In medieval England the game was called skittles. Nowadays there are 4 variants of skittles: Western Skittles (or Alley Skittles) 9 pins of 4 different heights and a 24 ft alley; Long Alley - 9 pins, one of which is the main with a 33-36 ft alley; Old English Skittles with bomb-shaped pins and a 21ft alley; Rolly-Polly - 12 pins in a circle with 1 nearby. 10-pin bowling is the North American variant of skittles. The most popular explanation for that is that in 1841 Connecticut law made it illegal to maintain "any ninepin lanes", probably because bowling was the object of much gambling. Another pin was introduced to bypass the law.
Bowling clubs differ in the types of alley surfaces and number of points. It is necessary to wear special shoes and gloves to play the game. The ball is chosen for individual use and must be in the proportion of 1/10th of the player's weight.