How to Play Skittles (Spinner, Bar Skittles, and Bowling)

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Learn how to play nine-pin Skittles and other variations

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA

Last Updated: January 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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Skittles Board Game

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Bar Skittles

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Skittles Bowling

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Other Variations

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History

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Video

Skittles is an ancient game with many, many variations (including bowling!), and it’s still played commonly today. It’s a cinch to set up, and the rules are easy to understand, no matter which version you play. We’ll show you how to play the most common variations—Spinners, Bar Skittles, and Skittles Bowling—as well as how to customize the game to your liking. We’ll also give you a peek into its history!

Spinner Skittles Rules

Place the pins in the designated places on the board, shown by dots or circles. Then, wind your top and place it in the starting position.
Spin your top and watch as it travels through the board, knocking down pins. Add up your points based on the point value of the pins you knock down.
Reset the board and let the next person take their turn. Try to be the first player to 500 points, letting everyone have an equal number of turns.

Section 1 of 5:

Playing Spinner Skittles Board Game

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1
Set up the wooden pins in the circles on the board. Each Spinner Skittles board, no matter the configuration, has spaces for pins. Set up the pins so that they stand up in the circles on the board. Note that pins in different areas—like in the compartments—are worth different amounts of points.^{[1]
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- The Skittles board game can be played with as many players as you like, but remember that more players equals more downtime between turns.
2
Wind the top of your choice and position it at the starting hole. Some Skittles boards come with 2 different tops, and either top spins differently. Choose your top, then place it at the designated starting position near the base of the board, where there’s a small hole in the wall. Wind the top, then feed the string through this hole while using the other hand to keep the top upright.^{[2]
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- Feel free to experiment with both tops before the game begins to get a feel for them.
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While keeping one finger gently on the middle of your top, quickly pull the wound string to set the top spinning while simultaneously lifting away your finger to free the top. Now, just watch it rip! The top with bounce and zip around the board, knocking down pins as it goes.^{[3]
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Once the top stops moving, identify the toppled pins and their point values, indicated by the numbers on the board. Add up these points to find your running score for the round. Then, let the next player take a spin. Once every player has had a turn, the round ends.^{[4]
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5
Win the game by reaching a point goal or by having the most points. How you win the game depends on which ruleset you’re using. Commonly, people play first to 500 points. Or, you might decide a certain number of rounds to play before the game begins, like 5 rounds, then see who has the most points at the end. Whatever you do, decide on the rules before you play so it’s fair and everyone knows the goal.^{[5]
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- Or, play so that the player with the fewest points at the end of round 5 wins.

Section 2 of 5:

Playing Bar Skittles

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1
Split into even teams and set up 9 pins on the board. Bar Skittles is often played in teams, since the bar is a social place, but you can also play it singles-style, if you like. Split into teams, then set the pins upright in a diamond shape on the board. Most boards have circles to show you where to place the pins.^{[6]
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- Some boards even have a string mechanism to pull that magically sets up the pins for you.
2
Take turns swinging the ball three times from around the pole at the pins. Teams alternate sending someone to throw. When you throw, hold the ball behind the pole, opposite the board. Then, swing it like a tetherball clockwise around the pole to knock down the pins. Each player gets 3 throws per round to try to knock down all the pins. Once you’ve had 3 throws, switch out with the next opponent.
- If you knock down every pin on your first throw, set them back up and take 2 more throws. It’s possible to clear the board 3 times in 1 turn this way.
For this tutorial, we’re explaining the common 91-point ruleset. With this version of the game, you subtract 1 point from your team’s total for every pin knocked down. Teams all start with 91 points and race to 0. However, each team needs to hit exactly 0 to win, meaning if your team is at 5 and you knock down 6 pins, your turn is null and the game moves forward—try again on your next turn!^{[7]
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Traditionally, competitive Bar Skittles is played in 4 sets of 3 rounds, with each round being a race to 0 and teams playing best of 3 to take a set, aiming to take at least 7 rounds, but this assumes you have full teams of eight players, and can get pretty complicated for a causal bar game..^{[8]
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Research source} For a casual game, which is more common, simply play 3 rounds of first to 0. The first team to take 2 rounds wins the overall match.

Section 3 of 5:

Playing Skittles Bowling

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1
Split into teams and set up 9 pins in a diamond shape. Skittles is distinct from normal bowling in that a Skittles Bowling set only uses 9 pins (rather than 10), and those pins are arranged in a diamond.^{[9]
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Research source} Set up your pins on whatever surface you choose. Lay down a yardstick or a length of string to make a bowling line, then set up the pins about 15–20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) away from the pins.
- Set each pin about 12 in (30 cm) away from each other. The first row has 1 pin, the row behind it has 2, then 3, then 2, then 1.
- The distance from the pins can change based on your skill level. Start with the line fairly close, then move it back if the game is too easy.
- Skittles is most often played on hardwood floors or any other hard, smooth surface, but feel free to play on carpet or even grass—wherever there’s room.
2
Bowl the ball from behind the line 3 times per player and add up your score. Each player bowls 3 times in a row, standing behind the line, just like in bowling. For each pin you knock over, you earn 1 point, so keep track on a pad of paper as you play. If you knock down all the pins, set them up all up again. This means that you can earn a possible total of 27 points on your turn if you knock down all 9 pins on each of your 3 bowls.^{[10]
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- Between bowls, remove any pins that were knocked over and set them aside, out of the way.
3
Play 12 rounds to see who gets the most points. Playing 12 rounds means each person has 12 turns to bowl 3 times. That said, this number can vary based on how long you want your game to be. Play more rounds for a longer game, and fewer for a shorter game. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
- If you’re playing in teams, players on each team switch out when it’s their team’s turn to bowl. So if you’re playing on teams of 2, each team member will have 6 turns.

Section 4 of 5:

Other Skittles Variations

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Customize the rules however you like. Skittles is a very old game, and there are many ways to play as there are people who play it. Over the years, new rules have emerged and old rules have been retired. This means that you can change things however you like! Here are some traditional variations to try:^{[11]
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- Four Corners: Play with only 4 pins arranged in a diamond. Players have to hit the frontmost pin before any other pins count toward their points.
- Irish Skittles: Play with 4 pins arranged in a diamond, with a fifth pin in the center. Draw a circle on the ground in chalk that connects the 4 outer pins. When you bowl, pins must be knocked out of the circle to count toward your points.
- Long Alley Skittles: Set up the pins a great distance from the throwing line—about 33–36 ft (10–11 m) away. Players hurl the ball at the pins, and the ball must bounce at least once before it hits the pins for any points to be scored.

Section 5 of 5:

History of Skittles

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Skittles likely originated in the 14th century with a game called Kayles. Historians say the first known depiction of a game like skittles comes from some old manuscripts that show players throwing clubs at pins. Other manuscripts and art show Skittles itself being played as early as 1694 in England. That said, it’s a common sport around the world that was likely invented many different times in many different periods, and that’s why there are so many versions of it!^{[12]
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- Skittles as we know it was cemented and established as a well-known pastime in the 1800s.
- Some historians say that games like Skittles and Bowling were even played as far back as 5200 B.C., citing evidence of the game found in ancient Egyptian tombs.^{[13]
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- In some cultures, the pins were made from bone.