The Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress has announced a new equipment rule that will affect local competitions across the region.
Starting March 1, 2026, urethane bowling balls will no longer be allowed in local tournaments organized by the governing body.
The decision was shared in an official statement released aon January 31st.
According to the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress, the move follows discussions and consultations focused on lane conditions, competitive fairness, and long-term athlete development.
In its statement, the federation explained that concerns had been raised about how slow oil-absorbing urethane equipment can change lane conditions more quickly. This, according to the federation, may affect fairness between players using different styles and ball types. The statement also noted that the decision was made after reviewing global trends and considering the overall skill development of athletes.
The reasons outlined in the Hong Kong statement closely mirror those shared by the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress earlier in January, when it introduced a similar ban on urethane bowling balls in its sanctioned competitions.
The ban applies only to local tournaments organized directly by the Hong Kong Tenpin Bowling Congress. It does not apply to international tournaments organized by the federation or to local tournaments that are only sanctioned by the HKCTBC. In addition, players competing in Under-12 divisions are exempt from this restriction.
The HKTBC added that it will continue to monitor the situation and may review or adjust the regulations in the future if needed.
Bellow is the official statement of the HKTBC regarding urethane bowling ball ban.
