History:
The game involves nine small skittles arranged in a 3 × 3 square, usually on a raised plinth within a shallow open-topped wooden tray, about 2 x 2½ feet in size, sitting on a table-top. A cribbage board often forms part of the tray and is used for keeping score.

The wooden ball (about the size of a golf ball) hangs from a string or chain attached to the top of a vertical wooden post rising from one corner of the box or one-third of the way along one side. The top of the post swivels to allow the ball to swing freely. The aim of the game is to knock down the skittles by swinging the ball in an arc round the post (rather than aiming directly at the skittles)