How to play Mölkky
What is Mölkky?
Mölkky is a sport originated in Finland, where players aim for exactly 50 points by knocking down wooden pins with numbers written on them.
This sport is a combination of bowling and billiards, and can be enjoyed by men and women of all ages because it does not require strong strength.
Among Japanese Mölkky players, Manganji temple is called a sacred place for Mölkky because of the description in front of the tomb of Kintoki Sakata (Kintaro-san) at Manganji temple (Kawanishi city, Hyogo prefecture), which resembles a skitttle.
Easy for everyone to play, whether fully or casually.
Here is a brief explanation of the Mölkky rules.
Mölkky is a sport that can be played easily as long as you have the right equipment. Moreover, the rules are very simple. Please try to learn and play.
What to use in Mölkky
molkky
A stick thrown at skittles. Points are added by throwing a molkky to knock down skittles.skittles
A pin that is knocked down by hitting it with a molkky. Each of the 12 pins has a number written on it, and the number of points depends on the written numbers or number of pins knocked down.molkkaari
It designates a range from which players throw a molkky. Players make a throw from within this range.
Flow of a Mölkky match
Mölkky is played in three simple steps.
You can play in neighborhood parks, on riverbanks, in the Mölkky Dome, or at Manganji temple.
1. Line up skittles
Line up skittles at a distance of 3.5 meters from the molkkaari. The initial arrangement is as shown in the figure below, with odd numbers on the left side and even numbers on the right side, and the skittles are arranged to be attached each other like billiards.
Initial arrangement
It is easier to have a 3.5 m length of string or a tool that can be marked at the first position!
2. Throw a molkky
Player throws a molkky from behind the molkkaari to knock down skittles. If only one skittle is knocked down, the number written on the skittle becomes the score as it is. If multiple skittles are knocked down, the score is the number of skittles knocked down.
How we do it on Mollog.
Data of the match is recorded by entering scores for each player.
In Full Mölkky mode, before you throw you can record which skittles you are aiming at and with what intention, distance, type of throw, technique, and its results. Your own data is accumulated for a review at any time.
3. Stand up the skittles.
Stand up the skittles where they are knocked down, and the match continues with the next player taking his/her turn. This process is repeated to reach the first 50 points.
How to stand up skittles
Raise skittles with the part in contact with the ground attached in that position, and arrange the numbers written on them facing in the direction of the molkkaari.
How we do it on Mollog.
Click the 'Next Player' button at the bottom of the results entry screen to switch to the next player's entry screen.
Disqualified on 3 faults
If none of skittles are knocked down , it becomes a fault (mistake). If a player receives three consecutive faults in his or her turn, the player is disqualified and receives zero points.
If any of players is disqualified, the match will continue with only the remaining players.
When you reach 2 faults, don't be adventurous and focus on hitting any of skittles first.
How to score when skittles are knocked down on top of one another.
Only skittles that are firmly attached to the ground will be scored.
Skittles on top of another are treated as not having been knocked down.
Overscore
If a player's score is 51 points or more, it returns to 25 points.
In the image above, you can see that the point returns to 25 on the sixth pitch due to overscore.
Mollog automatically calculates overscore.
37-point rule
If a team or individual with a current score of 37 or more points commits the following foul play, it will be treated as a throwing mistake and the score will be reduced to 25 points.
- Foul play
- Overstepping molkkaari
- A throw in the wrong throwing order
Mölkkyout
When a match turns out to be tie and the winner cannot be finalized, a tie break system called Mölkkyout can be used to finalize the winner.
Rules for Mölkkyout are as follows.