USBC is working on a study of bowling ball motion. Through this research, expected to last about 18 months, USBC’s goal is to learn and understand even more about today’s high-tech bowling balls that have complex cores and weight blocks and the inner motion characteristics of the balls. USBC will use this information – in addition to that gleaned in working cooperatively with ball manufacturers and other industry leaders – to set performance-based specifications for bowling balls used in USBC-certified competition. Read More

• USBC Bowling Ball Specifications Task Force holds discussion on research
• USBC bowling ball task force holds initial meeting
• Q-n-A: USBC Proposed Ball Changes Rejected in 2005
• USBC issues decisions concerning equipment revisions
• Approved Bowling Balls
• Non-conforming Bowling Balls
• Understanding the relation between core and cover stock
• Getting to the "core" of the matter

USBC is engaged in a new round of research intended to test the scoring impact of bowling pins with various specifications. USBC is testing bowling pin samples of different weights and centers of gravity submitted from pin manufacturers worldwide. USBC also is working with manufacturers to gather input about certain characteristics of bowling pins such as the base diameter, base radius and base attachment.  The objective of the USBC Specifications and Certifications team’s research is to gather data from this analysis and compare the interactions of the pins with the other three System of Bowling components.  Read More

• USBC to revisit testing of bowling pins
• Bowling Pin Permits

USBC researchers currently are concentrating on testing bowling balls, pins and lane conditioning aspects. The long-term plan calls for performing research into this System of Bowling component. Read More

• Approved Lane Surfaces

Testing continues in several areas regarding the measurement and application of lane conditioner (commonly referred to as “oil”), which is the liquid applied to wood and synthetic lanes. Lane oil has two purposes: to protect the bowling surface and affect the difficulty level of the game, depending on how it is applied.. Read More

• Part I: How the PBA pros handle Sport Bowling
• Part II: How the PBA pros handle Sport Bowling
• Approved Lane Conditioning Products