Hammer Bowling has released an open letter to the bowling community following the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) decision to impose new restrictions on urethane bowling balls.
On September 4th, USBC announced that slow oil-absorbing high-performance bowling balls (urethane) with absorption times over 90 minutes must meet a minimum 78D hardness requirement starting December 31, 2025, to remain approved for sale in the United States.
Beginning January 1, 2026, several national tournaments will see outright bans on these balls, while others will allow them only under specific conditions. However, these balls will still be legal in leagues and local tournaments, unless an event organizer decides otherwise.
Hammer expressed strong concern with the decision, stating that the new rules could create confusion across the sport and limit a piece of equipment that has long been trusted by bowlers.
The company emphasized that urethane has been an important part of bowling for decades and that restrictions risk upsetting loyal players.
Below is the full open letter from Hammer Bowling to bowlers around the world, published in its original form:
An Open Letter from Hammer Bowling to Bowlers Around the World:
The sport of bowling has always been built on innovation, tradition, and the pursuit of excellence. For more than forty years, urethane bowling balls have been a trusted tool and essential part of that story, providing bowlers with a reliable tool to tackle challenging lane conditions and allowing bowlers to compete at their highest level. Now, that legacy is being threatened.
The USBC has announced sweeping restrictions on urethane balls for national tournaments, including outright bans in some cases. These changes represent a seismic shift in our sport, removing equipment that generations of bowlers, from grassroots leagues to the highest levels of professional play, have relied upon, and we believe these new rules will create confusion and risk setting a troublesome precedent for leagues and tournaments to follow.
At Hammer Bowling, we are deeply frustrated by USBC’s continued attention on bowling ball restrictions including this latest decision to target bowling ball materials. The focus on banning equipment options rather than growing participation is a misguided step that risks upsetting loyal bowlers and causing irreparable harm to the sport we all love.
Urethane has earned its place on the lanes - not just as another coverstock, but as a vital tool for controlling ball motion, navigating difficult oil patterns, and allowing bowlers to compete at their highest level. In today’s game, with higher rev rates and increasingly challenging lane patterns, urethane remains more important than ever. Eliminating it erases a critical part of our sport’s versatility and evolution, and to our knowledge, there has never been a ball so effective and so popular that rules were created to restrict its use, despite maintaining USBC-approval, passing numerous spot checks, and continuing to meet all USBC specifications.
Most importantly, we want to reassure bowlers that the Hammer Purple Pearl Urethane remains USBC approved for use in leagues, local and state events, Junior Gold qualifying, and collegiate qualifying tournaments. This legendary ball continues to deliver the performance that bowlers have trusted for years, and it isn’t going anywhere.
Hammer Bowling stands with bowlers who are angry and disappointed by these unnecessary restrictions, and we remain committed to fighting for the equipment that makes our sport competitive, enjoyable, and great.
Sincerely,
The Hammer Bowling Team
