Top 5 Motiv Bowling Balls

Motiv Bowling Balls | Top 5

The Motiv Bowling line-up this year has been a huge success, and it is hard to narrow down which ball stands out above all others. It got us to wondering what are some of the most famous Motiv bowling balls from the past. Making a top 5 list is tough and we understand there will be some balls our readers will feel we missed. Please leave those balls we may have missed in the comments. We compiled our list from some expert opinions on what balls were some of the greats. So here is our top five Motiv bowling balls by BowlersMart pro shop store managers from around the country:

#5 - Motiv jackal Bowling Ball - 2016

Motiv is a younger company in the industry compared to others that have been making bowling balls for decades. Motiv has created a very loyal fan base and some could argue that the Jackal helped. The Jackal was a ball that pushed the limit when it came to technology and what was allowed by USBC rules. The Jackal had a 0.060 differential which is the maximum allowed by USBC. This number is determined by an average of so many balls tested by the governing body. USBC determined that the average balls tested exceeded .060 and caused USBC to revoke the approval for these balls to be used in sanctioned play.

Motiv had this to say in March of 2016 – “We have recently submitted an official request for appeal to the USBC because there is a great deal more information to consider in this unprecedented situation,” said Scott Hewitt of MOTIV. “We need to address the ball approval and revocation process, and take a closer look at the procedures and policies in place.”

“MOTIV is committed to creating high-performance, precision-crafted balls that meet the high standards of competitive tournament bowlers,” stated Scott Wilbur, President of MOTIV.

“The Jackal and Jackal Carnage balls were designed to give bowlers maximum performance. We have never intentionally produced balls that were not compliant. After a MOTIV ball is approved by the USBC, we go into full production at the target under which the approved balls were produced. That is why the decision to revoke approval was so shocking to us. We never changed our manufacturing process. We produced what was approved.”

“Our greatest concern in all of this is the impact that this decision has had on our customers, the bowlers, pro shops, bowling centers, and distributors,” said Wilbur.

“The immediate revocation of the balls, as well as not allowing bowlers to continue using the Jackal and Jackal Carnage balls that they have, has caused massive disruption to the sport of bowling around the world.

“We deeply regret the inconvenience and frustration that this issue has caused so many. We appreciate the outpouring of support that we have received, and pledge to continue our efforts to create the world’s best bowling equipment.”

At the time this was a huge setback for Motiv who replaced thousands of balls in the field for their loyal customers. Over time though, it has seemed to pay off by increasing their loyal fan base who received new equipment and also by some who think USBC was singling them out. Regardless the Jackal name plate still is in play today and one of the best selling balls of all time for Motiv.

#4 - Motiv Primal Rage bowling ball - 2013

The backend motion of the Primal Rage™ was the most angular ever from MOTIV™ at the time. When this ball was released in 2013 it made a huge impact with customers. In fact, Bowling This Month magazine rated it as having the biggest backend ever! Never before had they given any bowling ball a stronger backend rating than the Primal Rage. This ball opened a lot of eyes for people who might have been a little hesitant to try Motiv before the Primal Rage hit the shelves.

The easy length and vicious response to friction were possible through the new Fusion™ Pearl Reactive cover technology. Merging this new technology with the proven dual-density Impulse V2 core allowed bowlers to play steeper angles and be more aggressive when the pattern starts to transition. And because it displayed unbelievable continuation, The Primal Rage™ gave people the confidence to trust Motiv as one of the bowling brands to be considered.

#3 - motiv sigma tour bowling ball - 2011

The pros asked to maximize the proven Sigma core with a new coverstock to add length and create a stronger backend motion with continuation on medium oil. MOTIV engineers delivered with Atomix Reactive technology. The resulting pro-level ball is a house-shot killer!

For highly competitive bowlers, the Sigma Tour chased the pattern and still cornered very hard on the backend with the angle needed to provide strong continuation. The Atomix Reactive cover created incredible backend motion and the low RG core provided a controlled breakpoint for high rev bowlers to maximize pin count.

The smoothness and predictability of the Sigma Tour matched up fairly well on sport patterns. Slight surface adjustments was needed, only a light scuff to make it do the trick. The light scuff allowed the ball to burn off just enough energy and tamed down the breakpoint allowing the pocket to be maximized.

A lot of our staff would love to see this ball come back out, it was a little ahead of the popularity wave Motiv has had recently ad we think would be sure to be popular with the masses who might have missed it 10 years ago.

#2 - jackal ghost bowling ball - 2017

Motiv Jackal Ghost Bowling Ball

$214.95

The Jackal Ghost was one that almost all of the staffers mentioned, and is still in production today! The core and cover combination makes this a favorite amongst almost everyone!

The Jackal has been resurrected! The new Jackal Ghost is here to reign terror on heavy oil. With paranormal performance, it delivers more total hook potential than any previous Jackal with no loss in continuation. It’s scary good! The Predator V2 weight block, first used on the Jackal LE, is now at the core of the Jackal Ghost. Featuring a low RG and loads of differential, this asymmetric design is easy to rev and produces massive track flare. Combining the physics of the Predator V2 with the chemistry of the new Coercion HFS (High Friction Solid) cover stock, the Jackal Ghost elevates heavy oil performance to a new level. Coercion HFS is the most aggressive cover stock to date on a bowling ball in the Jackal product line. Turned with a 3000 Grit Lss Finish, bowlers will see both excellent mid-lane read and unbelievable continuation. Obviously, the Jackal Ghost will be a go-to ball for bowlers that want to see more hook without sacrificing continuation on higher volumes of oil. It will also be ideal for bowlers that have a low rev rate or higher ball speeds.

#1 Motiv Venom Shock bowling ball - 2014

Motiv Venom Shock Bowling Ball

$149.95

This will come to no SHOCK (cheesy pun) that the Motiv Shock is the number 1 ball of all time for the brand. This ball is still sold today, is still a favorite among all level of players and is still seen on many racks in the bowling centers. It is a staple in peoples arsenal for smooth, consistent power and a benchmark reaction.

Motiv has no plans it seems on getting rid of this ball anytime soon. Most people who own a Motiv Venom Shock purchase another one when their current one gets a little old instead of replacing it with another ball.

It also is the best selling ball for Motiv of all time, and for these reasons we believe the Venom Shock to be the king of all motiv balls ever produced.

The Motiv Venon Shock has it all at an affordable price. This ball pairs the Gear weight block with the Turmoil MFS Reactive coverstock from the Covert Revolt to produce a smooth but angular backend motion that continues through the pins. The colors on this ball really pop on the lane and produce shocking results on light to medium oil conditions.

– Core Type: Gear
– Coverstock: Turmoil MFS Reactive
– Factory Finish: 4000 Grit Sanded
– RG: 2.48
– RG diff: .034

So what do you think of this list, do you agree, would you replace a few balls for others? Do you think there are any know brainer Motiv balls we missed? Drop us a comment and let us know!