers have for centuries prefered to use balls made from the traditional
wood, Lignum Vitae, a tropical hardwood which is extremely hard, very heavy
and also self-lubricating.
Some
leagues prefer hard rubber which is heavier, takes longer to wear out the pins
and is also more environmentally friendly. The balls here are pink to reduce
marking of the alley.
Lignum Vitae has become increasingly difficult to obtain and it seems clear that soon it will be impossible to buy any at all. As an alternative to Lignum, we have balls made from a black phenol resin composite. These are similar to the material used to make modern lawn bowls - the weight and density are deliberately similar to Lignum Vitae. They have been used by serious pubs and league players successfully for many years.
If you aren't sure what size ball you need, please see the guide at the bottom of this page.
Black Phenol Composite Balls
Change to $  Change to  |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 black phenolic resin skittle balls - 4 inch (approx. 800g, 1lb 12oz) |
£75.57 | £86.90 | 3 + transit time | ||
3 black phenolic resin skittle balls - 4.5 inch (approx. 1.1Kg, 2lbs 8oz) |
£86.87 | £99.90 | 3 + transit time | ||
3 black phenolic resin skittle balls - 5 inch (approx. 1.5Kg, 3lb 5oz) |
£112.09 | £128.90 | 3 + transit time | ||
3 black phenolic resin 5.5 inch skittle balls (approx. 2.1Kg, 4lb 9oz) |
£118.17 | £135.90 | 1 + transit time | Apologies - out of stock.. Date new stock due: 05/11/2009. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. | |
3 black phenolic resin 6 inch skittle balls (approx. 2.7kg, 6lb) |
£118.17 | £135.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Pink Rubber Balls
Approximate weight and dimensions:
4.5 inch diameter (11.4cm) - 1120g (2½lbs)
5 inch diameter (12.7cm) - 1520g (3⅓lbs)
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Set of 3 pink rubber skittle balls (4.5 inch diameter) |
£95.57 | £109.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Set of 3 pink rubber skittle balls (5 inch diameter) |
£124.26 | £142.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Single pink rubber skittle ball (4.5 inch diameter) |
£38.17 | £43.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
Single pink rubber skittle ball (5 inch diameter) |
£43.39 | £49.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Lignum Vitae Balls
Lignum Vitae is an endangered wood and increasingly difficult to obtain. We believe that within 2 or 3 years, it will become impossible to buy LV skittle balls. Masters Traditional Games therefore recommends that pubs and leagues convert to resin composite or rubber balls if possible. These materials are cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
August 2008: Our supply of Lignum dried up in August 2007 and there is no estimate as to when more will be found. Until we hear more, please use one of the alternative materials above.
Single Balls
| Change to $ Change to |
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 x Lignum Vitate Ball - 5 inch |
£62.52 | £71.90 | 12 + transit time | Apologies - out of stock.. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. | |
1 Lignum Vitae ball - 6 inch |
£85.13 | £97.90 | 12 + transit time | Apologies - out of stock.. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. | |
Single black phenolic resin 5.5 inch skittle balls |
£41.65 | £47.90 | 1 + transit time | Apologies - out of stock.. Date new stock due: 05/11/2009. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. | |
Single black phenolic resin 6 inch skittle balls |
£41.65 | £47.90 | 1 + transit time | ||
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Guide to Skittle Ball Sizes
The following shows the size of LV ball typically used by leagues and clubs for the various pins sizes. The larger and heavier the ball, the easier it ploughs through the skittles which is rewarding, but the downside is that there will be a greater wear and tear on the pins and alley.
We have also shown our recommendations for the Composite and Rubber balls.
| Suitable for Pins | LV Balls | Resin Composite Balls | Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8" Welsh | 4" | ||
| 10" Welsh | 4 1/2" | 4 1/2" | 4 1/2" |
| 10 x 4" Bristol | 4 3/4" | 4 1/2" | 4 1/2" |
| 10 x 4.5" Bristol | 4 3/4" | 5" | 5" |
| 10 x 4.5" Glos | 4 7/8" or 5" | 5" | 5" |
| 10 x 5" Glos/Bristol | 4 7/8" or 5" | 5" | 5" |
| 12 x 6" | 5 1/2" or 6" |
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The Origin of Skittles
Skittles, or Nine Pins, as played in an alley has always been a popular pub game and is the ancestor of related games including ten-pin bowling and various indoor skittles variations. The origins of the game are uncertain but in Germany, in the 3rd or 4th century, monks played a game with a kegel which was a club carried for self defence. In the game, the kegel represented a sin or temptation and the monks would throw stones at it until they knocked it over. The modern German term for skittles is Kegelen. There are also two 14th century manuscripts that show a game called Kayles and depict throwers about to launch a long club-like object at eight pins and a kingpin.
The typical form of Skittles is wherein balls are thrown or rolled from one end of an alley in an effort to knock down nine pins at the other end. Over the years, Skittles developed regional variations in the size of equipment, the rules and so forth. In the East Midlands, people play Long Alley in which the projectiles are rough balls or small capsule shaped logs called "cheeses" and a score is only made if the cheeses bounce a single time just in front of the pins. Old English Skittles or London Skittles, as played at the famous Freemasons Arms in Hampstead, is a majestic game in which enormous discus-shaped cheeses are flung so that they hit the skittles directly without touching the floor first.
From these old games, various miniaturised versions appeared which were more convenient for many pubs with limited space. These include Northamptonshire Skittles and the extremely popular Table Skittles or Devil Amongst The Tailors.
The most popular version of skittles, however, is West Country Skittles wherein 9 skittles are arranged in a square at the end of an alley that might be 24 feet, sometimes much longer. Each turn starts with all the skittles standing and consists of three balls being rolled down the alley. If all the pins are knocked down, then they are reset. So the maximum score in one turn is 27.
You can learn more about the History of Skittles from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.