First Impressions
The Motiv Max Thrill Hybrid fits exactly where it should in the arsenal and that’s all you can ask for, especially at this price point.
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: 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: 4.75 x 45
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: 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: 44ft, 25.8ml 12:1 ratio
Specs
The Motiv Max Thrill Hybrid uses the Halogen™ symmetrical core inside the Turmoil™ XP3 Hybrid Reactive coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.55, diff of .037
14 pound = RG of 2.56, diff of .038
Coverstock finish: 5500 grit LSP
Tweener’s Take
Motiv says this ball is a kind of response to EJ Tackett’s ask to find a ball in between the Solid and pearl Max Thrill. He’s used the Pearl a couple of times on TV from what I can remember, perhaps he’d like something a touch smoother with the hybrid. I’ll put all that aside for the moment, the Max Thrill Hybrid is basically a kind of Mid Late ball in my arsenal building. Pretty clean with the 5500 grit LSP finish but also very predictable off the end of the pattern. We recently tested the Storm IQ Tour AI which is also a hybrid with very similar specs and purpose so we will do a comparison. While I said the IQ Tour AI was a clinical fit and that may have sounded like I didn’t enjoy the ball, to clarify it simply fit right in the bag without huge fanfair. In comes the Max Thrill Hybrid and I have to say, I feel the same way. They serve the identical purpose. While both of these balls are maybe not the typical clean and angular mid late ball, like the Road Warrior for example, they are a little more usable, especially on sport shots where you want a weaker ball to also have control. On Sport shots, you always want control until it opens up. From the left side, control is almost always a must because it hardly ever opens up the way it would on the right. But to come back to this house shot, it’s 44ft 25.8ml 12:1 so not super easy and not super hard. What tends to work a little better here are medium strength covers but bigger cores. The Evoke Hysteria killed this shot. However, the Max Thrill Hybrid also works well as while it offers length, it is on the smoother control side with it’s lower diff core, which allows it to be played closer to the friction line and balancing response. The reality is it didn’t take long at all to get lined up and while I experimented a little bit, on this pattern somewhere 10-13 at the arrows to around 8 downlane was the ideal area and that led to lots of strikes with no issues, if not sometimes feeling not super firm downlane. The quick comparison to the Storm IQ Tour AI is interesting. I’d say on lane and purpose, they’re almost identical. Very small nuances is possibly the lower RG making the ball ‘feel’ like it’s starting up a bit sooner at times and the biggest example is here in this shot where they are on identical lines and speeds but while they have the same physical length, the core on the IQ Tour AI seems to have turned over a bit sooner changing the hit. But then you have other shots where the leaves and hits are identical.
Power Player’s Persective
At the outset, I thought Tyler might have a little more motion and a good look with the bit higher rev rate. I’d say his look was pretty similar overall but my carry and consistency in terms of ball motion was a bit better. The 44ft pattern meant a bit more direct shot in general. While my best look was 11-13 at the arrows, Tylers was around 14-15 so not very different. The Motiv Max Thrill Hybrid has the clean look but again, the smooth response. There’s actually something special that doesn’t obviously stand out when you use this ball on the house shot. It looks kind of OK in response. Doesn’t jump when it sees friction. So you might think, it doesn’t look like it goes for a Mid Late higher friction response ball. However, what actually makes it special, like the Storm IQ Tour AI, is the consistent smooth reaction which is not very high response. It’s a unique behavior that while may fit the typical house shot when the pattern breaks down also makes it usable on sport shots. The Max Thrill Hybrid does come 5500 LSP out of box so it’s pretty shiny. That maybe a little part of the bit of inconsistency on a longer almost 26ml house shot. It’s already walled so misses in hits the higher longer volume and the ball floats. Tyler also does a comparison to the IQ Tour AI and he saw almost the same thing I saw. They are fully overlapping. The same targeting that struck with the Max Thrill Hybrid struck with the IQ Tour AI while the same shots 2-8-10d as well. The alignment is so unbelievably similar and I find it interesting both brands filled the same spots. Both Hybrid balls. Both already have solid and pearl versions available. Both options do something slightly different than the linemates.
Stroker’s Stance
Last but not least is Bryan with the Motiv Max Thrill Hybrid. It’s a bit of a mouthful to say every time but anyway. Bryan had a very good look. This ball keeps him in the 9-10-11 area at the arrows so slightly straighter yet from Tyler and I but only incrementally so. Because he was able to stay really close to the friction line, he can adjust his downlane trajectory and have carry from multiple breakpoints. He can belly it to 5 and bounce off the friction or float it to 9 to hold in the oil. That’s the beauty of a ball that can keep him close to the friction line, thereby allowing him to take advantage of downlane forgiveness while not having to ever give away the pocket. I had a similar look and it partially explains why Tyler had a little less consistency than we did needing to open up the lanes just a touch more while the ball itself is pretty mild and not super dynamic downlane to make big moves on this volume and length. For Bryan, this was strike city. Narrow area in the fronts but more room at the breakpoint. Again, the ball does just enough and while I called that clinical with the IQ Tour AI which did the same, clinical is not a bad thing at all. Once Bryan get to about 12 at the arrows, he started leaving consistent flat 10s. The ball just doesn’t giddy-up for him once it’s past the breaking point which really isn’t far in at all. But that’s not to say the ball is bad. It actually punches above its weight in the lowest part of the bag in terms of versatility. Bryan also shows is that the Storm IQ Tour AI is extremely close in roll and purpose. He is in the same exact zone and gets the same exact hits. No surprises.
Bottom Line
Ultimately, the Max Thrill Hybrid will likely sell itself. It’s very inexpensive and serve quite easily as a beginner ball but also for the experienced bowler, it fits squarely into the Mid Late part of the bag, especially on flatter shots. The colors certainly distinguish it from the Storm IQ Tour AI but more importantly, the impact on the wallet is an even bigger distinguishing factor. Not a bad deal at all.
Thanks for watching.