Enable Accessibility

Like us on Facebook
Tweet @bowlingball
Follow @bowlingball
**ALL ORDERS PLACED BEFORE 4 PM ET WILL SHIP THE SAME DAY - FREE SHIPPING EVERY ITEM EVERY DAY**

Reviews by Doug Anderson

Motiv Chronic Paranoia

Motiv Forza GT

Motiv Forza SS

Motiv Freestyle Rush Turquoise/Purple Pearl

Motiv Jackal Carnage Jackal USBC Approval Revoked

Motiv Jackal Ghost

Motiv Jackal Rising

Motiv Lethal Paranoia

Motiv Octane Burn

Motiv Paranoia

Motiv Primal Fear

Motiv Revolt Havoc

Motiv Tag Cannon

Motiv Tank Rampage

Motiv Trident

Motiv Trident Quest

Motiv United Revolt

Motiv Venom Cobra Ltd Only

Show all reviews

Motiv Chronic Paranoia
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Oblivion™
COVERSTOCK - Agitator Solid Reactive
FINISH - 4000 LSS
RG RATING - 2.53 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.47 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+


REACTION

The Chronic Paranoia is the newest ball to take on the title of "benchmark" in Motiv's current lineup and it doesn't disappoint. I can use it from a variety of angles while still retaining carry and continuation through the pins. Whether I am playing up the outside or swinging the middle part of the lane, the Chronic Paranoia excels on medium oil. If you need a ball to blend out the pattern and be able to strike from multiple angles, this ball will give you what you're looking for.


COMPARISONS

In my video I compared the Chronic Paranoia to several different balls in our current lineup. As you'll be able to see in the video, it fits perfectly in the middle of our ball chart. The Forza GT reads earlier and is a couple boards stronger while the original Paranoia reads later and is a few boards weaker. Obviously the Primal Fear is stronger and the Venom Cobra is weaker. Just like with all of our releases, The Chronic Paranoia was designed to have synergy with our other equipment. I have been able to ball down from the Trident to the Fear to the Chronic Paranoia throughout transition seamlessly and would be able to ball down to the Cobra as well.


SUMMARY

The Chronic Paranoia is a ball I will be using for years to come. This ball just flat out gets it done for me no matter what part of the lane I have to play. When I have to bump inside after playing the track area it just keeps carrying. I honestly haven't had a ball this versatile in quite some time. The moderate length and the predictability of how it reads the friction keeps the ball in play and provides me a bit more area on house patterns. It doesn't over read coming off the friction and doesn't go straight in oil. It truly is a remarkable ball and worthy of the benchmark title.


MOTIV STAFF MEMBER

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Forza GT
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Torx™
COVERSTOCK - Helix™ HR
FINISH - 4000 Grit Laser Scan Sanding
RG RATING - 2.50 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.51 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+
REACTION
The Forza GT follows in line with other Motiv releases in that is fills a gap without reacting like other equipment in our current lineup. The GT is designed for medium oil and reads in the midlane. The all new Helix™ coverstock gets the ball to the mid lane without bogging down in the heads. The GT doesn't just go forward off the spot, it continues to drive with energy through the pins.
VIDEO
COMPARISONS
The balls I chose to compare the pin down Forza GT to were the Revolt Havoc, Paranoia, and Venom Cobra. If you watch the video you'll be able to see the Havoc starts up earlier and has more total overall hook than GT. The Paranoia gets further down lane with less overall hook and isn't able to recover from the same line as the GT. The Cobra also gets further down lane than the GT and is is even weaker than the Paranoia. The GT fits in between the Havoc, Paranoia, and Cobra in ball motion and overall hook. It doesn't start as early as the Havoc, but it is earlier and stronger than both the Paranoia and Cobra. This places the GT firmly in the benchmark category.
The balls I chose to compare to the pin up Forza GT were the original Forza, Octane Burn, and Venom Shock. The original Forza is earlier and forward off the spot providing very little continuation through the pins. The Octane Burn gets further down lane and while it responds faster to friction, isn't as strong as the GT in overall hook. For me, the Venom Shock had to closest shape to the GT than all of the other balls I compared to the GT. The main difference I saw was in overall hook and continuation. The Shock is more mild by design and for me is more forward off the spot than the GT.
SUMMARY
"Benchmark" is a term that gets thrown around in the bowling industry quite often and I must admit I find the Forza GT to be just that. It's a ball designed for medium oil that doesn't start too early or too late. It isn't forward off the spot nor does it go sideways either. Since I have drilled my two GT's I keep finding myself going back to them frequently. During practice I will throw whatever I bring with me and when my GT is in the bag, I usually end up throwing it. I find it to be quite versatile and usable on a wide variety of patterns because of how well it controls and reads the lane. It's the perfect fit between not only the original Forza and the Redline, but also the medium/heavy and light oil choices. If you are looking for a ball that can be used on a multitude of conditions, check out the Forza GT.
Motiv Staff Member
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Forza SS
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Sigma
COVERSTOCK - Helix™ HFS Reactive
FINISH - 3000 Grit LSS
RG RATING - 2.47 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.47 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+

REACTION
The Forza SS is the next step in the evolution of the Forza line. This ball has gone back to it's roots with a big boost in performance. The original Forza was best suited for shorter patterns and shallow angles. The Forza SS is an improvement in every way possible. The SS is an early reading ball best suited for medium oil. This ball carries across a wide variety of patterns. Whether you have to play up the outside on a shorter pattern, or move inside and play the middle part of the lane, the SS will get the corners out. It has a smooth yet strong predictable motion that is great when having to control the lane.

COMPARISONS
In the video, I compared the Forza SS to the United Revolt, Forza GT, and the Chronic Paranoia. The layout is 60 x 4.5" x 75. In terms of overall hook potential, the Forza SS fits in between the United Revolt and the Forza GT. It is also stronger than the Chronic Paranoia. As for the shape, the Forza SS reads the lane earlier than the other three balls which means it is very predictable. The United Revolt and the Forza SS are somewhat similar in shape with the United Revolt being stronger overall. In the video you will be able to see how the hook potential and shape differ from ball to ball.

I also compared a Forza SS with a 60 x 4.5" x 75 (pin down) layout to one with a 60 x 5.25" x 40 (long pin up). The pin down one had a much slower response to friction which produces a rounder shape and more overall hook. The long pin up gets further down lane with a faster response to friction and less overall hook. I haven't had any problem striking with both layouts from multiple angles.

SUMMARY
When the Revolt Havoc was discontinued I was disappointed. It was my go to ball for tighter conditions because of how it rolled. The Forza SS is better than the Havoc. Plain and simple. It reads early but isn't nearly as forward off the spot as the Havoc. I am able to play a wider variety of pattern while still maintaining a predictable smooth motion. As I have stated before, I am always adjusting surface to see what a cover can and cannot do. So far, I haven't had to touch the cover on either of my Forza SS bowling balls because of how well they roll. I look forward to seeing how much I can vary the shape and how receptive the SS cover is to surface changes. This ball is great on tighter conditions, but it also blends out the wet/dry of house conditions without burning up and going through the pins flat. This ball is a welcome addition to the Motiv lineup and a great piece.
MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Freestyle Rush Turquoise/Purple Pearl
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Recon™
COVERSTOCK - Agility™ LFP Pearl
FINISH - 5500 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.60 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.30 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 2"+


REACTION

The Freestyle Rush is a significant improvement over previous entry level Motiv equipment. The core has been tweaked to have a higher RG and diff which gives the Rush more length and bite on the back end compared to it's predecessors. For the first time since I started throwing Motiv equipment, this is the first entry level ball that actually gets down lane. I was expecting the Rush to have a smooth arc type of reaction which is usually the norm with entry level balls. It doesn't. The Freestyle Rush is best suited for medium to longer patterns with lighter oil.


COMPARISONS

For the Freestyle Rush, I compared it to the original Freestyle, Graffiti Tag, and the Octane Carbon. The layout is 60 x 4.5" x 75. What I found during filming was the Rush had a motion that was comparable to the Octane Carbon while being about 5 boards weaker. The original Freestyle was weaker with a much rounder shape, while the Tag is a bit stronger and sharper off the spot. I have been successful going from the Octane Carbon to the Freestyle when the lanes transition and force me out of the zone I am playing. I was able to move back to my original line, change to the Rush, and continue striking.


SUMMARY

In my honest opinion, the Freestyle Rush is not an entry level ball. I have relayed my opinion on the matter to the higher ups at Motiv as well. This ball gets down lane and is fast off the spot. It has the motion of equipment at a much higher price point, it just lacks the overall hook potential which is why we sell the Rush as an entry level ball. When the lanes start to break down, I have zero hesitations when it comes to using the Freestyle Rush. Truth be told, I used it the back half of a tournament last weekend and ended up getting the win. The performance you get for the price is unmatched. If you are looking to fill out your arsenal with something for lighter oil conditions, you cannot go wrong with the Motiv Freestyle Rush.


MOTIV STAFF MEMBER

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Jackal Carnage Jackal USBC Approval Revoked
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Predator
COVERSTOCK - Coercion
FINISH - 3000 Grit LSS
RG RATING - 2.46 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - .060 (15 lbs)
MB DIFFERENTIAL - .015 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 7"+


REACTION

The Jackal Carnage has a unique motion that allows it to be used on a wide variety of conditions. The aggressive Coercion coverstock provides control in the mid-lane read and continuation through the pins. The Motiv staffers at the WSOB primarily used the Carnage on the fresh for ALL FOUR animal patterns. With patterns ranging from 35'-47' in length, it shows just how versatile the Carnage truly is.


COMPARISONS


The Jackal Carnage sits alone at the top of the chart. This ball is stronger than everything else in the line. In my video I compared the Carnage to the Revolt Havoc, Primal Rage Remix, and the original Jackal. The Carnage was easily 5+ boards stronger than the original Jackal, Primal Rage Remix, and 7-8+ boards stronger than the Revolt Havoc.
Motion wise, once again the Carnage sits alone. The original Jackal and Remix both read further down lane and respond faster to friction but provide less overall hook. The Havoc starts earlier than the Carnage and provides significantly less hook. The Carnage


SUMMARY

Right now I have two Jackal Carnage's. I have a pin down (75° x 4.5" x 75°), and a pin up (65° x 4.125" x 50°). The pin down Carnage is about 3-4 boards stronger than my pin up. It reads the lane a little earlier and still provides it's signature control and continuation. I have used them both on several different sport conditions (2013 USBC Masters pattern, 41' 1.5:1 ratio sport pattern, 35' Cheetah, 47' Scorpion). The Carnage does a great job of keeping you out of trouble on tighter patterns due to the control it provides. I usually prefer symmetrical cores but this ball is something different. If you want a ball that can read the lane in slop and be used on a WIDE variety of conditions, pick up a Jackal Carnage.

Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Jackal Ghost
31 of 33 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Predator V2™
COVERSTOCK - Coercion™ HFS Solid Reactive
FINISH - 3000 LSS
RG RATING - 2.47 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.54 (15 lbs)
MB DIFFERENTIAL - 0.15
FLARE POTENTIAL - 7"+

REACTION

The all new Jackal Ghost is the most aggressive asymmetrical ball Motiv has ever produced. The Ghost is designed for heavy oil and has an early motion. The Coercion HFS cover digs into heavy oil and provides the hook you are looking for on the heaviest of oil conditions. What I personally found to be impressive about this ball is the way it goes through the pins. Earlier rolling asymmetrical balls are usually forward off the spot which results in a shallower entry angle. The Jackal Ghost keeps coming around which will allow you to play outside on heavy oil, but still carry from steeper angles when moving in.

COMPARISONS

In my video I compared the Jackal Ghost to the Jackal LE and Havoc (pin up), and the Trident and Forza GT (pin down). Given the fact the Ghost sits atop the hook potential chart, it obviously displayed more overall hook than the rest of the equipment I compared it to. What I found interesting was just how well the Ghost went through the pins playing that far in on the lane. As you can see when compared to the Jackal LE, It reads earlier, hooks more, but is still continuous off the spot to get out the corner pins due to energy retention. The same goes for the Trident which gets much further down lane before starting to hook. The way the Havoc rolls would be comparable to the Jackal Carnage. It is forward off the spot and excels when playing shallow angles. The Forza GT, while having a shape that is the most similar out of the bunch, doesn't have an aggressive enough cover or core to recover from where the Ghost is striking from.

SUMMARY

The Jackal Ghost has been a surprise for a multitude of reasons. I know with every new release you'll see "most hooking" and things of that nature, but as you can see in the video, it is a good 4-5 boards stronger than the Trident and even the Jackal LE. It is strong, early, yet somehow continuous. We now have two very distinctive motions with the asymmetrical balls in our current lineup (Jackal Ghost, Trident), and three if you are fortunate enough to have a Jackal LE. As with all of our releases at Motiv, everything is tested to have a place in our current lineup without rolling like our other stuff. The Ghost is strong and early, the Jackal LE has more length with more of a mid lane read, and the Trident is much more angular than both. If you are a bowler who likes to play up the lanes and you are looking for something with a little more bite than the Revolt Havoc, The Jackal Ghost will fill those needs.

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Jackal Rising
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DECRIPTION
INNER CORE - Predator V3™
COVERSTOCK - Coercion™ HV2 Reactive
FINISH - 2000 Grit LSS
RG RATING - 2.47 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.55 (15 lbs)
INT DIFFERENTIAL - .019
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+

REACTION

The Jackal Rising is another step forward in the evolution of the Jackal line. The Rising takes what made the Ghost such a huge success and improves upon it. This ball hooks a lot! It reads early and continues hooking across the entire line. The Rising isn't as forward off the spot which will allow bowlers to get in and play steeper angles on heavier oil. This adds to overall versatility. With a strong slow response, the Rising also thrives when playing up the lane (shallow angles) on heavier oil. Being able to hook in oil and not overreact off the friction, the Rising is able to be utilized by a multitude of different styles.

COMPARISONS

In my Jackal Rising ball motion video I compared it to the Jackal Ghost, Trident Quest, and the Forza SS. The Rising is a full zone (5 boards) stronger than Ghost which came as a pleasant surprise to me. The other difference I saw between the Rising and Ghost were how they responded to friction from steeper angles. The Rising was able to recover and continue through the pins from deeper inside than the Ghost. The Ghost is much more forward off the spot. As for the Quest and SS, they both have less overall hook than the Ghost and by extension the Jackal Rising. Check out the video to see how all the shapes stack up against each other in the ball comparison section.

SUMMARY

The Jackal Rising hooks. It hooks a lot. Not only does it hook, but it can carry from steep angles which is something I can't say for most big, early, asymm balls. After I drilled it up and got to throw it for the first time, I kept moving left to try and leave a flat 10. I'd strike, move left, strike, move left, strike, move left, and kept on striking. I couldn't get the ball to flat 10 on the house pattern I was bowling on. Given the fact I bowl on old wood lanes, I was completely stunned it never happened. The Jackal Rising is much more versatile than one might think. It rolls fantastic in heavier oil playing up the lane, but if you have to move in and open up the lane, your carry won't suffer. I've drilled two so far and have another on the way. Lastly, the cover responds extremely well to surface changes and polish. While the overall motion doesn't change drastically, polish will allow you to stay in the same zone for much longer. If you are looking for a strong versatile asymm, do yourself a favor and get a Jackal Rising!

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Lethal Paranoia
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Oblivion™
COVERSTOCK - Hexion™ Hybrid Reactive
FINISH - 5500 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.53 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.47 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+

REACTION

Simply put, the Lethal Paranoia is long and angular. Motiv has never produced a ball with this much length and back end reaction. This ball is extremely clean through the heads with an incredibly fast response to friction. The Hexion™ technology that is being used in our new covers has been remarkable in creating shapes we previously didn't have. The Lethal Paranoia gives a look on medium oil we haven't had. With the Lethal, I am able to play steeper angles while maintaining hitting power through the pins.

COMPARISONS

The equipment used in comparison to the Lethal Paranoia were the Trident Quest, Original Paranoia, and the Octane Carbon. I took all the covers to 5500 polished to have a baseline for comparison. As predicted, the Lethal Paranoia is longer than all of the others with the fastest response to friction. In the video you will be able to see Quest, Paranoia, and Octane all read the lane earlier than the Lethal Paranoia. The Quest and original Paranoia have rounder shapes than the Lethal. While the Carbon has somewhat similar length to the Lethal, it is significantly weaker off the spot. If one were bowling in a longer format tournament and were to match up with the Trident Quest on the fresh, progression to the Lethal Paranoia through the transition and down to the Octane Carbon on the burn would be seamless.

SUMMARY

The Lethal Paranoia follows in the footsteps of the Trident Quest when it comes to the shape progression of Motiv. We have made strides in the length and angularity department with the new Hexion™ technology. I am quite pleased with the shim that comes with these covers. The Lethal Paranoia gets to the spot without any early grab before peeling off the spot. In the past, I have struggled with faster response covers. I prefer to keep my angles shallow and play more up the lane. Well, at least I did. Since bowling with these Hexion™ covers I have a 300 (Lethal Paranoia) and a 300/827 (Trident Quest). These new covers have changed my take on faster response covers.

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Octane Burn
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
!!Octane Burn Review!!
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Quadfire
COVERSTOCK - Helix SFP Reactive
FINISH - 5500 Grit Laser Scan Polished
RG RATING - 2.55 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - .043 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 4"+

REACTION
The Octane Burn excels when the pattern starts to break down. It has a fast but more controllable motion down lane than its predecessor. It's versatile in the fact you can play up the lane without it jumping too hard off the spot. When you have to move in and increase your angles, it has the continuation necessary to slap out the corner pins.

COMPARISONS
The Octane Burn overall hook puts it in between the Forza Redline and Venom Panic. It gets further down lane than both of those balls and has a fast response to friction. Compared to the Graffiti Tag, it starts earlier, is more controllable, and has more overall hook. The Burn allows you to play deeper inside than you would with the Panic because of the length it gives you. In comparison to the original Octane, it doesn't cover as many boards, starts earlier, and is more controllable which allows it to be used on a wider variety of patterns. The Octane Burn is a perfect fit when you need less than the Redline and more than the Panic.

SUMMARY
I drilled my Octane Burn pin under middle finger (75°x 4.5" x75°) and threw it with a variety of different surfaces to see how it rolled. I put 1000, 2000, 2000 with polish, 3000, 4000, and box finish. I like to throw new equipment with different surfaces because at some point in time we always alter the surface. I bowl on Synthetic and wood lanes and the happy medium I found that works on both house patterns was 2000 (no polish). For me, box finish was a bit to fast and temperamental for my liking. To be fair, the only ball I throw with polish is my Tag. Everything else I have from 1000-4000. I prefer to have a bit of surface as it suits my game better. Below is my ball motion video. I compared the Octane Burn to the Graffiti Tag, Venom Panic, and Forza Redline.
Douglas Anderson
Motiv Staff
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Paranoia
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Oblivion™ Dual Density Weight Block
COVERSTOCK - Agitator™ Pearl Reactive Cover Stock
FINISH - 5500 Grit Laser Scan Polished
RG RATING - 2.53 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.47 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+

REACTION
The Paranoia filled a much needed gap in the current Motiv line once the original Octane was retired. This ball is best suited for medium oil. It is clean through the heads with strong down lane motion. The Paranoia responds quickly to friction without expending all of it's energy which allows it to be explosive when going through the pins.

COMPARISONS
The Paranoia, as with all equipment in the Motiv line, was designed to fit in between existing pieces. Compared to the Primal Rage, the Paranoia is about 3 boards weaker in overall hook potential. When the pattern starts to break down and my Primal Rage is burning up, I have been able to pull out my Paranoia and continue striking while retaining relatively the same shape. When the pattern starts to go away from the Paranoia, I can pull out the Octane Burn, rinse and repeat. The Paranoia isn't nearly as temperamental as the original Octane. While I loved my original Octane, I found it to be a bit too clean. The Paranoia remedies all of that by being able to blend out the pattern. I haven't noticed much over/under with the Paranoia.

SUMMARY
I decided to get two Paranoia's with my initial order. I drilled one pin down (75°x 4.5" x75°) and the other pin up(65°x 4.125" x50°). I bowl in three different houses with three very different surfaces. They consist of synthetic lanes, old beat up wood lanes, and newer well maintained wood lanes. The house shots vary in length and volume from center to center. I have been able to start with my pin down Paranoia in all three houses playing up the track area. As the pattern starts to migrate forcing me inside, going to my pin up Paranoia has kept the strikes coming. They are a nice one two punch for getting down the lane and being able to open the lane up. One thing I did notice with my pin up Paranoia was that it was a bit TOO fast with box finish. I took it down to 2000 then polished it. That small change was all I needed to get it to go through the pins the way I prefer. The Paranoia took everything that was great about the original Octane and improved on it. It's definitely worthy of sitting on medium oil angular throne on the ball chart. I see the Paranoia being around for years to come.

MOTIV Staff Member
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Primal Fear
9 of 10 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Impulse V2™
COVERSTOCK - Voracity Pearl Reactive
FINISH - 5000 Grit Laser Scan Polish
RG RATING - 2.55 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.50 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+

REACTION
The Primal Fear is designed for medium heavy oil and is long and angular. The new Voracity pearl cover combined with the Impulse V2 core give this ball length and continuation through the pins. I have found that it reads the lane quite well and responds favorable to surface changes.

COMPARISONS
In my video I compared the Primal Fear to the Primal Rage, Primal Rage Remix, Paranoia, and Forza GT. As you'll be able to see in the video, the Primal Fear has a reaction all onto itself. It fits squarely between the Remix and the Rage. The Remix has more overall hook potential while the Rage isn't as strong off the spot. The Forza GT is earlier and smoother than the Fear with less hook potential. The Paranoia shares a similar shape with the Fear but is easily 4-5 boards weaker than the Primal Fear. As with all of our releases, synergy plays an important role. With our current releases, I have found a lot of success going from my Trident to the Primal Fear. They work extremely well with one another when dealing with transition. As the lane continues to break down, I can go from the Primal Fear to the Paranoia without missing a beat.

SUMMARY
The Primal Rage had a good run with Motiv, but the times are a changing and it was time for an upgrade. The Primal Fear is more than a worthy successor, it improves on everything that made the Rage great. The Voractiy cover on the Fear provides length with less over/under than the Rage. As stated earlier, the cover responds very well to surface changes. Adding polish will allow you to play steep inside angles while still being able to get out the corner pins. By taking the cover down to 2000 sanded, you can play more shallow angles up the lane without worry of overreacting. I firmly believe the Primal Fear is able to excel on a multitude of different conditions with minimal surface changes. It's more versatile than any angular ball I've previously thrown.

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Revolt Havoc
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
Motiv Revolt Havoc


Lane Conditions: Medium-Heavy Oil
Typical Conditions: Sport Shot
Type of Lane: Combination
What part of the lane did you play? Third Arrow
Weight of bowling ball: 15
Surface of bowling ball: Sanded
What grit was the surface of the ball? 2000
Likes: Predictable, controlled, early, continuous.
Dislikes: None. Pin down layouts need a decent amount of oil in the heads to keep from bogging down.

Description: The Revolt Havoc is the newest release from Motiv. As with the Covert and Vengeance, at the center of the Havoc is the Vanquish core. This ball utilizes the all new HFS (High Friction Solid) reactive coverstock (3000 Grit LSS box finish) which allows it to read the lane early. The Havoc is purple and accented with black logos.

- Color: Purple Solid
- Weight Block: Vanquish
- Coverstock: Helix HFS Reactive
- Finish: 3000 Grit LSS
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy Oil
- RG: 2.47 (for 15# ball)
- Diff: 0.056 (for 15# ball)



Reaction: What sets the Havoc apart from other early rolling equipment is it's unique ability to maintain continuation. While the majority of balls that roll early tend to go forward and lack drive through the pins, the Havoc keeps coming around. With my style, I have always had problems matching up with early rolling equipment. The Havoc has been unique in that it reads the lane for me extremely early without sacrificing pin carry. In my video I tested my Havoc's on a 40' THS and the WTBA 44' London certified sport pattern.

Havoc #1 (50°x 5.25" x35°) //// Havoc #2 (75°x 4.5" x 75°)

Both balls handled the patterns rather well. They start early, read the lane, and don't do anything unexpected. One of my favorite aspects of this ball is the fact I can play up the lane without worry that it'll overreact off the dry because of how well it controls the lane. Not only that, but because of it's continuation, I can get inside and still maintain carry without leaving those dreaded flat corner pins. Anytime I try and move inside with previous early rolling equipment, I tend to start leaving flat 10's.

Comparisons: As with every other Motiv release, the Havoc has it's spot in the current lineup. It's early, but much stronger and more continuous than the original Forza. In relation to the other Revolt's, the Havoc is earlier with more overall hook potential. The original Revolt starts later and isn't as strong. The Vengeance gets much further down lane, responds to friction much quicker, but has less overall hook potential. The Havoc is best suited for medium to heavy oil. For me, it fits perfectly in between the Jackal and the Venom Shock.

Summary: I will be the first to admit I was less than optimistic when I heard the characteristics of this ball. Given my inability to match up with early rolling equipment throughout the years, I didn't think the Havoc would be any different. As with any new release, you hear the typical buzzwords and hype that you've heard used to describe equipment a thousand times before. With that being said, I am more than happy to admit I was dead wrong. Not only has the Havoc filled a void in my arsenal, I finally have an early rolling ball I have confidence in that matches up with my game. The Havoc controls the lane and is one of the most consistent rolling balls I've ever thrown.

Douglas Anderson - MOTIV Staff Member
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Tag Cannon
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION
INNER CORE - Halogen™
COVERSTOCK - Agility™ SFP Reactive
FINISH - 5500 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.55 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.37 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 4"+

REACTION
The all new Tag Cannon has a new cover which is an improvement over its predecessor, the Graffiti Tag. The Cannon is a touch earlier than the original with a rounder shape. This tweak allows the ball to be more predictable coming off the end of the pattern without sacrificing hitting power. The Cannon is still plenty fast enough off the spot and is able to go through the pins with power from a multitude of different angles.

COMPARISONS
I compared the Tag Cannon to the original Graffiti Tag, Freestyle Rush, and the Octane Carbon. The layout is 60 x 4.5" x 75. In relation to the Graffiti Tag, it rolls a touch earlier with a rounder overall shape. What this means is the Cannon is around 3 boards stronger. The Freestyle Rush doesn't rev up as much as the Cannon because it has a higher RG diff. This makes the Rush as long as the Cannon, but not nearly as fast or strong off the spot. This makes changing from the Cannon to the Rush virtually seamless. Lastly, we have the Octane Carbon. These two balls compliment each other perfectly. The Octane Carbon is 4-5 boards stronger than the Tag Cannon with a similar motion. I have had no issues changing from the Carbon to the Cannon during transition. Once the pattern starts to break down, I am able to pull out the Cannon, move back right to where I started with the Carbon, and continue striking. Motiv puts an emphasis on synergy between equipment in different overall hook potential categories. The Carbon and the Cannon are another successful match.

SUMMARY
I am the type of bowler that is always experimenting with surface. I like knowing what I match up with and what I do not. For me, the Tag Cannon at box finish was a touch too long for the conditions I typically bowl on. I decided to take it down to 3000 sanded and it gave me the motion I was looking for. I was still able to play inside without ball reading too early, and it cornered well enough to carry without issue. The cover on the Cannon is very receptive to surface changes which adds to its overall versatility. When I find myself bowling on lighter volume, I will be throwing the Tag Cannon on a wide variety of oil patterns.

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Tank Rampage
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Gear V2
COVERSTOCK - Alchemy Urethane
FINISH - 5500 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.55 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.20 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 3"+


REACTION

The Tank Rampage isn't a typical urethane ball. It has a motion that is rather unique. While traditional urethane reads early and forward, the Rampage reads early but also creates entry angle. On shorter patterns, the Tank Rampage will get a lot of use.


COMPARISONS

I compared the Tank Rampage to the Rebel Tank, Freestyle Rush, and as a bonus comparison I threw the Hyper Sniper as well. The layout is 60 x 4.5" x 75. In the video, you can see how they stack up to one another. The Rebel Tank gets further down lane but is weaker and more forward off the sport. It doesn't have the hook potential or the shape drive through the pins from the same line as the Rampage. The Freestyle Rush has more overall hook potential and responds much faster to friction making it significantly more angular. The Hyper Sniper, well, it goes straight. Which is a good thing because that is what it was designed to do.


SUMMARY

The Tank Rampage has been an eye opener for me. With my "Tweener" rev rate, I have never really had much use for urethane. That is until now. This ball is an excellent choice for shorter patterns or when you are just trying to keep the ball in play. It is very predictable which is a must on fresh sport patterns. The Rampage gets through the pins well enough to where I am not worrying or expecting to leave flat corners. That has always been a problem that has plagued me when throwing urethane. I know bowlers are leery about urethane even with the resurgence of seeing the pros use it on the telecasts. When a Motiv Test Drive comes to your area, make sure the Tank Rampage is on the list so you can try it out for yourself. I am certain it will open your eyes like it did mine.


MOTIV STAFF MEMBER

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Trident
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Turbulent™
COVERSTOCK - Coercion™ HVH Reactive
FINISH - 3000 Grit Laser Scan Sanding
RG RATING - 2.49 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.54 (15 lbs)
MB DIFFERENTIAL - .017
FLARE POTENTIAL - 7"+


REACTION

The Trident has the most overall hook potential Motiv has ever produced. The all new hybrid cover gives the Trident a mid-lane read while still maintaining a strong backend motion. This ball is in it's element and thrives on heavy oil. For me, this ball clears the heads with ease, reads the mid-lane, and has a pronounced move through the pins. The way this ball moves makes it a great option from a multitude of angles.


COMPARISONS

The comparisons section of this review will be pretty straightforward. The Trident has more overall hook potential than any of our previous releases. With that being said, there are still comparisons to be made by motion. In my video, I compared my two Trident's to the Primal Rage Remix, original Primal Rage, Havoc, and the Forza GT. I also added a bonus comparison to the Jackal Carnage. Motion wise, I would say it is closest to the Forza GT but MUCH stronger in overall hook. What I found most interesting (as you'll see in the video) was the comparison to the Jackal Carnage. The Trident has more length, a stronger backend, and is still about 4+ boards stronger than Carnage. I was able to get significantly deeper with the Trident and still strike where the Carnage read too early to recover.


SUMMARY

The Trident is a welcome and much needed addition to sit atop the Motiv Ball chart. This ball has a motion that will appeal to a wide variety of styles. Not only that, but the bowlers who are looking for "hook in a box" will get it with the Trident. With my rev rate and ball speed being the very definition of "average", I have been waiting for a release that would allow me to open up the lane. Given the fact I have been able to use the Trident on such a wide variety of patterns, it is aptly named the "Ultimate Weapon".


Motiv Staff Member

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Trident Quest
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Turbulent™
COVERSTOCK - Hexion™ Reactive
FINISH - 5500 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.49 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.54 (15 lbs)
INT DIFFERENTIAL - .017 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 7"+

REACTION

The Trident Quest is a major step forward for the Motiv brand. This ball features a brand new chemical composition for the coverstock. Our new Hexion™ technology allows the ball to get through the heads with ease while providing a violent response to friction off the backend. When throwing the Trident Quest, I quickly noticed how easily it got down lane. When you have a ball that gives you shim with a fast response to friction, you end up with more miss room. When I got the ball out, it was able to recover and still go through the pins with plenty of energy. When I missed it, the ball glided through the heads in the heavier oil and still held pocket. While this result is dependent on the pattern, I must note I couldn't do this with any of my other equipment. This ball is going to be spectacular on house patterns because of the miss room bowlers will have. With that being said, it will also come to life and shine on longer sport patterns. With how easily it gets to the spot without reading early, this ball is going to see a lot of lane time at the WSOB. Especially on the Shark and Scorpion patterns.

COMPARISONS

The equipment used in comparison to the Trident Quest were the Jackal Ghost, Original Trident, and the Primal Fear. I took all the covers to 5500 polished to make the comparisons have the same finish. The Trident Quest holds its line and gets further down lane than the rest. Not only that, it's faster than all of the others. Predictably, the Ghost and Trident read earlier and have more overall hook potential than the Quest. On the other hand, the Primal Fear is similar in length, but just doesn't have the strength of response off the spot. The original Trident and the Trident Quest will be a great combination. Bowlers will be able to start with the Trident and when the heads start to go, they'll have a seamless transition into the Quest.

SUMMARY

The Trident Quest is a new direction for Motiv. With this new cover technology, we are able to produce a wider variety of shapes. The shape of the Trident Quest is something I have never had with a Motiv bowling ball. I don't have to manipulate my hand or move my feet to create hold. The length of cover does it for me. The results from our new technology is impressive. Whether it be an early and continuous motion like the Forza SS, or a long and explosive motion like the Trident Quest, the future of Motiv is looking great.

MOTIV STAFF MEMBER
Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv United Revolt
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Vanquish™
COVERSTOCK - Helix™ HFP Reactive
FINISH - 5000 Grit LSP
RG RATING - 2.47 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.56 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 5"+


REACTION

The United Revolt gets moderate length with a strong response to friction. I like to think of it as a benchmark motion for heavier oil volumes. I have found the cover to be quite a bit stronger than I expected which is a good thing. When I knocked the cover down to 2000, I was able to get the ball to recover from heavy oil towards the outside of the lane. After polishing it even more than box finish, the United Revolt is still able to corner when playing steep angles across the lane. This cover and core combo give the type of motion that is very responsive to surface changes when needed. It isn't too early and forward, nor is it too late and angular. This means the United Revolt can be used on a wide variety of patterns from a multitude of different angles.


COMPARISONS

In my video, I showcased two United Revolts. Both of which have different layouts on them. I compared the pin down United Revolt to the Forza GT and the Trident. As you can see in the video, the Forza GT is much smoother and isn't able to recover. Conversely, the Trident responds much earlier. Since it has more hook potential, it ends up going through the face. Personally, I have found the United Revolt to fit squarely in between the Trident and the Chronic Paranoia in ball motion and hook potential. All three compliment each other rather well.

The other United Revolt in the video has a long pin up layout. I compare it with the Primal Fear and the Chronic Paranoia. As expected, from playing the same line, the Primal Fear gets much further down lane before responding to friction. This doesn't allow the ball to get back to the pocket. The Chronic Paranoia gets started about the same time as the United Revolt, but isn't strong enough to handle the oil volume from the same line. What this showed me, The United Revolt is lane enough to play steeper angles, and strong enough to recover when the backends are a bit too oily for the Primal Fear.


SUMMARY

I have always matched up well with the Revolt line. It started with the Covert, then the Vengeance, the Havoc was my favorite, and now the United has come along. Ball motion wise, I think the United shows how our technology has advanced and gotten better over the span of the line. While I think the United's length most closely resembles that of the original Covert Revolt, they differ severely when it comes to ball motion. The Covert was forward off the spot while the United Revolt has much more drive and continuation. During the filming of my video, I scouted out several 9 pins. Truth be told, I had more messengers in the filming of my video than I had all of last year. I am far from a power player so when I am slinging messengers across the deck, that's saying something.


MOTIV STAFF MEMBER

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Motiv Venom Cobra Ltd Only
11 of 13 people found this review helpful
5

About the Bowler

League Average:
226
PAP:
5 x 1
Ball Speed:
Medium
Style:
Tweener
Bowling Hand:
Right Handed
Sport Shot Average:
Not set
Experience:
Advanced (I have bowled in a league)
DESCRIPTION

INNER CORE - Top Gear™ Dual Density Weight Block
COVERSTOCK - Sabotage™ Hybrid Reactive
FINISH - 5500 Grit Laser Scan Polished
RG RATING - 2.47 (15 lbs)
RG DIFFERENTIAL - 0.34 (15 lbs)
FLARE POTENTIAL - 3"+


REACTION

The Venom Cobra brings a unique motion to the light-medium oil category. The low RG and all new Top Gear dual density core give this ball plenty of length with a fast response to friction. Out of the box the ball is long and angular with plenty of continuation through the pins.


VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGaQj8vdT2M

COMPARISONS


In my ball motion video I compared the Venom Cobra to every ball in the current Motiv lineup that has a similar reaction (including the recently retired Panic). Here is what I found which you'll be able to see in the video. As always, my pin down started up earlier and isn't as fast off the back end. My pin up Cobra gets further down lane before it reads friction. This has been the norm for me with these layouts.

The Venom Cobra's motion was closest to the Paranoia while being about 4-5 boards weaker in overall hook. The Octane Burn started earlier than the Cobra and is a couple boards stronger. With a higher RG, the Burn doesn't rev up nearly as fast as the Cobra. The Venom Panic hooks a bit earlier than the Cobra but for me was much weaker off the spot. While the Cobra is more angular, the Panic is more forward which made it about 3-4 boards weaker in overall hook. I threw the Graffiti Tag in there just to show how much stronger the Cobra was in overall hook. The Tag was 5-6 boards less in total hook than the Cobra. It reacted significantly further down lane which isn't surprising. The Agility cover on the Tag is the cleanest cover in the current lineup.


SUMMARY

I ordered two Venom Cobra's and drilled one pin down (75°x 4.5" x75°) and the other pin up (65°x 4.125" x50°). I bowl in three different houses with three very different surfaces. They consist of synthetic lanes, old beat up wood lanes, and newer well maintained wood lanes. The house shots vary in length and volume from center to center. After filming the videos I started experimenting with surface. Just like the Paranoia, box finish was a bit too fast for my liking. I tried a few different surfaces before settling on 2000 sanded on the pin down, and 4000 sanded for the pin up. What surprised me with the Venom Cobra was how much length they retained even with surface. While they started a bit earlier than box finish, they were still quite angular off the back end. Usually when I add surface to a ball it just makes it much earlier and slower. This was a welcome surprise. With the Cobra being designed for light-medium oil it allows me to stay in the same spot longer before having to chase the transition. The Cobra is the perfect step down from the Paranoia when you need to ball down and retain a similar motion.


Motiv Staff Member

Doug Anderson
Was this comment helpful? yes no
Showing comments 1-18 of 18
Click here to shop smart deals Need Help? Click here to access our contact information. Pyramid Promo 2025 1000's of FREE Tips and Articles
WeeklyContestText Click here to shop Pyramid Power Moon Bowling Ball