The Swedish Bowling Association has decided to introduce the 78D hardness rule for urethane bowling balls in its national competitions.

The decision was made by the board after reviewing the recent rule changes announced by the International Bowling Federation and the European Bowling Federation.

In February 2026, both international bodies confirmed that only urethane balls manufactured with a minimum hardness of 78D will be allowed in international championships.

Following this development, the Swedish Bowling Association’s technical committee examined the matter and submitted a report to the board. Based on that review, the board decided to adopt the 78D urethane rule in stages.

From July 1, 2026, only urethane balls manufactured with a hardness of at least 78D will be permitted in the two highest national league levels, Elitserien and Allsvenskan, as well as in Swedish Championship competitions organized by the Swedish Bowling Association.

From July 1, 2027, the urethane rule will also apply to all lower league divisions, including Division 1 and below.

The regulation does not apply to district-level league games or competitions that are not organized by the Swedish Bowling Association. In those events, the organizer may decide which rules apply.

The association has also stated that it will continue to review the possibility of conducting hardness tests during events and will further examine the regulations concerning urethane bowling balls.