What Is the Game Skittles?
Skittles is a lawn game involving pins from which modern bowling is descended. Eventually, skittles became a popular pub game in the UK and Ireland. At The Carrom Company, we produce a tabletop version of Skittles that is played by spinning a top to knock over pins. Players hone their top spinning skills and learn how to master the angle of their spin in order to achieve the highest score. There’s no limit to how many can play, so it’s perfect for gatherings of any size. Learn more about the history of skittles and how to master gameplay.
A Brief History of Skittles
No one is quite sure where or when traditional lawn skittles originated, though it is rumored to have been invented by Dutch sailors. Outdoor lawn games similar to skittles and bowling, however, date as far back as 3300 BCE in Ancient Egypt. Today, skittles has three predominant iterations: the traditional lawn game, the popular pub game, and the tabletop board game.
Lawn Skittles is still played in much of Europe today and has a variety of play styles. These days, however, the game is usually played indoors in a bowling alley. The ball used to strike the pins is usually wooden or rubber, except in London where they use a round, flat, loaf called a “cheee” made of lignum vitae. It is played with nine pins, though the rules can vary widely. For instance, one popular style called “front pin first” only counts pins if the first pin is hit before the others. In the United States, ten pin bowling is the closest cousin to the Skittles games of Europe.
The pub game was popular across the UK for much of the twentieth century, and remains so today, though each region often has unique variations. Local skittles leagues, which mainly originated in the mid-twentieth century, are still alive and well in the UK today, and each league often has its own distinct rules and play styles. Pub skittles takes many different forms. Bar skittles uses a ball suspended from a pole to knock pins over, while Northhamptonshire Skittles is played on a large, wooden table with a netted backing.
The Art of Skittles: Craftsmanship and Design
In the United Kingdom, where pub games like skittles have been a staple of social life for centuries, you can find many beautiful examples of historical Skittles boards that speak to the timelessness of the games’ craftsmanship. Traditional British skittles sets are often handmade from high-quality hardwoods like beech or oak, with lathe-turned pins and a polished board that exudes rustic charm. To this day, you can find many heirloom sets, some of which are still operational, in pubs all over the country.
Across the Atlantic, The Carrom Company brought this same dedication to craftsmanship to the United States. Founded in 1889, Carrom became synonymous with high-quality wooden games, blending European traditions with American ingenuity. When Carrom introduced its version of tabletop Skittles, it stayed true to the game's roots while adding its own distinctive touch. Our Skittles sets feature meticulously crafted wooden boards, precision-turned pins, and a spinning top instead of a ball, enabling a much smaller playing surface.
What sets Carrom apart is our unwavering dedication to handcrafted quality. Even today, Carrom continues to produce wooden game boards in the United States, using time-honored techniques to ensure each set meets the highest standards.
Tabletop Skittles Gameplay
The tabletop board game is a much smaller version of the pub game adapted for home use. Tabletop Skittles is often much smaller than the pub game (our Skittles board is 15” x 32”). The Carrom Company developed its U.S. version of tabletop Skittles in the mid-twentieth century. Our game is played with 12 pins and a spinning top instead of a ball. You can view the instructions for Skittles on our website and watch a video to see what gameplay looks like.
Here’s how it works:
The Skittles Game Board
The board in tabletop Skittles serves as the playing surface and a rectangular wooden platform. The edges of the board are raised to prevent the pins and top from falling off during play. They generally feature numbered circles where pins are placed that correspond to the point values of those pins if they’re knocked over. The size of the board can vary, but it is usually compact enough to fit on a tabletop, making it a convenient indoor game.
Skittles Pins
The pins in tabletop Skittles are small, cylindrical wooden pieces, typically numbering nine or twelve, arranged in a specific pattern at the end of the board (much like you see in a bowling alley). These pins are the primary targets for players, and the objective is to knock them down using the spinning top. The pins are often uniform in size and weight, and they are arranged on the circles marked on the game board.
The Skittles Top
The spinning top, also known as a "skittle top," is the device used to knock down the pins. It is typically made of wood and features a pointed tip that allows it to spin rapidly when launched. Players wind a string or cord around the top and then pull it sharply to set the top in motion. The skill lies in controlling the speed, direction, and force of the spin to accurately hit the pins.
The Physics Behind Tabletop Skittles
The spinning top, the game's central tool, is a marvel of motion, governed by principles like angular momentum, friction, and collision dynamics. Understanding these forces not only enhances appreciation for the game but also offers insights into how to master it.
Angular Momentum
When a player launches the spinning top by pulling the string, they impart angular momentum—a measure of the top's rotational motion. The faster the top spins, the more stable it becomes, thanks to the gyroscopic effect. This effect allows the top to maintain its orientation and resist tipping over, even as it moves across the board. Skilled players use this principle to control the top's speed, giving it enough momentum to knock down pins without veering off course.
Friction: The Force That Slows It Down
As the top spins, it encounters friction from the board's surface. This friction gradually slows the top's rotation and movement, eventually bringing it to a stop. The texture of the board and the smoothness of the top's tip play crucial roles in determining how long the top remains in motion.
For example, a smoother, more controlled pull on the string reduces initial friction, allowing the top to glide effortlessly toward the pins. Conversely, a sharper tug increases friction at the start, which can help the top stop more abruptly after hitting its target. Also a clean, well-polished board and a finely crafted top can reduce friction, allowing for longer spins and more precise gameplay.
Collision Dynamics
When the spinning top collides with a pin, the transfer of energy determines how the pin falls. A fast-spinning top with high kinetic energy can knock down multiple pins in a single strike, while a slower top might only topple one or two.
Hitting a pin squarely in the center transfers maximum energy, increasing the likelihood of a powerful strike that sends multiple pins tumbling. Alternatively, a glancing blow can create a chain reaction, where one falling pin knocks down its neighbors.
Bring Home a Piece of Skittles’ History
Ready to experience the timeless charm of tabletop Skittles for yourself? Carrom's handcrafted wooden boards, made right here in the U.S., combine tradition and quality into every detail. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, Carrom's Skittles set offers hours of fun and a chance to connect with a classic pastime. Bring the timeless art of Skittles into your living room today!
Resources
Skittles from Encyclopedia Britannica
Northhamptonshire Skittles by Trad Games
Tabletop Bowling Skittles Game Photo by Ngo Ngoc Khai Huyen on Unsplash
