USBC Final Verdict: Urethane Bowling Balls Restricted for 2026
After weeks of speculation and a formal review process, the United StatesBowling Congress (USBC) has finalized its decision on urethane and other slowoil-absorbing bowling balls. Back on July 23,USBC confirmed it was formally reviewing urethane equipmentfollowing growing concerns about fairness, lane conditions, and enforcement.That announcement included apublic surveyandinput from manufacturers, fueling speculation about a possible ban. July 23 USBC confirmed it was formally reviewing urethane equipment public survey input from manufacturers Now, USBC has delivered its verdict. BeginningJanuary 1, 2026, slowoil-absorbing high-performance balls will face strict new limits at nationaltournaments. In some events, they will be banned entirely; in others, onlymodels manufactured at a minimum78D hardness will beallowed. January 1, 2026 78D hardness Bowling ball makers had already anticipated change. In recent years, mostmajor brands stopped releasing new urethane models, with Storm’sIQ Tour 78U (2023) andHammer’sBlack Pearl Urethane (2024)among the last on the market. IQ Tour 78U Black Pearl Urethane What’s Changing Hardness Standard:BeginningDecember 31, 2025, any slowoil-absorbing high-performance ball (the type that absorbs oil slower than90 minutes and has a high-performance core) must be made at78D hardness or higher tobe approved for sale in the U.S.Older Models: All slowoil-absorbing balls madebefore August 1, 2022 areno longer allowed in national tournaments, even if they meet hardness requirements.League & Local Play:These balls will still be legal in leagues and local tournaments, unless anevent organizer decides otherwise. Hardness Standard:BeginningDecember 31, 2025, any slowoil-absorbing high-performance ball (the type that absorbs oil slower than90 minutes and has a high-performance core) must be made at78D hardness or higher tobe approved for sale in the U.S. Hardness Standard: December 31, 2025 78D hardness or higher Older Models: All slowoil-absorbing balls madebefore August 1, 2022 areno longer allowed in national tournaments, even if they meet hardness requirements. Older Models: before August 1, 2022 no longer allowed in national tournaments League & Local Play:These balls will still be legal in leagues and local tournaments, unless anevent organizer decides otherwise. League & Local Play: Tournament Rules (Starting 2026) Banned Completely: U.S. OpenUSBC MastersAll PWBA Tour events (including U.S. Women’s Open, Queens,Regionals)U22 Masters and QueensUSBC Intercollegiate NationalsUSA Bowling Nationals U.S. Open USBC Masters All PWBA Tour events (including U.S. Women’s Open, Queens,Regionals) U22 Masters and Queens USBC Intercollegiate Nationals USA Bowling Nationals Allowed Only if 78D Hardness: USBC Open ChampionshipsUSBC Women’s ChampionshipsBowlers Journal ChampionshipsUSBC Senior Masters, Senior Queens, Super Senior ClassicYouth Open Championships USBC Open Championships USBC Women’s Championships Bowlers Journal Championships USBC Senior Masters, Senior Queens, Super Senior Classic Youth Open Championships Restricted Use - Junior Gold: 78D urethane balls allowed inqualifying onlyNot allowed in match play or finals 78D urethane balls allowed inqualifying only qualifying only Not allowed in match play or finals No Change:Events like Team USA Trials, collegiate sectionals, Junior Gold qualifiers,and several amateur competitions remain unaffected. No Change: Why the Change? USBC explained four main reasons behind the decision: Lane Conditions -Slow oil-absorbing balls break down lane patterns faster, making them playdifferently than intended.Fairness - Mixingurethane and reactive balls in the same event creates scoring imbalancesbetween styles.Player Development - Relying too heavily on urethane limits skill growth, especiallyfor youth bowlers.Integrity - Theseballs can soften over time, which has caused protests and accusations oftampering. Lane Conditions -Slow oil-absorbing balls break down lane patterns faster, making them playdifferently than intended. Lane Conditions Fairness - Mixingurethane and reactive balls in the same event creates scoring imbalancesbetween styles. Fairness Player Development - Relying too heavily on urethane limits skill growth, especiallyfor youth bowlers. Player Development Integrity - Theseballs can soften over time, which has caused protests and accusations oftampering. Integrity “These changes take positive steps toward addressing the issues related toathlete development, lane pattern integrity and competition equity,” said USBCExecutive DirectorChad Murphy. Chad Murphy Hardness Spot Checks Begin Immediately USBC also confirmed it will beginhardness spot-check testingat national tournaments right away. While primarily for research andmonitoring, the checks also give officials a tool to identify potentialtampering and reinforce competitive integrity. hardness spot-check testing Ineligible Ball Lists USBC has published two official lists of balls that are now ineligible fornational events. The first applies to events whereno slow oil-absorbing balls are allowed (like the U.S. Open andMasters). The second applies to events where they are allowedonly if 78D hardness (like the USBC Open andWomen’s Championships). no slow oil-absorbing balls are allowed only if 78D hardness Some of the most notable models affected include: Storm Pitch BlackStorm IQ Tour 78UHammer Purple Pearl Urethane900 Global Altered RealityMotiv Tank Rampage Pearl Storm Pitch Black Storm IQ Tour 78U Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane 900 Global Altered Reality Motiv Tank Rampage Pearl These are among the most recognizable urethane and urethane-style balls incompetitive play, and their removal from certain events will be immediatelyfelt by both professionals and high-level amateurs. The complete, regularly updated ineligible ball lists are available onBOWL.com. BOWL.com What This Means for Bowlers If you bowl leagues or local tournaments, your urethane ball is still legal unless the organizer adopts theserules.If you compete in national events, you’ll need to carefully check whether your ball is allowed under thenew rules.A number of popular urethane and urethane-like models will no longer bepermitted at certain events, even if they were previously approved. If you bowl leagues or local tournaments, your urethane ball is still legal unless the organizer adopts theserules. If you bowl leagues or local tournaments , your urethane ball is still legal unless the organizer adopts theserules. If you compete in national events, you’ll need to carefully check whether your ball is allowed under thenew rules. If you compete in national events , you’ll need to carefully check whether your ball is allowed under thenew rules. A number of popular urethane and urethane-like models will no longer bepermitted at certain events, even if they were previously approved. A Split Path Between U.S. and Europe While USBC is tightening restrictions on urethane, Europe is moving in theopposite direction. OnAugust 18, the EuropeanBowling Federation (EBF) announced that the78D hardness rule will be dropped starting with the 2026European Bowling Tour (EBT) season and the 2025–26 EBT Youth season. August 18 78D hardness rule will be dropped That decision meansany ball on the USBC/IBF Approved Ball Listcan be used at EBT stops. Importantly, balls such as theHammer Purple Pearl Urethaneand Storm Pitch Black remainon the Approved List, even though they are restricted at certain USBC nationaltournaments beginning in 2026. any ball on the USBC/IBF Approved Ball List Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane Storm Pitch Black In practice, this creates a clear split: In the U.S.: Balls likePurple Hammer and Pitch Black are approved for general use but banned innational events such as the U.S. Open and Masters.In Europe: As long as theball is on the Approved List, it will be allowed at all EBT events, unlessthe tournament is officially sanctioned as part of the PBA Tour. In the U.S.: Balls likePurple Hammer and Pitch Black are approved for general use but banned innational events such as the U.S. Open and Masters. In the U.S.: In Europe: As long as theball is on the Approved List, it will be allowed at all EBT events, unlessthe tournament is officially sanctioned as part of the PBA Tour. In Europe: The contrast highlights a growing divide in global governance. For bowlerscompeting internationally, it means the same ball could be disallowed at aUSBC national tournament yet fully legal on the European tour. The Bottom Line The ruling marks one of the most significant changes to bowling ballregulations in recent years. While reactions will be mixed, USBC believes thenew standards will preserve lane conditions, level the playing field, andencourage more versatile skill development. Read a fullUSBC Report on Bowling Ball Hardness Governance. USBC Report on Bowling Ball Hardness Governance For complete details, FAQs, and the full ineligible ball lists, visitBOWL.com. BOWL.com.