Which miniature golf balls are allowed in tournaments? The WMF License List explains
Sarah Petra SchumacherYou’ve found a minigolf ball that feels good to you, but are you allowed to play with it in a tournament?
The answer depends on a term you, as a minigolf player, should know: homologation. In this article, you will learn what that means, how the official license list works, and how to tell if your ball is tournament-ready.
This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The Minigolf Equipment Supplier for Pros and Beginners -
👉 In Brief: Which balls are allowed in tournaments?
In official minigolf tournaments, only balls that have passed the licensing procedure of the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF) are permitted. These "homologated" balls come from licensed manufacturers, bear their logo, and are registered in an official database: gov.minigolfsport.com/about-minigolf/approved-balls. Anyone caught playing with an unapproved ball in a tournament must replay the hole and risks penalty strokes. In our ball assortment, all models are tournament-approved and can be filtered by bounce height, weight, size, and hardness.
Table of Contents
1. Why is there ball licensing at all?
In minigolf, the ball determines almost everything: how it bounces, how it rolls, how it rebounds off the board, how it reacts to temperature. If any balls were allowed, anyone could compete with a specially made "wonder ball" and gain an unfair advantage.
To prevent exactly that, the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), as the international governing body, introduced a licensing procedure back in 2000. The rule is simple: In competition, only officially approved balls are allowed. The German Minigolf Sport Association (DMV) and most other national federations adopt this rule for their tournaments, from club championships to the Bundesliga.
 Logo of the German Minigolf Sport Association (DMV)
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 Logo of the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF)
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The goal: equal conditions for everyone, no competitive advantages from exotic balls from the internet or self-cast special designs.
2. What exactly does "homologated" mean?
"Homologation" sounds cumbersome, but at its core, it's a simple concept: It's the official licensing procedure of the WMF. Instead of testing each individual ball themselves, the WMF licenses the manufacturers. These commit to producing their balls according to set technical specifications and adhering to the procedure internally.
A homologated ball meets three conditions:
- It comes from a WMF-licensed manufacturer
- It bears the logo of this manufacturer as an identifying mark
- It is registered in the official WMF database
As long as a ball is playable and undamaged, it remains tournament-approved. So there is no expiration date, as with many other sports articles. Balls you bought ten years ago are usually still tournament-ready today.
Example of a homologated ball: the Type 154 from the Austrian manufacturer 3D
3. What technical requirements must a ball meet?
The WMF specifies clear physical limits that every licensed ball must adhere to:
| Property | Specification |
| Diameter | 37.0 mm to 43.0 mm |
| Weight | under 120 g |
| Maximum bounce height | 85 cm (from 1 m height at 25 °C on concrete) |
| Material | The materials used must comply with general safety and environmental standards |
These key values explain why minigolf balls can differ so much from each other. Within the allowed range, balls with different hardnesses, sizes, and bounce characteristics are conceivable, which is precisely why there are so many different models.
In our ball assortment, you can directly filter by these properties: bounce height, weight, size (diameter), surface, and hardness. This way, you can specifically find the ball that suits your home course and your game.
Example of a homologated ball: the M&G Starball DM 2022 Sarah Schumacher from the German manufacturer M&G
4. The official WMF license list: where can I find it?
The complete and always up-to-date list of all approved balls is maintained by the WMF in a public database: gov.minigolfsport.com/about-minigolf/approved-balls
The list is structured in two tiers:
🔵 Generally approved manufacturers: Their balls are all homologated as a matter of principle. Currently, there are seven companies:
- Fun-Sports (Germany)
- Golf Wagner (Germany)
- Sport Reisinger (Germany)
- 2F Sondermaschinen (Germany)
- Game 'N' Fun (Germany)
- M&G Minigolf (Germany)
- SV Golf (Czech Republic)
- NIFO (Sweden)
- 3D Minigolf (Austria)
We will introduce the individual brands and sub-brands of these manufacturers (from Reisinger to M&G to classics like Deutschmann) in a separate article.
🔵 Individually licensed models from other companies: Balls from other manufacturers can be individually approved, but they must be explicitly listed in the database. So, if you want to play an unknown ball, it is best to check the WMF list directly.
There is one special case: Balls that came onto the market before September 30, 2006 are considered "old balls" and can be played even without listing, as long as they meet the technical requirements. An important point for collectors and long-time club players.
5. Special Case: Golf balls in minigolf
Theoretically, WMF rules also permit playing with real golf balls, provided they have undergone the official WMF approval process and are listed in the international database. In practice, however, this is an absolute exception and usually only advantageous on the Adventure Golf system.
For the normal club player, this is usually irrelevant: in competitive sports, you almost always play with classic balls specifically developed for minigolf, purchased from specialist retailers.
6. What happens if I play with an unapproved ball?
If you play with a non-homologated ball in a tournament, there are specific consequences:
- The strokes with the unauthorized ball still count
- The hole must be played again, with an approved ball
- Repeated or intentional violations can lead to a warning with 2 penalty points up to disqualification
In casual play at a public course, these rules do not apply. You can play with whatever you want there. However, as soon as you compete in an official tournament (even the smallest club tournament), the WMF rules apply.
Example of a homologated ball: the Brücken Ass 3 ball from the German manufacturer Reisinger
7. How to identify a licensed ball
In practice, identification is simpler than it sounds:
- Manufacturer's logo: Every licensed ball bears the registered logo of its producer
- Known brands from specialist retailers: If you buy your balls from a specialized minigolf retailer, they are practically always approved
- WMF database: When in doubt, check the official list
- Beware of no-name balls: Balls from discounters, from summer vacation, or from unknown online sources might not be licensed
Those who play regularly in a club will gradually build up an assortment of balls from various manufacturers. Most club players have balls from several brands in their bag, depending on the hole and weather conditions.
In our ball assortment, you will find exclusively balls from WMF-licensed manufacturers, filterable by bounce height, weight, size, and hardness. So you can confidently play with them in club and tournament settings.
👉 Conclusion
Licensed minigolf balls are not a form of harassment, but rather the foundation for fair competition. Club players should get into the habit of checking for manufacturer's proof when buying balls. In the One Putt Minigolf ball assortment, this is automatically the case. Balls from licensed manufacturers are automatically approved for competition; anything beyond that should be checked in the WMF database before tournament play.
Frequently Asked Questions: Licensed Minigolf Balls
Are the balls from the park rental tournament-approved?
No, the classic balls from park or course rentals are generally not approved for official tournaments. They lack the mandatory licensing and registration in the World Federation (WMF) game database, as they are produced purely for recreational use.
How long is a minigolf ball licensed for?
Indefinitely, as long as the ball is playable and undamaged. There is no expiration date for the approval. A ball homologated 15 years ago is usually still tournament-ready today.
Do I need to have my own balls for every tournament?
Yes. Clubs generally do not provide balls. Those who compete regularly build up their own assortment over time. Beginners usually have between 5 and 20 balls, while professionals often have several hundred to a thousand balls for different courses and weather conditions.
How do I check if a particular ball is licensed?
Via the official WMF database at gov.minigolfsport.com/about-minigolf/approved-balls. There you will find all approved manufacturers and individual models.
What does a licensed minigolf ball cost?
Entry-level balls are available for about 10 to 20 Euros each. Standard minigolf balls cost between 20 and 30 Euros each. For collector's items, sums of up to 200 Euros per ball are sometimes spent. A typical club player invests several hundred Euros in their ball assortment over the years.
Can I buy used balls?
Yes, that is even common. As long as the ball is undamaged and comes from a licensed manufacturer, it remains tournament-approved. Especially older models are actively traded by collectors and players. You can also find used balls with us, including real rarities second-hand from time to time. Take a look at our page "Used Minigolf Balls".
Further Reading on One Putt Minigolf
- The Most Important Minigolf Rules Explained
- From Hobby to Club: How to Become a Minigolf Club Player in Germany
- What does the red line mean in minigolf?
This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The Minigolf Equipment Supplier for Pros and Beginners -