There is a governing body for every sport offering its services in a country for promoting the sport and allowing players to hone their skills. The PWBA is an exclusive women’s organization for ten-pin bowling that exists in the USA, which was founded in 1960 and has grown to include more than 1,200 female members.
The PWBA is the governing body for women’s ten-pin bowling in the United States. It was founded in 1960 by a group of women bowlers and is headquartered in Arlington, Texas. This organization was dissolved in 2003 but was re-launched in 2015.
Joining the PWBA is a great way to take your bowling career to the next level as a woman bowler. There are many benefits to joining the PWBA, including the opportunity to compete against the best bowlers worldwide, earn prize money, and receive national exposure.
We will look at a brief history of the PWBA in this article, along with information on how to join it and how much the prize money is for outstanding players.
What is PWBA?
PWBA stands for Professional Women’s Bowling Association and is the governing body holding events and tournaments for women bowlers in the United States. The PWBA has been operating for over 50 years and has seen many changes.
In 1974, some members of the PWBA left the organization and formed their own LPBA or Ladies’ Professional Bowlers Association. The two organizations merged once again only after four years, and this time named it WPBA, which was dissolved in 1981. In 2003, WIBC acquired the rights of the PWBA, but in 2005, the USBC acquired PWBA and all its rights.
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) now conducts PWBA Regional events, which only allow women members to participate. The PWBA Tour consists of eight events, and the members compete for points and prize money at these events. Unfortunately, women have not had much success in PBA events.
To bowl on the PWBA tour, you must be a member of the PWBA. You can become a member by demonstrating your bowling skills, applying for membership, and paying an annual membership fee. Tour membership entitles you to bowl in all PWBA-sanctioned events and earn points and prize money.
How to Join PWBA?
To join the PWBA, bowlers must meet certain eligibility criteria. These requirements include being at least 18 years of age and having a USBC membership. Bowlers must also have competed in at least six PWBA-sanctioned events in the past three years.
The player must demonstrate a bowling average of 190 or higher in any USBC-certified league before applying for the PWBA. Women from other countries can also apply if they meet the above criteria. However, they would be required to show proof of their bowling average in order to be eligible.
Once you have met the eligibility requirements, you can begin the membership process by filling out an application and paying the membership fee. Once your application has been approved, you will be officially a member of the PWBA and will be able to compete in PWBA events.
You can visit Join the PWBA and follow the instructions to become a member of this prestigious organization.
Joining the PWBA as a woman bowler has many benefits in addition to promoting the sport and advancing your career.
Some of these benefits include;
- Huge discounts on entry fees for all PWBA events, including Classic and Regional events
- Discounts on PWBA-certified practice centers all over the USA
- A PWBA 300 Ring is awarded to players who score a perfect 300 in any PWBA-hosted event
- A personalized PWBA membership card
- PWBA bag tags
- The right to display the logo of your own business or a pro shop
- Monthly subscription to Bowlers Journal International
- Discounts on professional bowling equipment are available at the PWBA shop
How Much is the Prize Money for PWBA Bowling?
The PWBA tour events are held at various bowling centers around the United States. The PWBA tour events are broadcast on ESPN, and the finals of each event are broadcast on ESPN2.
The PWBA members earn points at each event based on their finish in the event. The points are used to determine the PWBA Player of the Year, and the player with the top score at the end of the season is crowned the PWBA Player of the Year.
The average prize fund per PWBA event in 2022 was $1.4 million. The total prize for the 2022 PWBA Tour Championship was $189,350, with the first prize valued at $50,000. The event format consists of 12 games on the first day and six additional games resulting in the top 12 bowlers who bowl six more games.
After 24 games, the top 5 players move on to the stepladder finals and play for the champions title.
The PWBA Players Championship is the most prestigious event on the PWBA tour. The event is invite-only, and the field is limited to the top 24 players in the world. The prize money for the PWBA Players Championship is $50,000.
How Heavy Are PWBA Bowling Balls?
Women bowlers use the same professional bowling balls used by men and pro bowlers. They choose balls ranging in weight from 14 to 16 lbs. Most women, however, use 15-pounders because these balls not only fulfill the requirements of the PWBA but are also easy to handle.
You can read more about it here: What Size Bowling Ball Do Pros Use?
If you want to use a ball drilled specifically to your hand, you would want to add a couple of pounds to the weight of your regular ball. House balls are usually lighter than professional league balls. The maximum weight allowed in any bowling competition is 16 lbs.
The minimum weight requirement ensures that the balls are durable and can withstand the rigors of competitive play. Second, the PWBA bowling balls are made with a high-density core. This high-density core gives the balls a higher mass, which makes them heavier.
