Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling (also known as ninepin bowling, nine-pin, kegel, or kegeln) is a bowling game played primarily in Europe. European championships are held each year. In Europe overall, there are some 130,000 players. Nine-pin bowling lanes are mostly found in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Estonia, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, North Macedonia, Hungary, Brazil and Liechtenstein.
Nine-pin ball and pins, as used in Germany. | |
| Highest governing body | WNBA |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | ninepins, 9-pin, kegel, kegeln |
| First played | Medieval times, Germany |
| Registered players | about 130,000 |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | No |
| Team members | 6 per side + reserves |
| Mixed-sex | Yes, separate competitions |
| Type | Team sport, ball sport |
| Equipment | Nine-pin bowling ball and pins |
| Venue | Nine-pin bowling lane |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | No |
| World Games | 2005 |
In English-speaking countries, where ten-pin bowling (which originated in the United States) is dominant, facilities for nine-pin bowling are uncommon, though it remains popular in areas such as the Barossa Valley in South Australia where many German people settled in the 19th century. A modified version is played in the US state of Texas.