String pin bowling is a variant where each pin is attached to a thin string or cord connected to the overhead pinsetter mechanism. When pins are knocked down, the pinsetter uses the strings to lift and reset them without needing to sweep them off the deck. It's faster, cheaper to operate, and requires less mechanical maintenance than traditional free-fall pinsetters. It's also significantly different in how the ball and pins interact — a fact that has made string pins controversial among competitive bowlers.
How String Pins Work
In traditional ten-pin bowling, pins are free-standing on the pin deck. When the ball hits them, they fly, bounce off the back cushion, carom into each other, and fall freely. The pinsetter then sweeps fallen pins off the deck and resets standing ones.
In string pin bowling, each pin has a thin string (typically nylon or similar) attached to its neck or top. The strings connect to a mechanism above the lane. When the ball hits pins, they can only fall as far as the string allows — typically to a near-horizontal position. The pinsetter then simply hoists them back to vertical without needing to move them off the deck and reset them individually.
Why String Pins Are Spreading
The economics are compelling. Traditional free-fall pinsetters are complex mechanical systems with hundreds of moving parts, require skilled technicians to maintain, and have long lead times for parts. String pinsetter systems are significantly simpler mechanically — fewer parts, less maintenance expertise required, faster resetting (which means more games per hour), and lower total cost of ownership over the life of the equipment.
For new bowling center construction and for smaller venues (entertainment centers, bars with a few lanes, cruise ships, compact urban bowling installations), string pinsetters make a format that would otherwise be economically impossible viable. This is why you increasingly see bowling lanes in non-traditional venues — bowling alleys embedded in restaurants, hotels, and entertainment complexes — using string pin systems.
String Pins and Scoring
The different carry dynamics of string pins affect scoring in ways that are still being studied and debated. Some analyses suggest string pins produce slightly higher strike rates on borderline hits; others show they leave more corner pins on certain entry angles. The net effect on average scores is unclear and likely varies by bowler type, ball speed, and entry angle.
What's clear is that string pin scoring is not directly comparable to free-fall pinsetter scoring. A 200 average on string pins doesn't straightforwardly translate to a 200 average on traditional pins, and USBC currently does not recognize scores bowled on string pin equipment for handicap or average purposes in sanctioned competition.
USBC Position
As of 2024, the USBC has not approved string pin equipment for use in sanctioned competition. USBC-certified leagues and tournaments must use free-fall pinsetter equipment meeting USBC specifications. This means that bowling centers that convert entirely to string pins effectively exit the sanctioned league market — a significant consideration for centers with established league programs.
Several manufacturers are working on string pin systems that may eventually meet USBC certification requirements, and the governing body has acknowledged that the economics of the sport may require engaging with string pin technology. The debate is ongoing.
Where You'll Find String Pins
String pin lanes are most common in entertainment bowling venues (Bowlero, Lucky Strike, and similar chains increasingly use them for some lanes), mini bowling installations in non-traditional venues, and smaller markets where the economics of traditional pinsetters are prohibitive. If you're bowling in a dedicated traditional bowling center with an active league program, you're almost certainly on free-fall pins. If you're bowling in an entertainment complex or casual venue, check — it may be string pins.