Global InformationProfessional Bowlers Association information
 | |
| Abbreviation | PBA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1958 |
| Purpose | Professional association for ten-pin bowling; governing body is USBC |
| Headquarters | Mechanicsville, Virginia[1] |
Region served | Worldwide |
Membership | 3,000+ representing 30 countries[2] |
PBA Commissioner | Tom Clark[3] |
Parent organization | Bowlero Corporation[2] |
Staff | 19[4] |
| Website | www |
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Mechanicsville, Virginia,[1] the PBA membership consists of over 3,000 members worldwide.[3] Members include "pro shop" owners and workers, teaching professionals and bowlers who compete in the various events put on by the Association.
As published on PBA.com: "The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is the world's preeminent organization dedicated to the sport of bowling and its professional competition, with thousands of members and millions of fans throughout the world. The PBA plays host to bowling's biggest tournaments, including the PBA Tour, PBA Regional Tour and PBA50 Tour. The PBA has launched ... The PBA League Bowler Certification program. This program provides league bowlers access to statistics, digital awards, rules and regulations, and new tournaments, including The PBA LBC National Championships. Other PBA membership programs include PBA Pinsiders, a membership program for the sport's most enthusiastic fans, and PBA Jr., a club for elite youth bowlers under the age of 17."[5]
The PBA also oversees competition between professional bowlers via the following tours:
- PBA Tour – An annual calendar of events, currently running from January to September each year.
- PBA Regional Tour – The majority of PBA members are Regional professionals. The Regional Tour allows PBA members and qualifying amateurs to compete in weekend events. The Tour consists of seven regions: Central, East, Midwest, Northwest, South, Southwest, and West.[6]
- PBA50/60 Tours – Originally the PBA Senior Tour, it was split in 2013 and now based on age.[7] Set up like the PBA Tour, but allowing PBA members aged 50 years and older, and after the 2013 rebranding, a different tour for members 60 years and older, to compete in their own events. The PBA50/60 Tours also have Regional events. USBC sanctioned events on the PBA50 Tour are still branded as "Senior", and PBA60 Tour events are branded "Super Senior".
- PBA-World Bowling Tour (WBT) – Events outside of North America that award a PBA Tour title if won by a PBA member.
- PBA Women's Regional Tour
- PBA Women's Series (inactive) – Selected PBA Tour events that ran from 2007 to 2010 included a concurrent, separate event for female professionals.
- PBA Jr. – Launched in 2020 as a club for youth bowlers (age 17 and under) to enjoy PBA perks and compete in Regional events with the goal of qualifying for SMART scholarship earnings at the PBA Jr. National Championship.[8]
As of September 2019, the PBA is owned by Bowlero Corporation.[2]
- ^ a b "About the PBA - Headquarters". PBA.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c "BOWLERO CORP ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF THE PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS ASSOCIATION". bowlerocorp.com. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Schneider, Jerry (September 10, 2019). "Bowlero Corp Announces Purchase of the Professional Bowlers Association". PBA.com. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ "About the PBA - PBA Staff". PBA.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ "PBA AND FOX SPORTS ANNOUNCE TWO-YEAR MEDIA RIGHTS EXTENSION". pba.com. August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Regional Tour information
- ^ Schneider, Jerry. "PBA Senior Tour to Become 'PBA50 Tour' in 2013." Article at www.pba.com on August 13, 2012. [1]
- ^ "JOIN PBA JR". PBA.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.