July 23, 2025
Future of Urethane Bowling Balls in Question as USBC Considers Competitive Impacts
The United States Bowling Congress is taking a closer look at urethane bowling balls and how they may be affecting competition.
Over the past several months, USBC has conducted research, brought in a third-party group of technical experts, gathered feedback from key stakeholders, and held a formal comment period with bowling ball manufacturers. Now, they’re inviting bowlers and others in the bowling community to share their thoughts.
At the core of the conversation are several concerns. First, there’s the issue of lane pattern integrity. Urethane bowling balls tend to break down oil patterns more quickly, which can throw off the intended lane design and create uneven conditions for players with different styles.
There’s also the question of competitive fairness. When urethane and reactive resin equipment are used together, it can create imbalances that favor certain types of bowlers over others.
Another concern is player development. USBC worries that growing reliance on urethane may limit player versatility, especially for younger or developing bowlers who may not be learning how to adapt their game to different types of equipment.
And finally, there are governance and integrity challenges. Urethane balls can become softer over time, which makes it hard to tell whether they’ve simply aged or been tampered with. That’s led to confusion at events, including protests and enforcement issues, all of which raise questions about competitive integrity.
USBC plans to continue reviewing the issue in the coming weeks. All of the feedback they’ve received so far, along with any new input, will be brought to the Equipment Specifications Committee when it meets in late August or early September.
In the meantime, USBC wants to hear from you. If you’d like to share your opinion on the use of urethane bowling balls and their role in certified competition, you can take a short survey here:
