First Impressions
The Motiv Ripcord Velocity is very comfortable and easy to throw. No surprises. It is what you expect it to be.

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Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 375 rpm
PAP: 5 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 15 Pounds
Layout: 4 x 30

Sean Jensen (Righty)
Style: Power player
RPM: 475 rpm
PAP: 5 1/2 & 1/4 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium
Test Equipment: 15 Pounds
Layout: 5 x 50

“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: 40ft, 23ml
Sport: TBD

Specs
The 900 Global Zen Master uses the Meditate™ Symmetric core inside the S77 Response Solid coverstock.

15 pound = RG of 2.49, diff of .051
14 pound = RG of 2.50, diff of .051
Coverstock finish: 3000 grit abralon

Overall
Alright, let’s jump in. The Ricpord Velocity is now the only Ripcord line ball in the current Motiv lineup. That said, it feels like the lineup is a little simpler at the current time with nothing in the middle besides the Velocity. Here’s the nice thing with this particular ball. Nothing else directly competes with it. It has nothing else to cannabalize it. It is a medium strength good response pearl. The Tridents are heavier rolling. The Fatal Venom is slower response. So the goldilocks winner if you’re looking for something smack dab in the middle is the Ripcord Velocity. Arsenal building is a little more complex than that… or simpler. I like the Velocity in the Mid Late category for my arsenal. So that would actually push the Fatal Venom out of my bag. Now again, they are a little different but since they fit in the same category, if you wanted to keep it simple, you would choose one shiny angular ball.

Now, the ball reaction itself, it’s pretty straightforward. Ball reaction is not a big surprise for Motiv fans of recent pieces. Motiv has found a way to have quicker response chemistry on their pearl formulations. It’s not the ultra quick response of say Storm but honestly, that is not a bad thing at all, in fact preferred in some cases like for a lefty or a rev dominant bowler. The Velocity has no problem getting downlane as you would expect for a ball in this category. It’s response in my opinion is just right. The swirls give you a good view of how the ball is transitioning. Its response is probably a touch late for fresh conditions if you want to cover lots of boards but that’s also not unexpected. I found that the ball is a little too responsive for my hand from directly in the friction but it also is a little too late or too clean to respond from too deep. Now playing it in the track was perfect and almost unstoppable. Just really straightforward somewhere around 13 to 8 or so. Lots of strikes from there. And you can see the predictable and consistent response and reaction. Really attractive movement. Now once I get deeper past the 3rd arrow, you start to see the cracks in the armor. But these cracks are associated with house shot shapes. So if I go to say 16 to 9, I will guaranteed leave a 7 pin. Once you start getting deeper and hit the inside edge of the wall of oil, the ball skids enough to come in behind the headpin. But you can be that deep and get it to the friction and it will recover. Basically get it to around 5 and it will angle back.

I tested the Ripcord Velocity 2-handed as well. So you already know I’m a rev dominant style player where my speed is around my finesse 1-hand speed but about 100 rpm higher. The Velocity was actually a pleasure to test 2-handed. For me this is where that quick but not ridiculously quick response is just right. I had lots of room. Basically I struck going from 15 to 22 at the arrows. And you can see…ahem…intentionally… using various breakpoints and had the pocket regardless. The extra rev rate meant that if I hit 10 downlane, it was still strong enough to drive through the pins while also being plenty responsive getting out to 5 or even further. The difference I experience between this vs say a Storm ball is that it is much more tricky for me to find and hold pocket with say something like the Rubicon UC2 or Zen. They are just too responsive whereas the Ripcord Velocity, Ripcord Flight, Fatal Venom, Trident Horizon all were much easier and frankly almost natural to use 2-handed. Whether you like my 2-handed style or not, it clearly highlights how balls react for rev-dominant styles.

I compared to the Trident Horizon, a ball I think some may have as their Mid Defined ball in the bag. There is a clear and present differentiation between the two balls. You can see the same situation that it also too strong to work in friction. The Horizon is clearly earlier and heavier rolling. It hooks up a bit earlier so basically you need to be a touch deeper to find the same forgiveness area. The Horizon almost appears to turn harder and that’s because it is a bit earlier but it’s also an asymmetric core. A couple of 6 pins in the zone where the Velocity struck really highlights the difference between the 2 balls and why both can be in the same bag. Also see the 16 to 10 shot with the Horizon actually looks great whereas that same shot leaves a ring or flat 7 with the Velocity. Again, another clear highlight of the heavier earlier roll of the Horizon vs the cleaner angular velocity. That makes then great compliments and the delta is very clear. I threw a few shots of the Rogue Assassin as well to show you as you keep working up through the coverstock strength and the obvious difference in ball reaction. The Rogue Assassin fits in the Strong Control category and you can visually see how smooth it transitions and how much earlier compared to the the Trident Horizon and Ripcord Velocity.

Sport Shot
TBD

Final Thoughts
Given what we saw and the shelf appeal, I believe the Ripcord Velocity will be a popular piece for Motiv. It’s a straightforward, consistent and predictable clean angular piece. It doesn’t do anything ridiculous. It is just a very understandable and predictable ball reaction in the Mid Late slot.

Thanks for watching.