Is my ball USBC approved?

What approval means

USBC publishes the Approved Ball List and says the balls on it are "approved for use during USBC-certified competition." It also says the list is "updated weekly." This lookup searches our copy of the list dated 20 October 2026, so check USBC's own list for anything approved since.

The list's notes add three things worth knowing:

• Older balls. Balls made before the list began in January 1991 count as approved, and their acceptance "is at the discretion of the tournament director and/or league official."
• House balls may be used even though they aren't on the list.
• Small balls. Some balls are marked as made only in weights under 13 pounds; the lookup flags them.

If your ball isn't found

• Try fewer words. The list often adds colors or editions to a name, such as "Black Widow 3.0" or "Phaze II Pearl." Search one distinctive word.
• Check the brand. A ball can be listed under its maker rather than the name on the bag.
• It may be newer than our copy. USBC updates the list weekly. Check USBC's list directly.
• It may be older than the list. Pre-1991 balls are not listed but count as approved, at the official's discretion.

Re-released balls

A ball re-released under an old name can show the first approval date. The Storm Alpha Crux is an example: the list has an "Alpha Crux" approved on 1 January 2016, and separately an "Alpha Crux (2025)" approved on 3 February 2026. If you see two entries, the newer one usually matches the ball on sale now.

Non-conforming balls

USBC also keeps a non-conforming bowling ball list of models it has identified as not conforming to its specifications. That list was last updated on 21 March 2022 and names 57 balls. The lookup marks any match in red.

For national events such as the U.S. Open, the USBC Masters and the PWBA tour, USBC publishes a separate national tournament ineligible ball list. Its PDF wasn't available when we checked, so it isn't included here; find it on USBC's equipment specifications page.

How we built this

We read USBC's list PDF two different ways and kept only the rows where both readings agree on the brand, the ball and the date: 8,127 of 8,130. As a check, for the balls in our ball spec table that have a maker release date, 83 of 87 approval dates fall within four months before release, and the other four are re-released names. Some dates on the list give only a month and year; the lookup shows them that way.

Common questions

How do I know if my bowling ball is USBC approved?

Search for it on USBC's Approved Ball List, or use this lookup, which searches a copy of that list. A ball on the list is approved for use in USBC-certified competition. Balls made before January 1991 count as approved, at the discretion of the league or tournament official.

Can I use a ball that isn't on the approved list?

Not in USBC-certified competition, unless it was made before the list began in January 1991, in which case the league or tournament official decides. House balls may be used even though they aren't on the list.

What is a non-conforming bowling ball?

A ball model USBC has identified as not conforming to its specifications. USBC's non-conforming list, last updated 21 March 2022, names 57 balls.

How often does USBC update the approved ball list?

USBC says the list is updated weekly. This lookup uses the list dated 20 October 2026, so a ball approved after that date won't show here yet.

Why does my ball show an old approval date?

Balls re-released under an old name can carry the original approval date. Some re-releases are listed separately with a year in the name, such as the Storm Alpha Crux (2025).

Sources: USBC, Approved Ball List (list dated 20 October 2026); USBC, Non-conforming Bowling Ball List (updated 21 March 2022); USBC, equipment specifications for athletes. Checked 21 October 2026. This is not an official USBC tool.