CATALAN BOWLING
Photo: Josep Renalias (Wikimedia Commons). License: CC BY-SA
The Catalan bowling game called “bitlles catalanes” is the most popular traditional sport. It consists in throwing the so-called "bitllots" or “mazas” (a kind of ninepins) against the "bitllets,” the normal ninepins from a certain distance in order to knock them down. Currently, about 2,000 people practice it in over a hundred clubs and associations in Catalonia. Since 2007, the Catalan Bowling Federation has an international recognition.
Material: 6 "bitlles" (ninepins) y 3 "bitllots" (small ninepins).
How to play: a game is made up of 9 throwing times for each player in 3 rounds of 3 throwing (one for each player). For each throwing a player can use 1-3 "bitllots." The "bitlles" will be placed in 2 sets with 3 lines each one with a space between the lines enough for the biggest "bitllots" to go through. The throwing distance will be 11.5 metres for men and 9.5 metres for women over 15 years. The goal is to do "bitlla," that is, to knock down 5 out of 6 ninepins. In case of draw, the player who has done "bitllas" more times wins. If they still draw, there will be another round of 3 throws.
Scoring: 1 ninpine is 1 point, 2 ninepins are 2 points, 3 ninepins are 3 points, 4 ninepins are 4 points, but 5 ninepins are 10 points ("bitlla"), 6 ninepins are 6 points. If you do not knock down any ninepin, you will not get any point.