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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 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 C 
|
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
3 black phenol resin skittle balls - 4 inch |
£69.70 |
£81.90 |
3 + transit time |
3 black phenol resin skittle balls - 4.5 inch (each 1Kg, 2.25lbs) |
£73.11 |
£85.90 |
3 + transit time |
3 black phenol resin skittle balls - 5 inch (each 1.4Kg, 3lbs) |
£73.11 |
£85.90 |
3 + transit time |
3 black phenol resin 5.5 inch skittle balls |
£93.53 |
£109.90 |
1 + transit time |
3 black phenol resin 6 inch skittle balls |
£93.53 |
£109.90 |
1 + transit time |
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Pink Rubber Balls
Change to $  Change to C 
|
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) |
£96.94 |
£113.90 |
1 + transit time |
Set of 3 pink rubber skittle balls (5 inch diameter) |
£125.02 |
£146.90 |
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 2007: Our supply of Lignum has dried up and there is no estimate
as to when more will be found. Until we hear more, please use one of the
alternative materials above.
Change to $  Change to C 
|
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 3 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£156.51 |
£183.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae Balls - 4 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£156.51 |
£183.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 4.5 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£187.15 |
£219.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 4 3/4 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£199.06 |
£233.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 4 7/8 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£199.06 |
£233.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 5 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£199.06 |
£233.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 5.5 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£229.70 |
£269.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 x Lignum Vitae balls - 6 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£254.38 |
£298.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
For an immediate quote and ETA, add to the basket & select your location. |
Single Balls
Change to $  Change to C 
|
UK pounds (ex.VAT) |
Pounds (incl. VAT) |
Typical ETA in wkg days |
Add to basket |
1 x Lignum Vitate Ball - 5 inch
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£65.45 |
£76.90 |
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
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available. |
£87.57 |
£102.90 |
12 + transit time |
Apologies - out of stock. Date new stock due: unknown. Email us to be notified when new stock is available.
|
3 black phenol resin 5.5 inch skittle balls |
£33.11 |
£38.90 |
1 + transit time |
3 black phenol resin 6 inch skittle balls |
£33.11 |
£38.90 |
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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Printable version of this page
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.
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