USBC Communications
More than 20,000 members and participants shared their feedback on urethane bowling balls in USBC-certified competition via a survey posted across various social media platforms.
The survey was conducted in phases also via email to segment responses by audience.
Some of the key insights, according to the United State Bowling Congress:
• 57 percent of respondents favored some form of change — including a full ban, tighter specs, or restrictions in USBC national events only.
• 39 percent supported no changes.
- Feedback was consistent across both public and tournament groups.
Here is the USBC’s state full conclusion of the results:
- “A complete ban on urethane would be a complicated transition for consumers and ball manufacturers. USBC is mindful of the impact such major governance changes would have on membership and the industry.
With more than 57% of respondents answering that USBC should take some form of action and less than 39% supporting no changes, USBC staff does believe new governance is needed. - As next steps, USBC staff will work through the Equipment Specifications Committee to determine a recommendation that may include some combination of national tournament rules to remove current urethane balls from national events and/or considering higher hardness manufacturing specifications for urethane balls in the future. Alternatively, the Committee may decide not to make any changes at all.
- USBC is not considering revocation of approved balls or rules that would prohibit urethane balls from USBC leagues or tournaments that choose to allow them. USBC is not considering changes that would justify a return or refund for any bowling ball.
- USBC would also like to share as a point of clarification. In the USBC Equipment Specifications Manual there is a carve out for non-high-performance bowling balls. Non-high-performance bowling balls as defined in the Manual would not be impacted by any of the changes under consideration.
To see a complete summation of the USBC’s findings via its survey, see the wrap-up below: