On Monday, the European Bowling Federation (EBF) confirmedit will drop the 78D hardness rule for the European Bowling Tour (EBT). The change starts with the 2026 EBT season and the 2025–26 EBTYouth season. All IBF/USBC-approved balls, including high performance urethaneand urethane-like bowling balls, will be allowed at every EBT stop.Meanwhile, PBA-sanctioned events on European soil will continue tofollow PBA rules. it will drop the 78D hardness rule for the European Bowling Tour (EBT) On EBT, the optional 78D rule lastedonly one season. Allowing each event to adopt the 78D rule did not deliver the expectedresult. The EBT calendar shrank by more than half, and organizers blamed therule for fewer entries. only one season In an interview with Erikas Jansonas ofBowlingLife, EBF President Valgeir Guðbjartsson said the optional rule had astronger negative effect than expected. “When we made the 78D rule optional for organizers last year, we hoped itwould not negatively affect EBT. Unfortunately, the number of tournamentsdropped significantly — from 14 in 2024 to just 6 in 2025. In several cases,organizers cited the optional nature of the rule as a reason for notparticipating. Additionally, we faced criticism for deviating from IBF'sstandard rules regarding bowling balls.” Asked what outcome the EBF expects now from removing the 78D rule, he pointedto rebuilding the calendar and stability.“EBF does hope thattournaments will be return to EBT and it can continue to grow.” After EBF's decision, any ball on theUSBC Approved Ball Listwill be eligible for use, including urethanes softer than 78D. USBC Approved Ball List Meanwhile, in the United States, discussions about urethane governance havebeen in the headlines over the past month.On July 23,USBC released an official statementexpressing increasing concerns about the ongoing use of urethane bowling ballsin certified competition.USBC then surveyed bowlersabout potential changes and now and majority wants change. Eventhough USBC will probably take totally different path on urethanes, EBFPresident said the systems remain aligned as long as ball approvals areunchanged. “USBC, as part of IBF, has not taken a differentdirection. They continue to manage the approved ball lists and checks. As longas this remains unchanged, IBF — and therefore EBF — will follow USBC's leadon this matter.” USBC released an official statement USBC then surveyed bowlers USBC’s Equipment Specifications Committee plans to meet in late August orearly September 2025 to provide a structured solution. Until then, it’sunclear whether ball changes will affect the Approved Ball List or only thenational tournament rulebook.When asked why the EBF did not waitfor the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee decision, Guðbjartsson citedEBT scheduling needs. “We could not wait longer, as we have toprepare the EBT for next year.”

Following a public statement from the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) confirming that it is in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls in certified competition, reactions have started to come out from within the bowling community. public statement public statement in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls in advanced talks to ban urethane bowling balls Brunswick, one of the leading bowling equipment manufacturers, confirmed it has been in contact with USBC since April regarding potential changes to ball specifications. These discussions are part of USBC’s wider review process, which includes input from technical experts, manufacturers, and stakeholders. In an interview with Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife, Jordan Vanover, VP International at Brunswick Bowling Products, LLC, said the company has been in ongoing discussions with USBC in recent months, actively sharing feedback and addressing the concerns raised by the organization. “USBC contacted us in late April requesting feedback on potential changes to bowling ball specifications, and we have maintained open communications with the USBC over the past few months,” Mr. Vanover said “We have listened to the USBC concerns and had the opportunity to share our thoughts and ideas.” In those imput exchanges, Brunswick made it clear that it does not support a ban on urethane. The company believes urethane balls play an important role for many bowlers, especially in more demanding lane conditions. “We do not agree with the idea of banning urethane balls,” Vanover stated. “These balls are an important tool for many bowlers who use them to achieve more controllable ball motion on challenging lane patterns.” Brunswick’s product lineup includes several urethane balls under its umbrella, including the most popular one - Hammer’s Purple Pearl Urethane. A full ban would have financial consequences for the company. “The elimination of urethane balls would have a measurable impact on our sales,” Vanover noted. In recent months, there has been speculation that manufacturers have slowed or stopped urethane development due to the pottential USBC urethane ban. Brunswick, however, denied this connection. “The urethane ball released in March 2024 was not connected to the ongoing USBC discussions,” said Vanover. While USBC has not yet announced a final decision, the topic remains one of the most widely discussed in the bowling community today. BowlingLife has been in contact with USBC officials, but at this time, the organization has no further comment beyond what was published in its social media post on July 23. USBC has also launched a public survey asking for input on how urethane bowling balls should be handled in certified competitions. USBC has also launched a public survey USBC has also launched a public survey All feedback gathered so far, along with any new responses, will be reviewed by the Equipment Specifications Committee at its next meeting, set for late August or early September 2025.

Darren Tang, a PBA Tour title holder since his win at the 2021 Bowlerstore.com Classic, has officially written his name into the PBA record books with one exceptional achievement. After years of competing as a one-handed player, Tang made a bold move in late 2024 by switching to a two-handed delivery. Many fans assumed it was just for content - since Tang is the one of the biggest bowling content creators on YouTube - but it wasn’t. He bowled his first tournament using the two-handed style in November and fully committed to the change in February 2025. biggest bowling content creators on YouTube biggest bowling content creators on YouTube This weekend, his efforts fully paid off as he won the PBA Santa Maria Open in the West Region. With this victory, Tang becomes the first bowler ever to win PBA titles using both one-handed and two-handed techniques. Following the victory, Darren Tang spoke with Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife about his newest achievement, the challenges he faced during the transition to two-handed, and how he sees his future on tour. As most things in life, best of them comes unexpectedly. That happened and this time. When asked what it meant for him to become the first player in PBA history to win titles using both styles, Darren said that he didn’t pursue the distinction on purpose, but acknowledged it was still a special moment. “Always cool to have the distinction to be the first to do something. It’s not something that I thought too much about,” Tang stated. “I just want to keep getting better to give myself the best chance possible to win again on the tour.” “Always cool to have the distinction to be the first to do something. It’s not something that I thought too much about,” Tang stated. “I just want to keep getting better to give myself the best chance possible to win again on the tour.” Even though many say that two-handed bowling is a kind of cheat code, it’s still difficult to learn - especially well enough to win a PBA title. When explaining the technical challenges that came with switching styles, Tang shared that one old habit in particular was especially tough to break. “The hardest habit to break for me is the internal rotation of my shoulder. I had this move as a one hander, and it would cause misses to the left and is more or less a power leak," Tang explained. "It’s exaggerated bowling two handed because of the position I have to rotate around now. If I don’t keep it in check, my elbow flies around the ball much worse than a good shot.” “The hardest habit to break for me is the internal rotation of my shoulder. I had this move as a one hander, and it would cause misses to the left and is more or less a power leak," Tang explained. "It’s exaggerated bowling two handed because of the position I have to rotate around now. If I don’t keep it in check, my elbow flies around the ball much worse than a good shot.” Starting over with a brand-new style is never easy—it takes time to develop, and there’s always some doubt. For pros like Tang, who need to perform just to make a living, the risk is even bigger. He admitted that the initial decision to switch wasn’t easy. But once he fully committed to going two-handed, he never looked back. “I haven’t doubted the switch. I did doubt switching initially. I think the hardest part in anything someone does is start. I understood that this would take some time. I told myself that I need to be okay with not cashing for the rest of the season to develop this skill. Once I committed, I never looked back. I was extremely fortunate to pick up on it much faster than I anticipated.” “I haven’t doubted the switch. I did doubt switching initially. I think the hardest part in anything someone does is start. I understood that this would take some time. I told myself that I need to be okay with not cashing for the rest of the season to develop this skill. Once I committed, I never looked back. I was extremely fortunate to pick up on it much faster than I anticipated.” Tang noticed that he strikes more often with the two-handed style, but some old habits of one-handed style still sneak into his current technique - reminding us that bowling is always changing and adapting. “I have committed to both styles. I believe the optimal way to throw strikes is with two hands. I also believe that the optimal way to shoot spares is with the thumb in. So that is what I will be committing to for the foreseeable future.” “I have committed to both styles. I believe the optimal way to throw strikes is with two hands. I also believe that the optimal way to shoot spares is with the thumb in. So that is what I will be committing to for the foreseeable future.”

At the 2025 European Men’s Bowling Championships in Aalborg, Denmark, Team Italy delivered one of its strongest performances in decades.Gli Azzurri claimed medals in Singles, Doubles, the Team event, and All-Events, and came close in Trios — missing the podium by just 9 pins. Singles Singles Doubles Doubles Trios Trios When many powerhouses struggled to find a game plan on a challenging oil pattern — one that some players called the toughest ever seen at the European Championships — Italy’s national team obviously thrived, scoring well above the EMC average. Much of that Italy's success was led by Antonino Fiorentino, who, in addition to bronze medals in Doubles and Team event, also claimed gold in All-Event and Singles, becoming the only Italian bowler to ever win European titles in Singles, Doubles, and Trios. Fiorentino previously won Doubles gold with Nicola Pangolini in 2023 and Trios gold in 2019 and 2022 alongside Pangolini and Alessandro Santu. won Doubles gold with Nicola Pangolini in 2023 won Doubles gold with Nicola Pangolini in 2023 BowlingLife caught up with Antonino Fiorentino after the event to hear how Italy navigated the challenging lane conditions, adapted their strategy mid-tournament, and came just one brave and timely decision away from earning medals in every event at the EMC 2025. Reading the Lanes, Not Just the Pattern Sheet Fiorentino said he noticed early on that playing traditional lines near the second or third arrow wouldn’t be an option this year at the European Men's Bowling Championships, and that some non-standard adjustments would be necessary. “I noticed from official practice that big asymmetrical balls didn’t hold up well on the fresh — maybe for one game. After that, the best look I had was moving in and playing really close to the pocket with a forward roll and a low-flaring ball. For me, that was the Envy Tour.” “I noticed from official practice that big asymmetrical balls didn’t hold up well on the fresh — maybe for one game. After that, the best look I had was moving in and playing really close to the pocket with a forward roll and a low-flaring ball. For me, that was the Envy Tour.” His usual go-to ball didn’t look as promising. For transition, he also avoided fast-response asymmetric shapes like the Brunswick Hypnotize, opting instead for his Track Theorem. “My benchmark ball — the Trouble Maker Solid — just looked worse overall. For the transition, I also decided to go with my Theorem instead of the Hypnotize, for the same reason. I noticed that big, quick-asym balls weren’t effective there either.” “My benchmark ball — the Trouble Maker Solid — just looked worse overall. For the transition, I also decided to go with my Theorem instead of the Hypnotize, for the same reason. I noticed that big, quick-asym balls weren’t effective there either.” While urethane bowling balls had repeatedly shown success at past European Championships, using them wasn’t part of Italy’s original strategy this time — but as Fiorentino noted, in Europe, you always have to be prepared to both use urethane and face opponents who do. “We all picked one urethane ball each, but we didn’t really test them during practice. It was more of a defensive move — you never know what can happen in Europe with the Purples.” “We all picked one urethane ball each, but we didn’t really test them during practice. It was more of a defensive move — you never know what can happen in Europe with the Purples.” Like a Finely Tuned Stradivarius Violin In the early stages of the tournament, everything was falling into place for Antonino Fiorentino. He opened his six-game block with a 211 and kept building momentum, finishing strong with a 269 in the final game — a performance that secured him third place in Singles qualification. It was clear that his equipment choices were spot on and performing exactly as expected. “In Singles and Doubles, my arsenal worked perfectly. I saw exactly what I had anticipated during practice. Shot-making was obviously crucial, but if you had the right types of balls and played the correct part of the lane in the right way, you could still score.” “In Singles and Doubles, my arsenal worked perfectly. I saw exactly what I had anticipated during practice. Shot-making was obviously crucial, but if you had the right types of balls and played the correct part of the lane in the right way, you could still score.” In the semifinal, Fiorentino rolled 246 and a dominant 277 in the final — beating two French bowlers with urethanes inside the lane. “In Singles I bowled against Valentin Saulnier and Gaëtan Mouveroux. They were both using the Purple Hammer playing inside. I used the Perfect Mindset against Valentin, and then switched to the Envy Tour against Gaëtan because that pair was slower. It was basically a shot-making contest — we didn’t really interfere with each other’s game. There were too few shots.”In Doubles, paired with Erik Davolio, Antonino Fiorentino finished third in qualification with a mutual 212.4 average. In the semifinal, they faced the same opponents — but this time, France’s urethane strategy proved more effective. Davolio scored 155, Fiorentino added 194, but it wasn’t enough to break through to the Doubles final. “In Singles I bowled against Valentin Saulnier and Gaëtan Mouveroux. They were both using the Purple Hammer playing inside. I used the Perfect Mindset against Valentin, and then switched to the Envy Tour against Gaëtan because that pair was slower. It was basically a shot-making contest — we didn’t really interfere with each other’s game. There were too few shots.” “They were able to migrate left faster than us and ended up breaking down our lines.” “They were able to migrate left faster than us and ended up breaking down our lines.” The Turning Point: France and Finland Change the Game After the Doubles block, things began to shift. France started playing urethane deep inside, around the fourth arrow — and it was clearly working. The French trio of Valentin Saulnier, Gaëtan Mouveroux, and Maxime Dubois averaged 218.7, leading the Trios qualification by more than 200 pins over their closest competitors. “We noticed that France was using Purples at the beginning of the block, and they were playing them inside — around the fourth arrow, keeping it tight to the pocket. That allowed them to score well as a team on the fresh. We decided to copy that strategy for the rest of the tournament, and it turned out to be a good choice. It was much easier than trying to use big asyms. I think we were the only team — maybe along with part of the Swedish team — who picked up on that.” “We noticed that France was using Purples at the beginning of the block, and they were playing them inside — around the fourth arrow, keeping it tight to the pocket. That allowed them to score well as a team on the fresh. We decided to copy that strategy for the rest of the tournament, and it turned out to be a good choice. It was much easier than trying to use big asyms. I think we were the only team — maybe along with part of the Swedish team — who picked up on that.” Another turning point in the competition came when Finland’s Niko Oksanen rolled a 1396 block using a Purple Hammer, playing on the outside part of the lane. His success sparked a wave of imitation — with more and more players, and in some cases entire teams, trying to replicate the strategy. While it paid off for some, like the Romanian national team, Fiorentino noted that for many others, it ended up doing more harm than good. like the Romanian national team like the Romanian national team “Sometimes there was more room than usual, but other times no room at all. The point is that many teams couldn’t get anything going inside, so they took the gamble and tried to copy that strategy. As a result, in Trios and Team, there was much more urethane going down the lanes. And if before I had just a small amount of miss-room to the right playing inside, urethane completely took that away — and scores dropped even further.” “Sometimes there was more room than usual, but other times no room at all. The point is that many teams couldn’t get anything going inside, so they took the gamble and tried to copy that strategy. As a result, in Trios and Team, there was much more urethane going down the lanes. And if before I had just a small amount of miss-room to the right playing inside, urethane completely took that away — and scores dropped even further.” A Crucial Adjustment By the time the Team event began, lane conditions had become much tighter due to the surge in urethane use. With miss-room shrinking, Fiorentino made a bold choice — instead of switching balls early, he decided to polish his Envy Tour. That little maneuver proved crucial and ultimately secured him the All-Events gold. “On the first day of the Team event, I noticed the lanes were tighter because of all this. So for the final block, I decided to polish my Envy Tour instead of switching too early to the Theorem. That ended up being the decisive move for my All-Events gold as I bowled 290 with it.” “On the first day of the Team event, I noticed the lanes were tighter because of all this. So for the final block, I decided to polish my Envy Tour instead of switching too early to the Theorem. That ended up being the decisive move for my All-Events gold as I bowled 290 with it.” The same strategy might have worked for the entire Italian team, but in the Team semifinals against Denmark, they opted to start with urethane — a decision that didn’t quite pay off. By the time they adjusted their approach, the momentum had already shifted, and it was too late to recover. “We wasted valuable practice time trying to make urethane work, and by the time we switched to reactive… they were already lined up and striking way more than we were.” “We wasted valuable practice time trying to make urethane work, and by the time we switched to reactive… they were already lined up and striking way more than we were.” A Little Too Late In the Masters, Fiorentino started as a No. 1 seed and skipped the first final step. In the final step 2, Fiorentino met No. 24 seed Iceland's Arnar David Jonsson, who previously defeated Sweden's Markus Jansson. As both players were throwing balls at the same part of the lane with similar ball’s Fiorentino was happy about this matchup. "It was a good matchup for me — we were playing the same part of the lane with similar balls (Envy Tour vs. Ion Pro), and I just outperformed him." "It was a good matchup for me — we were playing the same part of the lane with similar balls (Envy Tour vs. Ion Pro), and I just outperformed him." But then, Fiorentino's run came to an end against Denmark's Tim Stampe — a matchup that clashed stylistically. Italian knew righ from the beginning that this match will be a tough one. He lost the first nervous game 158-189. Pushed back against the wall and needing something fast, Fiorentino made a tactical shift to urethane in the next game but lacked reps in that part of the lane. “I got paired with Tim Stampe, which I wasn’t too happy about. He was using higher-flaring balls (900 Global Harsh Reality and Roto Grip Rockstar), which allowed him to play left of me and completely blow up my line. I think I made the right move at the start of Game 2, realizing that the only way to beat him was to use urethane outside. But I had literally never thrown a ball in that zone for the whole two weeks, so I didn’t have enough info or confidence to make it work.” “I got paired with Tim Stampe, which I wasn’t too happy about. He was using higher-flaring balls (900 Global Harsh Reality and Roto Grip Rockstar), which allowed him to play left of me and completely blow up my line. I think I made the right move at the start of Game 2, realizing that the only way to beat him was to use urethane outside. But I had literally never thrown a ball in that zone for the whole two weeks, so I didn’t have enough info or confidence to make it work.” Ironically, Stampe went on to lose the semifinal 2-0 (248–201, 234–169) to Maxime Dubois — who succeeded using urethane on the outside, the very strategy Fiorentino had turned to just a bit too late. Had he made the switch earlier, it might have led to yet another medal. Still, the Italian came remarkably close to achieving something rare at the European Championships: medaling in every single event.

This week, Sweden’s Rasmus Edvall made history by claiming his first Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour title at the PBA Scorpion Championship. He defeated Ryan Barnes, then Tobias Börding, EJ Tackett, and No. 1 seed Malaysia's Rafiq Ismail in the title match. PBA Scorpion Championship PBA Scorpion Championship His victory as a No. 5 seed marked one of the most remarkable comeback stories in recent PBA Tour history. For Rasmus, winning the title was always a childhood dream, but when the time came to face the pressure of the stepladder final, he approached the match with a focused mindset. “Of course I wanted to win, it’s one of my childhood dreams. But my mindset in the stepladder final, I took it match by match, frame by frame. If I had my focus on the win, I knew something bad could happen,” Rasmus shared with Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife in an interview after the win. His strategy in the finals was one of simplicity. Rather than chasing the perfect shot, he knew that precision was key. “My plan for the matches was to be as simple as I could. I knew if I hunted the perfect line to get as many strikes as I could, I could also get many splits. If I left more than 2 pins after a shot, that could be trouble,” he explained. This approach helped him navigate the pressure, ensuring consistency throughout the matches. The finals weren’t without their difficulties, however. With many bowlers seeking their first-ever PBA Tour title, nerves were high. Under pressure, many mistakes were made—so many that some spectators even labeled the Scorpion Championship as one of the ugliest finals in history. “There were many debutants in the final, so most of us were a little bit nervous. The lanes were tricky, but the nervous players made it look trickier than what it was. A lot of grip pressure makes you often push the ball too far down the lane and miss inside the ideal line,” Rasmus recalled. Despite the challenges, his adaptability and poise kept him on track—he started the stepladder finals with not taking the 6-10 spare but stayed clean for the remaining 39 frames he bowled that night. After securing the victory, the reality of the moment still hadn’t fully sunk in. Rasmus couldn't believe what he had just accomplished, so his teammates from IS Göta, who had cheered him on from the front row, were quick to remind him of the significance of the achievement.“They tried to tell me what I had done and what it meant. I couldn’t believe it myself. It was a huge accomplishment that I still haven’t realized,” Rasmus admitted. As for the celebration, Rasmus kept it low-key, opting for a quiet dinner with his teammates. “We had a dinner with most of the boys, but nothing really exciting. Might be a little celebration when I get home,” he said, hinting at a bigger celebration when he returns to Sweden. Knowing the parties Helsingborg (the city in Sweden where IS Göta is based) is capable of, the author of this article predicts a night to remember. Looking ahead, Rasmus is already setting his sights on new challenges. The first one: a road trip across America to Allen Park, Michigan, where the next PBA Tour stop will take place. “This week we are heading to Detroit by car for the USBC Masters. After that, we will finally fly home. I will also play in the PBA Players Championship and the PBA Tournament of Champions. With this win, new doors have opened up for me with the PBA Tournament of Champions. It feels really cool to be able to participate in that prestigious tournament!” Both PBA Scorpion and Viper Championship titles were won by international players, with Darren Ong winning just a day after. The WSOB XVI continues today with the PBA Chameleon Championship, with stepladder finals airing live on FS1. International viewers can follow the action on BowlTV. Darren Ong winning just a day after Darren Ong winning just a day after BowlTV BowlTV

In January, the Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2025 in Finland brought together some of the best bowling talent from around the world. Among the familiar faces in the crowd was Dave Wodka, a name well known to bowling fans, especially across the Pond. Wodka etched his name into the sport’s history as a PBA Tour titleholder after winning the 1999 Greater Detroit Open. Today, Wodka occasionally bowls on the PBA50 Tour, but his focus has recently shifted to bringing decades of on-lane experience into the business side of the game as international sales manager for Brunswick Bowling. Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2025 Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2025 The Evolution of Bowling: More Knowledge, More Power As Wodka watched the crown jewel of all Brunswick-sponsored tournaments—the Ballmaster Open—unfold at Tali Bowl, with many young European talents firing big numbers, he reflected on how the sport has evolved since his own playing days. “I think the biggest thing is knowledge,” he explained in an exclusive interview with Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife. “Whether it be knowledge about lane conditions, lane machines, oils, all the way to coaching, fitness, and bowling balls. There’s so much more knowledge available now for the kids that are coming up. Obviously, two-handed bowling has kind of revolutionized the game. It’s not going anywhere, so people who don’t like it just won’t like it. It is what it is.” Seeing young bowlers accomplish incredible feats—like firing a 300 with a two-handed backup ball, something unheard of in 1999—Wodka acknowledged that younger players have taken the game to another level. firing a 300 with a two-handed backup ball firing a 300 with a two-handed backup ball “It’s just a different environment, competing against all these younger kids. My ball doesn’t go through the pins quite as well as theirs anymore. These kids are bigger, stronger. They have more knowledge, they’ve studied bowling balls. And I think it’s just a combination of all of that.” Bowling Now is too Easy? With 21 perfect games recorded during the tournament, the conversation naturally turned to whether today’s players had cracked the code. The eternal question—Is it sheer talent, or are the oil patterns more forgiving than before? “It’s a combination of the two,” Wodka said. “I wouldn’t say that the oil pattern is ‘easy,’ but it’s favorable for good scores if you’re throwing it well. There were plenty of people who didn’t have good scores. But they’ve [the organizers] created a very favorable lane pattern where those who are bowling well can string a lot of strikes. Their maintenance on the machines and lanes is top-notch, and that makes a difference, too, when it comes to pin carry, topography of the lanes, and all kinds of other different things.” A 30-Year Bond: Brunswick and Ballmaster Brunswick’s collaboration with Ballmaster stretches back over three decades, something Wodka was proud to highlight. “I just started as the international sales manager, so I don’t know all of the history. But I do know Brunswick has been a sponsor of the Ballmaster Open for more than 30 years. Done in conjunction with our distributor here, Sami [Heinilä] at Oy Bowling Ab, they just do a phenomenal job across Finland. The Brunswick brand is very strong in Finland, and it makes sense for us to collaborate with this facility and this event and show our support for the people here.” Many, including the author of this article, might wonder: what can be so special about a bowling alley? But only someone who has never been to Tali Bowl would ask that question. The moment you climb the stairs and take in the sheer scale of a real bowling stadium—featuring 36 top-class Brunswick Pro Anvilane lanes in a spacious, arena-like building—it leaves you speechless. At least for a moment or two. As Wodka walked into the legendary venue, one detail immediately caught his eye. “Obviously, the facility is beautiful, but what stood out to me first was the flags of all the past winners and how they recognize them. I think that’s phenomenal. Even to the point where they announce any past winner in the building before every squad, whether they’re bowling or not. I think that’s really cool—they honor those who have supported this event for years. I would equate getting a flag here to the European version of getting a flag on the PBA Tour. This is the largest event in Europe.” The Bohn Legacy One of the most talked-about storylines at this year’s Ballmaster was the presence of Parker Bohn III and his son, Brandon. Parker, a Ballmaster champion in 2016, competed alongside his son, continuing a multi-generational bowling legacy. Wodka, who had the same flight as Parker from Frankfurt, chuckled at the memory of their trip. “He slept the whole flight,” Wodka joked. “I haven’t had a whole lot of time to talk to him about his win here, but I know he tries to come to this event every year. I know this event is very important to him. He took his son with him this year.” While Parker’s experience helped him stay competitive—finishing 11th at the Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2025—Brandon’s run ended in qualification. But Wodka is optimistic about Brandon’s future, stating that this is just the beginning of his journey. “Brandon will have his day,” Wodka assured. “Brandon’s very good. I think this is the first overseas event that he’s bowled. He had a lot of good squads; he just didn’t quite get to the cut. But he did have a 300 game, and that was very cool.” So did Parker’s knowledge outweigh Brandon’s raw power? “His knowledge—and you’re talking about Parker, who is arguably a top-five player in PBA history. There is another level when you get to players like Parker. We’re talking about Norm Duke, Pete Weber, Earl Anthony. That’s an elite group. There’s a whole bunch of us below that who had success on the tour, but we’re not at that level.” Big Industry Changes From a Brand's Perspective Beyond the competition, the bowling industry itself has been undergoing significant changes, with Brunswick often at the center of major business moves—whether it’s rule changes regarding urethane bowling balls or attempting to acquire big distributors. rule changes regarding urethane bowling balls rule changes regarding urethane bowling balls attempting to acquire big distributors attempting to acquire big distributors “As with any big business acquisition, there are hurt feelings. And unfortunately, there’s a lot of hurt feelings when something like that happens—on one side or the other. From a Brunswick standpoint, we look at it purely as a business decision. If we didn’t think it was good for the sport, we wouldn’t do it.” Wodka acknowledged the split reactions such moves often generate. “People will agree with it, people won’t agree with it. Again, you’re always going to have two sides. There’s no decision we ever make—small or big—that makes everybody happy. That’s just life in general. You can’t make everyone happy all the time.” What remains unchanged, he emphasized, is Brunswick’s dedication to bowling’s growth. “Brunswick is committed to the sport of bowling, and Brunswick is committed to making the sport of bowling better and helping it thrive. The moves we make are only geared towards that. They’re never personal.”

After a thrilling win at the 2025 PBA Delaware Classic, Graham Fach is back in the winner’s circle—this time, with a renewed sense of confidence. The Canadian bowler, who had gone nearly nine years since his first PBA title, made history once again by defeating Jakob Butturff in the finals, 277-200. It’s a moment of victory made even sweeter by his early-season success, including qualifying for Team Canada. thrilling win at the 2025 PBA Delaware Classic thrilling win at the 2025 PBA Delaware Classic In an exclusive interview with BowlingLife, Fach shared his emotions and the mindset that helped him through the finals, where he posted impressive scores of 256, 249, and 277 in three consecutive matches. The start of the year has been one for the books for Fach. He not only qualified for Team Canada, but he also claimed the first PBA Tour title of the season in front of a packed crowd. Reflecting on the busy start, Fach expressed how proud he is to represent his home country on the world stage. “Qualifying for Team Canada is always something that I take pride in. We have a talented group of guys who are all excited to compete together for gold medals,” said Fach. “It’s been a busy start to the year. I’ve been fortunate enough to come out ahead in these first few events. I feel as though I’m on top of my game and I can’t ask for a better start to the year.” Fach's victory at the Delaware Classic was marked by impressive consistency and composure. In the finals, he shot scores of 256, 249, and an incredible 277 to claim the title. His mental approach to the game and his ability to adjust on the fly were critical to his success on the TV lanes. “I needed to stay concentrated on what the lanes were telling me to do and not getting caught up in transition,” he explained. “It’s harder under the bright lights of tv to remain as mentally strong compared to qualifying and matchplay only because of the additional distractions that come with bowling in a crowd setting.” Fach’s pre-shot routine became his anchor throughout the tournament, allowing him to stay focused and in control despite the high pressure. “I focused on my pre shot routines and accepting that I am only able to control what I can control and give each shot my best effort,” he continued. “Fortunately the pins fell my way and I was able to come away with the win.” But there was no time for big celebrations as the PBA Tour season continues with the first major tournament of the 2025 season – the U.S. Open presented by Go Bowling! in Indianapolis. Fach is currently 13th in a 108-player field, with a total score of 3,413 after 16 games of qualifying. The 2025 U.S. Open is a joint effort between the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America. It is recognized as a major event on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour and remains one of the most prestigious tournaments in the sport. Live broadcast can be found throughout qualifying and match play on BowlTV. Full results can be found on bowl.com BowlTV BowlTV bowl.com bowl.com

The atmosphere at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong was electric, with custom-built lanes setting the stage for one of the most thrilling IBF World Cups in recent memory. Rafiq Ismail raised his hands in triumph after his final shot, as the entire Team Malaysia rushed to the approach to embrace him. Rafiq, alongside his teammates Tun Hakim, Timmy Tan, and Ahmad Muaz, defeated Puerto Rico 3-2 to claim the IBF World Cup 2025 title. Malaysia's bowling team truly shone, securing four medals—two gold and two silver—and Rafiq Ismail played a key role, becoming the Team champion and Singles vice-champion. Rafiq Ismail, still basking in the glory of the moment, shared his thoughts with BowlingLife.eu after the Teams event. BowlingLife.eu BowlingLife.eu “We broke records as the most successful country at the Asian Championship last September, and now we continue to deliver at the world level as well,” Rafiq Ismail said. "We are super happy with our achievements so far and hope the rhythm goes smoothly for the World Championships too." The celebration after the win was special, because for some of them it was the first accomplishment on a world stage. “Since this was the first medal, and its gold, for Timmy Tan in world event, he offered us a round of 18 holes of golf and we’re all happy to accept it,” he shared, laughing. The finals were held in a truly unique setting, with lanes specially built in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. It was an unforgettable experience for the players. “The hospitality here was great,” Rafiq said. “t was a good experience. We enjoyed it. The spectators were more than what I expected.” As the dust settles on the tournament, Rafiq’s focus is already shifting to what comes next, but first of all - his family. “I am bowling in the PBA WSOB in March. For now, I will focus on practicing and spending more time with my family, especially my dad, who is critically ill. I will definitely be back for the World Championships in November," Rafiq said.

In the world of smartphones, screens and social media, it takes something special to go viral. Jonathan Justino, a content creator known for his funny and relatable videos, recently caught the attention of the bowling community in a big way. His viral TikTok videos, where he mimics stereotypical bowling moves, like dragging his foot or swinging his arms wildly, have taken the internet by storm. As of now, Jonathan's two bowling videos have amassed over 900,000 views on TikTok and 85,000 views with 3,000 reshares on Instagram. TikTok TikTok Instagram Instagram But how did it all start? Was Jonathan expecting these videos to blow up? In an exclusive interview, BowlingLife sat down with Jonathan Justino to learn more about his creative process and the journey that led to his viral success. The Inspiration Behind the Videos Jonathan has been creating content on TikTok for over five years, always aiming to make relatable and humorous videos. The bowling videos, he admits, were a natural result of his creativity. "I’ve always tried to make relatable/funny content, so the bowling video was just a byproduct of that," he explains. One day, while randomly scrolling through TikTok, Jonathan came across a video of Pete Weber, and everything clicked. "His energy and style are super entertaining. That’s what gave me the inspiration initially," he adds. Natural Bowler Probably one of the key reasons why Jonathan is so organic and naturally funny in the videos he made is because he is actually quite familiar with the sport. While Jonathan isn’t a professional bowler, he has casually bowled throughout his life. "I actually played in a bowling league when I was 14, but that only lasted one season," he recalls. Making the viral video, however, sparked a renewed interest in the sport. "Making this video made me want to get back into it," he shared. The Unexpected Virality Every content creator hopes their work will gain attention, but Jonathan never expected his bowling videos to become so popular. "It was definitely a surprise overall," he admits. "However, I knew it was a better video than my normal ones because it was received better initially. But I did not expect the video to resonate this much." Jonathan’s video quickly captured the hearts of the bowling community, thanks to its fun and exaggerated portrayal of bowling moves that many bowlers could relate to. "This is the best thing I've seen on here in a while," said one Instagram user in the comments under the video. "This is way too accurate—me practicing anywhere and everywhere outside the bowling alley," said another. "I laughed so loud! Too accurate, bravo!" shared a third. It’s clear that his videos have struck a chord with many, bringing new attention to the sport in a lighthearted and humorous way.

The first day of the iconic 55th Brunswick Ballmaster Open is in the books. Today, Tali Bowling Hall in Helsinki, Finland, welcomed 96 players across two squads competing on a challenging 46-foot oil pattern. While some found this year’s oil pattern tricky, players demonstrated a strong adaptability from the outset. Brunswick Ballmaster Open 2019 champion Joonas Jehkinen surpassed the symbolic 1400-mark in the first squad, scoring 1422 to secure the top spot. However, Jehkinen’s score was soon eclipsed—not just by others but by himself. During the second squad, Jehkinen improved his performance by five pins, achieving 1427. Yet, the spotlight ultimately belonged to Finland’s bowling legend Mika Koivuniemi. Mika Koivuniemi Mika Koivuniemi The 57-year-old PBA Hall of Famer delivered a masterful performance, scoring a 1449 total to finish Day 1 at the top of the leaderboard. “I'm feeling quite tired after flying and not sleeping so well the last couple of nights. Today I woke up like 4 AM. So I'm really happy for my score,” Koivuniemi told BowlingLife after the game. “My performance was good also. So it's a good start for this great event.” BowlingLife While many players use the early squads to test strategies and fine-tune their games, Koivuniemi appeared fully prepared. His consistency throughout the six-game block was remarkable, as he avoided spare errors and skillfully managed lane transitions. "It doesn’t matter how much you strike; if you keep missing spares, there’s always someone who strikes as much as you and don't miss those spares," Koivuniemi explained. "That's what some of the young people don't understand. Best bowlers in the world are also the best spare shooters." Throughout the entire game block, Koivuniemi relied on a reactive bowling ball—a choice shared by most players on day 1, as only a few opted for urethane balls. When asked about this trend and whether it might change as more competitors joined the event, Koivuniemi expressed confidence that urethane balls were unnecessary and without it, both squads had smoother lane transitions. However, the 14-time PBA Tour titleholder predicted that urethane balls would become increasingly common as the competition progressed. “I'm expecting guys using more and more urethane, because there's one generation in Europe, who don't know how to ball without purple ball,” Koivuniemi noted. "It's easy now, but it's not easy if you don't know how to use reactive balls and use your speed. So that's the only way for them. But I kind of like it because I expect the scoring pace go lower, especially in the end if they keep using urethanes. Time will tell.” The shift away from urethane balls has been a point of discussion among bowling community in Europe in the past few months. It was also a key factor behind the Brunswick Ballmaster Open’s decision to leave the European Bowling Tour this year. Koivuniemi supported the move, highlighting the tournament’s increased prize fund as a benefit for players. The shift away from urethane balls has been a point of discussion among bowling community in Europe in the past few months The shift away from urethane balls has been a point of discussion among bowling community in Europe in the past few months Brunswick Ballmaster Open’s decision to leave the European Bowling Tour Brunswick Ballmaster Open’s decision to leave the European Bowling Tour "I noticed that they [tournament organizers] put more money for that, which is great for the players, in my mind. European tour, it's not what it used to be. I totally understand the decision what they [tournament organizers] made. Of course, there's probably part of that is the fight between a couple of ball companies, but I think it was smart move and I support the decision, especially when they add money for the prize fund, so I think that should make everybody happy." Even without its EBT status, the Brunswick Ballmaster Open retains its prestige. “It’s a tradition,” Koivuniemi affirmed. “When you look at the list of winners, they represent the best players from every era of bowling. This is the most prestigious tournament in the world. There’s no doubt about that.” The competition continues tomorrow with two more squads at Tali Bowling Hall, starting at 2 PM. Fans can catch all the action via live streams and stay updated through regular posts on BowlingLife, the tournament's official media partner, across their website and social media platforms. live streams live streams BowlingLife BowlingLife social media platforms social media platforms Useful links: Useful links: Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livestream Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Results Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring Brunswick Ballmaster Open Livescoring

In a heartfelt message posted on Facebook, Daniel Rönnbäck, the tournament director of the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters, extended his gratitude to players, fans, and sponsors for making this year's event a tremendous success. His message reflects the challenges and joys of organizing one of the premier bowling tournaments in the world. message posted on Facebook message posted on Facebook Storm Lucky Larsen Masters Storm Lucky Larsen Masters "First of all, Thank YOU! Thank you for all the kind and encouraging words. Thank you for all the joy. Thank you for all the strikes and smiles. But most of all, thank you for participating in our event. Every one of you are equally important. Without all the players and fans, this tournament wouldn’t exist. These two weeks are without a doubt the most challenging two weeks of the year, but also the most rewarding. For me, the Storm Lucky Larsen Masters isn’t just one of the best bowling tournaments in the world. It is so much more. This is something I live and breathe 365 days a year. The preparation for next year’s tournament has literally already started. Every year we get a lot of feedback, both positive and negative. Please keep that feedback coming. We welcome all constructive feedback, good or bad. Every year we listen to you and take your feedback into account when planning the next event. Our goal is not primarily to increase the prize fund or the number of players each year. We want each tournament to be better than the previous in every way imaginable. For 2024 a lot of small changes was done, some not visible. Others obvious, like the increased prize fund (about $20.000 increase from last year). This year the total cost for running the tournament was just under 2,1 million SEK ($200.000). We implemented a system where you had to pay for your first squad when you registered. This was not a flawless system, but it turned out fairly well. Both as a tournament director and bowler I hope more tournaments around Sweden and Europe will follow. We still have some bugs to weed out but all in all it worked well. We put a lot of effort into making the live stream of high quality and accessible free on YouTube. Last year we funded the TV-final production with a PPV live stream. The income from YouTube this year is far below the PPV income, but we believe by making the event more accessible for all, the long-term benefits will weigh over. The finals live show! I might be just a little biased, but I truly believe that it was the best bowling production ever in Europe. The crew at DMC productions did a great job, Niklas Linderholm was amazing as speaker, and the players showcased the best we got as if it was scripted. Lanetalk showed awesome support by sponsoring most of the production. Thank you to all the sponsors, without you we wouldn’t have a PBA event in Sweden. I hope we lived up to your expectations and delivered value for your money. All the prize money has been paid out, work with summarizing the event have begun and tomorrow the work with Storm Lucky Larsen Masters 2025 begin. Until next time! Daniel Rönnbäck, Tournament Director"

The European Bowling Tour (EBT) is set for significant rule changes in 2025, designed to bring the tournament more in line with professional competitions like the PBA. According to European Bowling Federation (EBF) President Valgeir Guðbjartsson, these updates aim to improve competitiveness and address declining participation, particularly among female bowlers. One of the most impactful changes involves the hardness of bowling balls allowed in competition. As of EBT2025, tournament organizers can enforce the 78D Hardness Rule, which mandates that no urethane and urethane-like bowling ball with a hardness level lower than 78 on the Durometer scale is allowed. This aligns with the rule already enforced by the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. already enforced by the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour already enforced by the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour In his comment to Erikas Jansonas from BowlingLife, Guðbjartsson explained that this move is intended to address concerns over performance gaps created by softer urethane balls. "EBF is trying to gain back the situation that was 10-15 years ago. EBT was the steppingstone between national and smaller international tournaments in Europe to participate in the PBA. Today, that has changed, mostly due to different rules regarding which bowling balls can be used," he stated. The hope is that by aligning EBT rules more closely with the PBA Tour, the EBF will create a more consistent path for European bowlers to advance to international competition. For now, the hardness rule remains optional for tournament organizers, but its impact will be reviewed at the end of the 2025 season. While the new hardness rule aims to standardize equipment and restore competitive balance, the EBF is also taking steps to address a different but equally pressing issue: declining female participation. In an effort to boost female participation, EBT organizers will now have the flexibility to assign handicap points to women ranging from 8, 12, or 16 pins per game. This is designed to address the steep decline in women’s participation in EBT events over the past several years. "The participation of women has been going down very rapidly over the last 2-4 years, particularly post-COVID," Guðbjartsson explained. "There has been pressure from organizers to offer women a higher handicap to get them back into the game." A decade ago, many EBT events boasted around 50 female participants. Now, some events are lucky to see 15 women competing. The increasing use of high-revolution, two-handed techniques by male bowlers has created a disparity in performance, which the handicap system aims to address. Regarding top-tier female athletes, Guðbjartsson acknowledged potential criticism: "Anyone claiming that Daria [Pająk] or Verity [Crawley] do not need handicap... Well, against all the young male athletes playing with two hands with the revs and power, is simply wrong! On top of that, if we were seeing more of the women from Europe that are playing full-time on the PWBA participating in EBT, we would be very happy, but that is not happening every year!" The EBF president also mentioned his curiosity about how many organizers will opt to offer higher handicaps than 8 pins per game. While it remains to be seen how effective this rule will be, it represents a concrete effort by the EBF to encourage more women to participate in EBT events. The changes to EBT2025 reflect a concerted effort by the EBF to address both competitiveness and inclusivity in European bowling. Stricter regulations on ball hardness, and flexible handicap points for women are all intended to level the playing field and encourage wider participation.