First Impressions
The Shadow Tank is the first 78D ball I can see using like the GOAT that will remain unnamed.
Tamer Elbaga (Lefty)
Style: Tweener
RPM: 365 rpm
PAP: 5 1/8 & 3/8 up
Average Speed: 18.5 mph (at release)
Axis tilt: low
Axis rotation: medium/high
Test Equipment: 14 Pounds
Layout: 4 x 20
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: 5 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
Sport: TBD
Specs
The Motiv Shadow Tank uses the Flux symmetric core inside the new Frixion M7 Pearl MCP coverstock.
15 pound = RG of 2.57, diff of .015
14 pound = RG of 2.57, diff of .018
Coverstock finish: 1000 LSS
Tweener’s Take
I’ll start with saying my current personal GOAT is the Purple Hammer. Bowling predominantly sport shots, I have grown to love the control shape. Even used it for Nationals and it’s a huge bummer I won’t be able to use it anymore there. I have a Black Hammer but it’s just not the same for my rev rate. Lo and behold here comes Motiv to the rescue possibly with the Shadow Tank. This is not the first 78D ball but as I’ve already alluded, this is legitmiately the first 78D ball that I felt I could use in all the situations I used to Purple. Of course as you expect, it’s all about control. It’s 1000 LSS surface balances the hardness. You need surface for these hard bowling balls to read. As you would expect on the house shot, I can’t start very far left in the friction as it starts very early. Around the 2nd arrow, it looks spectacular. I took a nice big 5 board move in to see what it does and it looked great there as well. Just such a nice early and smooth but heavy rolling move. After throwing 7 in a row, I’m thinking let’s give this a go so I move left again back to where I think it should work and the 5-10 reminds me of what happens with urethane like shape when you don’t hit it just right. Back to the 3rd arrow and it’s just such a nice look and normally you wouldn’t expect a urethane ball to drive for me.
Here’s the fun part you might be waiting for, the direct comparison to the Purple Hammer. Ok, first on the same line around the 2nd arrow and I leave a 7 pin. While they are very close, the Purple actually had a deflection I only saw once with the 5-10. Moving 2 boards to the left yielded the same high flush hit. Very close. The other shot to look at is the 3rd arrow and while the Purple struck, you can also see very clearly how much less drive the Purple had there compared to the Shadow which looked excellent there. Purple is 2000 grit but you can see the softness makes up for it
Stroker’s Stance
Now I’d say Bryan’s story is not very surprising for urethane. Occasionally he has an OK look with urethane but the reality is his game just doesn’t tend to need or suit urethane or urethane-like equipment. I recall the Desert Tank was pretty good for him. Generally speaking, Bryan needs friction to get urethane going but if it wasn’t clear, starting urethane in heavy dry means it will roll early early and not do a bunch down lane. He ultimately finds a narrow line to trap the shot to the pocket. Since it’s the frozen rope, it tends to carry. Next to the Purple Hammer, it’s not much different. Yes the softness reads a bit more but it’s balanced out with the lower surface grit so ultimately, it’s exactly the same line to the pocket and exactly the same limitations.
Bottom Line
I like to be objective in the reviews to tell you what we see but I can’t hide my excitement to see this shape and reaction from a 78D ball. While the USBC and PBA has dashed my hopes and dreams of using the Purple Hammer, the Shadow Tank surprised me with the possibilities.
Thanks for watching.
Power Player’s Perspective
We did a separate video when Tyler was available. Really I will not rehash what we saw with the Motiv Shadow Tank. I think what Tyler saw is similar to my experience in the sense that it didn’t really come off like the recent crop of 78D balls. Rather it felt like a legitimate classic modern urethane shape that is likely to be pretty usable. I compared mine to the Purple Hammer and we don’t do that in this video. Rather I’d say the Shadow Tank feels a little earlier and rounder than the Purple. Ultimately, I’m not hear to convince you to go out and buy a ball. What I wanted to demonstrate is Motiv is giving you an option that is viable but also legal for PBA and USBC tournament use.