Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl

Tiny Balls, Tricky Pins!

Duckpin Bowling at Hollywood Bowl

With smaller, lightweight balls and smaller pins, duckpin bowling is perfect for all ages and skill levels.

Activities

What's on Duckpin Bowling

More about Duckpin Bowling

Try duckpin bowling

A different kind of bowling

Duckpin bowling puts a playful twist on traditional ten-pin bowling. The game uses smaller, lighter balls and shorter pins, giving you a different challenge on the lanes. The smaller balls are easy for young children to grip and roll, while their lighter weight can also make duckpin bowling a comfortable choice for older players. With the aim of knocking down as many pins as possible across each frame, it's an accessible way for the whole family to enjoy bowling together.

how to play duckpin bowling

Tips for your next game

A little accuracy goes a long way in duckpin bowling. Take your time to line up your shot, focus on the pins and use a controlled throw rather than relying on power. Smaller balls make it easier to adjust your technique, while aiming for the centre of the pins can help you knock down more with each roll. Keep track of your score and experiment with your technique to find what works best for you.

Common questions

Everything you need to know before you visit.

Booking online is the only way to guarantee a lane, and at peak times it matters: Friday and Saturday evenings, school holidays, and wet weekends all fill up hours ahead. Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space, but during those periods we often have none. Booking ahead also means you choose your time slot rather than taking whatever is free when you arrive.

A single game takes around 45 minutes for a group of up to six players, and two games run to about an hour and a half. Larger groups take longer because everyone bowls in turn -- allow roughly ten minutes per player per game as a rule of thumb. Your confirmation email shows an estimated finish time, and there's no need to leave the moment your last frame is done.

Yes. Bumpers can be raised on any lane so nothing ends up in the gutter, lighter balls are available for smaller hands, and ramps let very young children push the ball down the lane themselves. Junior pricing applies to under-16s. Most centres also have amusements, and several have mini golf, so there is something to do between games.

Outside food and drink isn't permitted, but you won't need it. Our Bar & Diner serves a full menu -- burgers, wings, pizza, sharing platters, kids' meals, soft drinks, cocktails and draught beer -- and you can order from your lane and eat while you bowl rather than breaking off. Tell us about allergies or dietary requirements when you book and we'll talk you through the options.

Our VIP lanes are guaranteed to leave you feeling like a star. Set apart from the main bowling area, a VIP lane offers a more private bowling experience with comfortable lounge-style seating. It's ideal for groups who want to sit, eat and enjoy their time together around the lane. VIP can be added during booking for a supplement per person and is subject to availability at your chosen centre. As VIP lanes are limited, we recommend booking in advance, especially for popular dates and times.

Groups of 20 or more, and any corporate booking, are handled by our events team rather than the standard online journey -- they can arrange multiple adjacent lanes, exclusive hire of a centre, bespoke catering, a drinks package and invoiced billing rather than card payment on the day. Use the events contact on your chosen centre page, or the enquiry form on our corporate events page, and they will build the run of the day around you.

Booking online is the only way to guarantee a lane, and at peak times it matters: Friday and Saturday evenings, school holidays, and wet weekends all fill up hours ahead. Walk-ins are welcome whenever we have space, but during those periods we often have none. Booking ahead also means you choose your time slot rather than taking whatever is free when you arrive.