candlepin bowling vs candlepins

candlepin bowling and candlepins both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
candlepin bowling	Yes	No	No	No
candlepins	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, candlepin bowling and candlepins are synonyms defined as:

candlepin bowling and candlepins: a bowling game using slender bowling pins

candlepin bowling (noun)	candlepins (noun)
a bowling game using slender bowling pins	a bowling game using slender bowling pins