How to Play Northamptonshire Skittles

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Northamptonshire Skittles is an indoor pin game played on a dedicated wooden table or alley, typically found in the back rooms of Midlands pubs and social clubs. Nine pins are arranged in a diamond formation and players throw a flat disc called a cheese rather than a ball, which gives the game its distinctively low, skimming action and makes accuracy at least as important as power.

The game rewards consistent technique over brute strength, which is a big part of why it draws players of all ages and builds such a loyal following wherever a dedicated table exists. A full match moves quickly, conversation flows between throws, and the satisfying clatter of a clean strike makes it immediately compelling even for first-timers.

A little history

Skittles in various forms has been played in England for several centuries, and references to pin games appear in records dating back to the medieval period. The Northamptonshire variant, with its cheese and diamond-formation pins, is particularly associated with the East Midlands, where dedicated alleys survive in pubs and clubs that have maintained the game for generations. Its precise origins as a distinct regional form are unclear, but it is widely documented as a living pub tradition in Northamptonshire, with organised leagues recorded through the twentieth century and continuing today.

Setting up

1. Place the skittles table or alley on a firm, level surface with clear space at both ends.
2. Stand the nine pins in a diamond formation on the pin pad at one end: one pin at the front (nearest the throwers), two in the second row, three in the middle row, two in the fourth row, and one at the back.
3. Ensure all pins are correctly seated in their holes or spots and standing upright before each player's turn begins.
4. Establish the throwing line at the opposite end of the alley; players must release the cheese from behind or at this line.
5. Agree the number of legs (rounds) to be played, a common match format is three legs, and decide the throwing order, typically by a practice throw or by agreement.
6. Nominate a scorer or confirm everyone understands the scoring method before play begins.

How to play

1. Players take turns in an agreed order. Each player throws three cheeses per turn.
2. To throw, grip the cheese and deliver it underarm so that it slides or skims along the alley surface toward the pins. The cheese must not be bowled overarm or bounced intentionally off side cushions unless local house rules permit otherwise.
3. The cheese must be released from behind the throwing line. Stepping over the line before the cheese leaves the hand is a foul; the throw is not counted and the pins are reset to their position before that throw.
4. Count the number of pins knocked down with each throw. Pins that are knocked down and remain down count toward the player's score. A pin that falls and then is knocked back upright by another pin or the cheese counts as down.
5. Pins knocked down by a previous throw are removed from the alley before the next throw of the same turn, so the player always throws at the remaining standing pins.
6. After a player's three throws are complete, all nine pins are re-set in the diamond formation for the next player's turn, regardless of how many pins were knocked down.
7. Record each player's total pins knocked down across all three throws. This is the player's score for that turn.
8. Continue until all players have completed the agreed number of legs. Total each player's cumulative pin count.
9. If playing in teams, combine all team members' scores to produce a team total for each leg.
10. The player or team with the highest total pin count at the end of all agreed legs wins.

Winning and scoring

The winner is the individual or team with the greatest total number of pins knocked down across all legs played. There is no fixed winning score; the game is comparative, not target-based, unless players agree a specific target before play begins. A perfect turn is 27 pins (nine pins knocked down with each of the three throws), and this is called a flopper or a maximum depending on local custom. In league play, each leg is often scored separately and points are awarded per leg won, with the overall match going to the side winning the most legs.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns a pin that is knocked down, rebounds off the backboard or side cushion, and knocks over additional pins on its way back. Standard ruling in most clubs is that any pin knocked down counts, regardless of the sequence of events, provided the cheese caused the chain reaction. However, if a pin is knocked down solely by another pin that has already left the pin area and is clearly in a dead position, local house rules may vary, so agree this before play. A pin rocking but remaining upright does not count as down.

Fouls at the throwing line should be called immediately, before the result of the throw is assessed, to avoid argument. If a cheese leaves the alley entirely or strikes a pin that was already off the table from a previous throw in the same turn, no additional pins are credited for that action. Pins accidentally disturbed by the pin-setter while resetting between throws must be replaced exactly; if there is genuine doubt about placement, both players should agree the position before the next throw proceeds.

How to win more often

• Aim for the front pin with a straight, low, skimming delivery: a clean strike on the leading pin tends to drive through the diamond most effectively and gives you the best chance of a full clearance.
• If some pins remain after your first throw, resist the temptation to add power. Accuracy to the specific cluster is worth far more than a harder throw that drifts wide.
• Study the angle of scatter after your first throw so you can adjust your line for the second. Northamptonshire Skittles rewards players who read the pin layout quickly.
• Develop a consistent grip and release point. The cheese needs to stay flat throughout its travel, so any tilt on release will alter its path significantly.
• In a team match, keep a rough mental note of the running score. If your team is comfortably ahead, a steady reliable throw beats a risky attempt at a maximum and the distraction errors it can cause.

Variations

Legs Format

Rather than cumulative pin count, each leg is treated as a standalone contest. The player or team with the highest pin count in a leg wins a leg point. The match is won by the first to win an agreed number of legs, typically two out of three or three out of five. This format increases the importance of each individual round and is the standard structure used in most Northamptonshire Skittles league matches.

Nominated Pin

Before each throw the player nominates a specific pin, and only pins knocked down as a direct result of the nominated pin being struck first are scored. This variation is sometimes used as a practice or skill drill rather than a standalone match format, and it develops precision targeting considerably faster than standard open play.

Killer

Each player is assigned a number corresponding to a pin position. A player is eliminated if their nominated pin is knocked down by an opponent. The last player whose pin remains standing wins. This works well with larger groups of four to six players and adds a tactical element, as players may aim deliberately at opponents' pins rather than chasing the maximum score.

Team Aggregate

In this common social format, two teams of three players each play simultaneously or in alternating turns, and the combined pin total of all three team members across all legs is the deciding score. Individual turns still follow the standard three-cheese structure, but the pressure is collective rather than personal, which suits pub evenings where the atmosphere matters as much as the result.

Northamptonshire Skittles: frequently asked questions