First Impressions
Motiv gives us a new benchmark level ball with the Lethal Venom
Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 330 rpm
PAP: 5 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 45 x 4 x 40
Bryan Hoffman (Righty)
Style: Stroker
RPM: 280 rpm
PAP: 4 1/2 & 1 1/2 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: high
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 50 x 4.75 x 40
Tyler Church (Righty)
Style: Power Player
RPM: 425 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/2 up
Average Speed: 19 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: med
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 55 x 5.5 x 45
“Keep in mind that coverstock accounts for 70% of ball reaction, but the core creates the dynamic shape of the reaction. Your driller will alter the shape to suit your game.”
Pattern
THS: 38ft, 23ml
Sport: TBD
Specs
The Motiv Lethal Venom uses the Gear™ APG Asymmetrical core inside the Leverage™ MXC Solid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.47 diff of .036, mb of .013
14 pound = RG of 2.50, diff of .033, mb of .012
Coverstock finish: 3000 grit LSS
Tweener’s Take
The Lethal Venom brings back the Gear APG asymmetric version of the Gear core we nkow and love from the Venom Shock. This was in the Venom Recoil as you might remember. Basically you have a control type low RG core with a control level diff meaning not lots of flare plus some lower level differential to give it a bit more steering if you will. The Leverage MXC solid is interestingly the same cover as on the Evolve and Subzero. That’s actually an interesting way to visualize that wile a cover/surface dictates 70% of the ball reaction, there’s still a substantial impact a core has. On this particular house pattern which is about 38 ft and medium/light volume, the Lethal Venom simply feels like too much ball. I struggled to get it to hold until I got deep enough. So as I approach 4th arrow I find the pocket. However, I don’t love this angle and the ball itself doesn’t love that angle as it’s a smoother type shape that will prefer to be a little more closed than that. So eventually, I increased the speed and moved back closer to the 3rd arrow. You can see the shape of the ball, definitely reads the midlane and has a strong but controlled backend motion. Kind of straightforward benchmark area or Mid Control in my arsenal building. May need to let the cover lane shine if you will see this type of pattern and want to use it as a benchmark. Here’s a quick look compared to the Venom Shock and with a touch of lane shine, you can see it’s a bit cleaner and more angular than the Lethal Venom, exactly as they say in the chart. I can bowl from the same part of the lane, just get a different shape.
Stroker’s Stance
Let’s bring in Bryan next and while it was too strong for me on this house pattern, it was a pretty good match up for Bryan. He did have to be near the 3rd arrow to give this ball some room but it looked pretty good and pretty easy to strike. He’s in just enough to allow the stronger cover to get some length while the core starts up early but smooth enough to have a nice balanced shape with good punch. It had a very predictable smooth arc with good hit. Pretty straightforward for Bryan. He couldn’t move much further in though since it does lose some energy at that point. But he could transition to where he could open the angle more and use more friction without it really completely dying. Here’s a quick look at the Venom Shock and the sharper move is very evident. A little less arcy than the Lethal Venom.
Power Player’s Persective
Next up is Tyler. Oddly I have to say that Venom or Shock balls generally haven’t been his favorite. They just seem to churn up nicely bit don’t always make a consistent move for him. Sometimes balls that everyone likes simply don’t actually work for everyone. It is what it is. And while Tyler still had his moments of inconsistent ball reaction with the Lethal Venom, you still see a demonstration of the shape of the ball. Good balance of strength from the cover to the core. I have seen occasionally, the gear core not quite have the oomph the cover has but that doesn’t seen an issue at least with this lower volume pattern. Tyler had a little bit of over/under, sometimes deflecting, sometimes jumping hard through the pins. While he still has the same sort of gear core issues, you can clearly see the Venom Shock is a bit more logical for this pattern with the cleaner and more angular look.
Bottom Line
The Motiv Lethal Venom (I keep wanting to say Lethal Weapon) fits in the mid control category, albeit the cover might be a little strong. It brings a nice option of smoothness into that strength zone for Motiv. I think the cover makes it a clear step up over the Black Venom, but the Black might also fit a touch more squarely into the Mid Control category. Bottom line is Motiv gives you options and the Lethal is a nice one.
Stay tuned for a sport shot review where I think the length and volume might be a little more suited to the ball.
Thanks for watching.
For this next video we want to take a quick look at the Lethal Venom on the 45ft Rte 66 Kegel Sport shot. 23.3ml with 3.67:1 symmetric ratio. For me right out of the gate, it’s was a perfect matchup. It’s got the right amount of cover strength to blend that 45ft length while offering enough punch with control to give me just a couple boards wiggle room at the break point. I was thrilled with the Lethal Venom. For comparison, here’s the Venom Shock and while it’s playable from the same line, it’s less forgiving due to the cleaner and more angular nature. And then for context, here’s the Roto Grip Optimum Idol which was my go to on this pattern so you get an idea. Lethal Venom is like a baby Optimum Idol.
Quick look at Tyler and this was tougher than it should’ve been in my opinion but it might come down to the tougher match up of the Gear core for him. This should work better and while it looked decent, he really had to find a pretty precise spot down lane to get this to work. Too over/under for him. Just for awareness, the Optimum Idol was also his go to on this pattern.
For Bryan, I hate to say it but it was vey difficult. So think back to what it looked like for he and I on house. It was too much for me and just right for him. Now on this longer pattern, it’s just right for me and too little for him. He couldn’t use it from direct as the cover was too strong and as he moved in to give the cover room, the core was too little so he never really found a place where he could get the right balance of motion. If this was league, he’d already be out of the ball because it’s simply not matching up.
So this really gives you some clear idea of how the cover and core relate for the Lethal Venom. For lower rev bowlers, the Lethal Venom is bound to work pretty well on lower volume or shorter conditions as the friction balances the core. For medium or higher rev bowlers, or those with a high track, the ball may feel too much for light patterns but will feel good on higher or longer patterns as a benchmark.
Thanks for watching, catch you in the next video.