On Monday, the European Bowling Federation (EBF) confirmed
it will drop the 78D hardness rule for the European Bowling Tour (EBT).
The change starts with the 2026 EBT season and the 2025–26 EBT
Youth season. All IBF/USBC-approved balls, including high performance urethane
and urethane-like bowling balls, will be allowed at every EBT stop.
Meanwhile, PBA-sanctioned events on European soil will continue to
follow PBA rules.
On EBT, the optional 78D rule lasted only one season. Allowing each event to adopt the 78D rule did not deliver the expected result. The EBT calendar shrank by more than half, and organizers blamed the rule for fewer entries.
In an interview with Erikas Jansonas of BowlingLife, EBF President Valgeir Guðbjartsson said the optional rule had a stronger negative effect than expected.
“When we made the 78D rule optional for organizers last year, we hoped it would not negatively affect EBT. Unfortunately, the number of tournaments dropped 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 not participating. Additionally, we faced criticism for deviating from IBF's standard rules regarding bowling balls.”
Asked what outcome the EBF expects now from removing the 78D rule, he pointed
to rebuilding the calendar and stability.
“EBF does hope that
tournaments will be return to EBT and it can continue to grow.”
After EBF's decision, any ball on the USBC Approved Ball List will be eligible for use, including urethanes softer than 78D.
Meanwhile, in the United States, discussions about urethane governance have
been in the headlines over the past month.
On July 23,
USBC released an official statement
expressing increasing concerns about the ongoing use of urethane bowling balls
in certified competition.
USBC then surveyed bowlers
about potential changes and now and majority wants change.
Even
though USBC will probably take totally different path on urethanes, EBF
President said the systems remain aligned as long as ball approvals are
unchanged.
“USBC, as part of IBF, has not taken a different
direction. They continue to manage the approved ball lists and checks. As long
as this remains unchanged, IBF — and therefore EBF — will follow USBC's lead
on this matter.”
USBC’s Equipment Specifications Committee plans to meet in late August or
early September 2025 to provide a structured solution. Until then, it’s
unclear whether ball changes will affect the Approved Ball List or only the
national tournament rulebook.
When asked why the EBF did not wait
for the USBC Equipment Specifications Committee decision, Guðbjartsson cited
EBT scheduling needs.
“We could not wait longer, as we have to
prepare the EBT for next year.”
