I have the Arctic Vibe, Max Thrill Solid, and just picked up the Ion Pro. No opinion on the Ion Pro yet, but I would switch the Vibe and Thrill around. I get much better results with the Thrill. I have to keep the Vibe almost in front of me with pretty good speed, otherwise it just hooks too much. The Thrill allows my to keep my regular release and still truck through the pocket. Excited to see what the Ion Pro does this weekend
I have the Max Thrill Pearl. It’s a lot of bang for your buck. It’s my first Motiv ball, and I’m looking forward to getting another piece in the Motiv lineup.
Love my Hustle X Ray. Bought it for our torched wood lanes during league. I've started going to it a little earlier and changing my approach and it's handling the transition pretty good.
I'm rev dominant so medium and weak smooth are my favorite categories. I still use and love my Hustle USA from 2022. It's a great ball. However, it takes a back seat to my 2023 OG Xponent which is a little stronger. The XP is easily my favorite ball in my arsenal. It's super smooth and forgiving and matches up with me really well. I had it resurfaced yesterday and shot 256, 211 and 218 in my senior league.
My son is 14, been bowling a year and has an Artic Vibe, and was one frame / one pin away from a perfect game. Very good benchmark ball, until you really learn how to control the ball. He's got the hammer effect now and that ball is amazing ! He's not bad himself 🤷♂️
This one's from 2023 but, my weak/smooth option is Motiv Black Venom. It is a weak assym solid, I can get it through the front really well and with the Gear APG Core, it drives through the pins pretty well. As far as this 2024 list goes, the Arctic Vibe is the best, but it is pretty strong for that slot in the bag. Definitely the top of the weak category.
I have the hustle rip and by for that’s my most trustworthy ball in my arsenal especially in Highschool where the lanes get super dry fast i can stay with that ball and it will have a clean finish with every shot.
I actually threw a 300 game last season with the Top Thrill blue green pearl. I'm picking up a Max Thrill solid to fill the gap between my Top Thrill and Venom shock.
Motiv hasn't been making weak and smooth bowling balls because they haven't been able to make a ball as good as the Venom Shock, and that was 10 years ago.
On a house shot the shock was just weak, blue coral was a much better match for me. The Artic Vibe is stronger than both and was actually too strong OOB, but money when I swapped the compound for polish.
Yep, as all reviewers should be willing to do! A ball can look one way before release and it can look a completely different way post-release after more play styles throw it. Along with this, bowling balls can get MUCH weaker after 20-50 games and we don’t see that situation happen until well after the release date
Artic Vibe is the best $100 bowling ball ever.
The Arctic Vibe is also very good.
I have the Arctic Vibe, Max Thrill Solid, and just picked up the Ion Pro. No opinion on the Ion Pro yet, but I would switch the Vibe and Thrill around. I get much better results with the Thrill. I have to keep the Vibe almost in front of me with pretty good speed, otherwise it just hooks too much. The Thrill allows my to keep my regular release and still truck through the pocket.
Excited to see what the Ion Pro does this weekend
I have the Max Thrill Pearl. It’s a lot of bang for your buck. It’s my first Motiv ball, and I’m looking forward to getting another piece in the Motiv lineup.
My Pro Shop talked me into the Arctic vibe for my first ball. I'm so glad it is such a great ball
Love my Hustle X Ray. Bought it for our torched wood lanes during league. I've started going to it a little earlier and changing my approach and it's handling the transition pretty good.
I'm rev dominant so medium and weak smooth are my favorite categories. I still use and love my Hustle USA from 2022. It's a great ball. However, it takes a back seat to my 2023 OG Xponent which is a little stronger. The XP is easily my favorite ball in my arsenal. It's super smooth and forgiving and matches up with me really well. I had it resurfaced yesterday and shot 256, 211 and 218 in my senior league.
My son is 14, been bowling a year and has an Artic Vibe, and was one frame / one pin away from a perfect game. Very good benchmark ball, until you really learn how to control the ball. He's got the hammer effect now and that ball is amazing ! He's not bad himself 🤷♂️
This one's from 2023 but, my weak/smooth option is Motiv Black Venom. It is a weak assym solid, I can get it through the front really well and with the Gear APG Core, it drives through the pins pretty well. As far as this 2024 list goes, the Arctic Vibe is the best, but it is pretty strong for that slot in the bag. Definitely the top of the weak category.
I have the hustle rip and by for that’s my most trustworthy ball in my arsenal especially in Highschool where the lanes get super dry fast i can stay with that ball and it will have a clean finish with every shot.
I actually threw a 300 game last season with the Top Thrill blue green pearl. I'm picking up a Max Thrill solid to fill the gap between my Top Thrill and Venom shock.
Surge solid is a Fantastic ball for me. When revs are always over 5 bills... It was love at first throw.
Tropical Heat Hybrid was very usable for a good bowler... that ball was out over a decade ago though
That’s my only problem with the Ion Pro is the price. The Ion Pro and Ion Max are the same price - $200.
I love the Twist, the Vibe for me was kinda meh I but the Raws over it but I still dig it
my ion pops down lane not sure about it being in weak/smooth category
For Rev dominant the Ion is in medium smooth category. He has said this a couple times. But really it sits between the weak and mid categories
Popping down lane doesn’t equate to strong. Also the drilling and surface grit will change that
It’s sharp down lane Not weak/smooth. But I do have surface on it.
@ mine is not sharp down lane with 450 revs @ 16mph. Perhaps yours is drilled a bit weaker so the core doesn’t rev as early
I love my X-ray for open house play. Plus when I'm on wood lanes for game 1.
That Vibe hooks a tone!! It should be weak and sharpe not smooth.
Motiv hasn't been making weak and smooth bowling balls because they haven't been able to make a ball as good as the Venom Shock, and that was 10 years ago.
Wouldn’t the Black Pearl 78D be considered a continuous smooth ball? Or are you considering it a sharp ball because it’s a “pearl”?
I excluded all urethanes because they’re in their own category IMO
I may be getting both the vibe and the x-ray I here these two great balls for the price and both thrills are great for the price as well
How would the X-ray differ from my M+M on the lanes?
The X-Ray will be much smoother and better from straighter
Artic Vibe vs Venom Shock, how do they compare?
Venom Shock is a stronger ball. More of a medium smooth ball.
On a house shot the shock was just weak, blue coral was a much better match for me. The Artic Vibe is stronger than both and was actually too strong OOB, but money when I swapped the compound for polish.
Exactly what @ericlamp1843 said!
So you review balls and you changed your opinion on a ball based off of other peoples reviews. 😮😢😅
Yep, as all reviewers should be willing to do! A ball can look one way before release and it can look a completely different way post-release after more play styles throw it. Along with this, bowling balls can get MUCH weaker after 20-50 games and we don’t see that situation happen until well after the release date