What Are Bowling Balls & Pins Made Out of?

What bowling balls and pins are made of have changed over time.

  1. The Bowling Ball: Early Stages

    • Bowling balls were once made out of simple materials such as stone and wood, mainly oak. Since the primary stages, balls have been made out of materials such as rubber, later mixed with additional materials such as polyester and polyurethane.

    The Bowling Ball: Modern Era

    • Through years of experimentation and improvements, the modern-day bowling ball is generally made of a mixture of urethane, plastic and reactive resin. These materials are increased, decreased and in some cases taken out all together to greater vary the density of the balls, thus directly affecting the weight and size.

    The Bowling Pin: Modern Era

    • The most common material used to produce bowling pins is hard-rock maple wood, a form of wood that serves as hard and durable.

    The Bowling Pin: Measurements

    • Each individual pin is measured at 38.1 cm and usually weighs 3 lbs., 6 oz. to 3 lbs., 10 oz., as set by the American Bowling Congress (ABC).

    The Bowling Pin: Governing Board

    • ABC was initially created in 1895 and merged with three other national bowling organizations in 2005 to form the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). The Congress regulates the specifications used to make pins. There are dozens of types of pins sold, but the majority made of the same material, and must follow the guidelines for weight and height.