The Czech Bowling Association has announced new rules for the use of urethane bowling balls.
The decision follows recent equipment changes approved by the International Bowling Federation and the European Bowling Federation.
Under the new rule, only urethane balls with a minimum manufacturing hardness of 78D will be permitted in domestic competitions. This applies to all events organized by the Czech Bowling Association and tournaments included in the official sports rankings. The decision takes effect on April 1, 2026.
A list of balls that do not meet the required specification is available here.
In the official announcement, released on March 3, the association stated that the change is intended to prepare Czech players for international competition, as the upcoming events such as the European Championship of Champions, the European Women’s Championship, and the IBF Youth World Championships will apply the same urethane regulations under EBF and IBF rules.
"<...> in the interests of fair play and with regard to the national team, we decided not to delay. The goal is for Czech players to train and compete under the same conditions that await them at the autumn European Championship of Champions (ECC) or other international events such as this year's European Women's Championship or the U21 World Championship. The new ban will already apply at all of these events. Any postponement would only be a waste of time from a preparation perspective," association officials said.
During all events organized by the Czech Bowling Association, hardness checks may be conducted. While manufacturing hardness must meet the 78D requirement, the measurement limit used during competition will be 72D, in line with IBF standards. If a ball measures below 72D during inspection, it will be considered non compliant and play with that ball will be voided. The Sports and Technical Commission will carry out random inspections, with detailed checks planned for the Czech Individual Championships.
On February 27, the International Bowling Federation announced new regulations for the use of urethane bowling balls in its events. Soon after, the European Bowling Federation confirmed that it would apply the same rules in its competitions.
