ARLINGTON, Texas – The United States Bowling Congress will adopt new tournament rules at nationally conducted events.
These rules will either eliminate the use of slow oil-absorbing high-performance (urethane) bowling balls or require them to be manufactured at a minimum 78D hardness.
USBC has updated the Equipment Specifications Manual to define slow oil-absorbing high-performance balls subject to the 78D rule, and a complete list of ineligible balls for national tournaments is available on BOWL.com. The removal includes all slow oil-absorbing high-performance balls manufactured before Aug. 1, 2022, which will be ineligible for national tournament use regardless of their manufactured hardness.
Effective Dec. 31, 2025, slow oil-absorbing high-performance bowling balls with oil absorption times over 90 minutes must be at least 78D hardness to be USBC approved for sale in the United States. Bowling balls with an oil absorption time greater than 90 minutes and featuring high-performance cores will be subject to the new approval specification. Entry level reactive balls and balls with non-high-performance cores will not be subject to the specification.
In response to these changes, both Brunswick and Hammer — two of the premier equipment manufacturers — have released company responses to the USBC’s decision. Those letters are attached below:
