Research Reports Archive The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) releases multiple research reports examining how key technical factors impact the sport of bowling. The following is a timeline-ordered archive of research reports documenting the research conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications department. Feb. 2024 - Bowling Ball FTIR Research Report Overviews the Equipment Specification Team's research into analyzing bowling ball coverstocks with an FTIR spectrometer. Jan. 2024 - COR Suspension Research Report Outlines the development for a new testing device for COR, and findings that support suspending this approval metric for bowling balls. Dec. 2023 - Surface Hardness of Bowling Balls (1976) 1976 Surface Hardness of Bowling Balls report that discusses the relationship between hardness and track width. Dec. 2023 - Historical Hardness/Footprint Research Report Research report that discusses the findings from the 1976 Surface Hardness of Bowling Balls report. Nov. 2023 - Old Urethane Ball Hardness Research Report Research report that discusses the hardness change due to use of urethane balls from the past. Nov. 2023 - String Pinsetter Scoring Research Report Report on the findings of a scoring study that allows for string and free-fall averages to be treated the same. Oct. 2023 - Footprint Research Report (updated Nov. 2023) Research report outlining the use of a new footprint measurement SOP and the correlation to hardness testing of urethane balls. Aug. 2023 - Open Championships Ball Hardness Research Report Research report outlining the findings of hardness tests conducted in the field at the 2023 USBC Open Championships. April 2023 - String Pinsetter Research Report Report announcing final specifications and a separate certification for string pinsetter leagues and averages. Nov. 2022 - Ball Hardness Research Report Research reviewing the impact of ball hardness, including changes observed from use and manufactured differences, has on ball performance. Sept. 2021 - String Pinsetter Research Report Comprehensive report on the first round of string pinsetter research. Dec. 2020 - String Pinsetter Research Report This report outlines the preliminary findings from the first round of string pinsetter research. April 2020 - Hardness Research Report Report that reviews the findings from field tests at major tournaments in 2020. March 2020 - 2020 U.S. Open Ball Hardness Testing Report Report that reviews the findings from a ball hardness field test at the 2020 U.S. Open. Dec. 2019 - Hardness Research Report Report that summarizes hardness testing conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications team. Nov. 2019 - Center Certification Research Report Report that summarizes center certification research conducted in 2019. June 2019 - USBC Oil Pattern Report Report that documents research into oil pattern regulation and suspends the three-unit rule. Dec. 2018 - Center Certification Research Report Report that summarizes center certification research conducted in 2018. April 2017 - Lane Certification Study Report Report that summarizes a 64-center data collection conducted by the USBC Equipment Specifications team.