Ball NPS Score: 100.00
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Tanks are tough and strong and so is the Motiv Tank Blitz. Motiv improved upon a new coverstock that combines the best of urethane and reactive resin. The Frixion+ Microcell Polymer coverstock absorbs more oil to better navigate higher volumes of oil causing this ball to react earlier and smoother than its predecessor. The Tank Blitz uses a low RG and low differential Gear core. This core gives the ball a stronger urethane reaction shape with great continuation. The 2000 Grit LSS finish on the cover gives more advanced bowlers a new shape but also provides average bowlers an early and smooth choice when facing medium oil conditions.

Color: Red
All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown
Coverstock: Frixion+ Microcell Polymer
Core: Gear
Finish: 2000 Grit LSS
Reaction: Smooth, Overall Hook
Recommended Lane Condition: Medium Oil
RG: 2.48 (15# ball)
Differential: 0.034 (15# ball)

This ball is the next stage of Microcell Polymer Technology created by MOTIV.  The Tank Blitz was created following the overwhelming response and competitive success on the Covert Tank.  It features the new Frixion + Microcell Polymer cover stock in combination with the Gear core, made famous by the Venom Shock.  To complement the intent of Frixion+ cover stock, a low RG engine was needed and the Gear core was the clear choice. With a lower differential, the Tank Blitz is capable of low flare layouts and produces a stronger, more traditional urethane shape, but with far better continuation. 

It will be a great fit in your bag on medium oil, but I have found it useful on both lower and higher volume patterns as well.  The solid red Tank Blitz with its 2000 Grit LSS finish provides a new shape for competitive bowlers and also gives average bowlers a very early and smooth option for medium oil conditions and has great continue through the pin deck.

My Tank Blitz is laid out pin up (above and slightly right of my ring finger), the cg is lined up stacked below it (no extra hole). This ball has already found a place in my bag and has given me a shape on the lanes that I have never seen before.  If you are looking for that go to ball  that is stronger than urethane, but has a urethane shape backend reaction, but with way more continuation and unbelievable hitting power. Look no further, you've found it.

Craig Auerbach
MOTIV Staff Member
Florida

Layout
65 x 5” x 35

The next step in the Microcell Polymer evolution has come screaming out of the gates with the new Tank Blitz. Using the building blocks from the Covert Tank, MOTIV boosted the oil absorption rate of the Frixion coverstock to create more traction in heavier volumes of oil. By wrapping this beefed-up cover, Frixion+ finished at 2000LSS, around the time-honored Gear core (2.48RG, .034Diff), a strong and continuous motion has been created that keeps amazing hitting power at angles that are far beyond what some resin balls are even capable of.

Not knowing exactly how strong the Blitz was going to be (spoiler alert, it’s ripped!), I put a 5” pin to PAP distance so that I would have some versatility in how I could attack the lanes through multiple patterns, making surface adjustments when needed to tweak the reaction. On the typical house shot I bowl on, I usually start at 15 and cross at 12 with my Forge Fire. When I first threw the Blitz, it took me five shots to finally hit the head pin on the ‘correct’ side; this ball was hooking early and often from places my Forge Fire was still skidding through! Initially I was timid about that reaction as typically with stronger equipment energy will bleed rapidly if you try to cover too many boards with your launch angle. It did not take long, however, for me to see that Microcell Polymer is a game changer in this category. The way the Blitz reads the midlane yet still retains energy on fresh and transition is something I have not seen in any piece before. When others are struggling with the first transition and are looking into switching to weaker shells, I can continue moving left and throw this ball where they cannot. This reaction and shape allows me to carve out my own line beyond what they have so that when the time comes to jump down in strength, usually a full game after everyone else has, I have set myself up to keep striking. Only when I get to angles that are typically meant for pearl covers do I start to see a labored reaction. The fact that it takes extreme angles or heavy up-front burn before I consider putting this ball away is a testament to the versatility this provides.

Don’t be fooled by anyone saying the Tank Blitz is a ‘urethane’ ball. While its reaction is controlled and ultra-reliable, its strength is far beyond many ‘reactive’ balls on the market today. When stronger resin equipment starts plaquing corner pins due to energy loss, this ball still drives through to the pit with a vengeance. I truly do believe that the Frixion coverstock technology is a leap forward in improved ball reaction for today’s game, and the Tank Blitz expands that motion into a heavier volume. Prepare to be armed and dangerous on the lanes!

Trent Overbey
In the Zone Pro Shop
MOTIV Staff
www.motivbowling.com

This Tank Blitz is amazing. It is about an arrow stronger than the Covert Tank for me. I used my normal pin above the bridge layout that I always try on a bowling ball. It blends patterns so well that it isn’t even fair to not have one in the bag. This ball reads the lane fairly early but does not quit downlane. It can be drilled to roll similar to urethane but also can be drilled to roll like a lot of reactive balls. It provides a very predictable shape, and will be the first ball out of my bag on every pattern.
David Hooper Jr,
Motiv Staff

LANE CONDITION

Length: 40-42 feet

Volume: Medium volume; hold inside; strong backends

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: The ball allows me to stay to the right and keep my angles closed; receptive to hand position changes; offers the control of urethane and is much easier to get to hit/go through the pins.

Dislikes: Probably not an attack ball for the THS; needs a few shots to tame down the strong box finish; gets VERY dirty quickly


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

The Tank Blitz is the first non-Storm/Roto ball that I've punched up for myself in quite some time. I did so because for as much as I love the balls poured in Utah, I was very intrigued by Motiv's Microcell Polymer technology. As such, after watching all of the videos that I could find, I drilled up both the Tank Blitz and the Desert Tank.

The goal for me was simple: I wanted some balls that I could keep in front of me, giving me urethane-type reaction without destroying the pattern and leaving countless flat 10's all day/night long. Despite trying the Blitz out on a THS first, my true hope for this ball is that it can help me out on shorter Sport patterns and demanding patterns (for me) like those laid out at the USBC Open Championships.

I've only been able to put three games on the Tank Blitz so far, but I am thoroughly impressed with the early returns. I laid this ball out 5x4x5 (Storm's pin-buffer layout system), which put the pin direction under my bridge and had the cg kicked slightly right. I opted for this because I really wanted to avoid any over-reaction off the spot as I have plenty of balls that allow me to move left open up the lane.

I started this first league session a good 5-7 boards right of where I typically begin. Early on, I wasn't sure what to expect out of the Blitz as I haven't played that close to the outside friction in quite some time. To start with, I was staying up the back of the ball to keep it from wanting to jump off the dry. I was incredibly impressed with the smooth motion and hitting power as, for me, an up-the-back release can often be susceptible to flat 10's.

As I put more shots on it, the ball started to smooth out even more, which allowed me to go to my A-game release from the same spot with similarly-great results. The Tank Blitz read the lane with ease and offered smooth, predictable backend reaction with great continuation and hitting power.

As the lanes began to transition, I actually found myself making 1-2 board moves to the right as opposed to jumping 3-4 at a time left like I do with my other equipment.  The roll, motion, and hit continued to be very solid as I made those moves up until the point where I got right on top of the friction. Once there, it got touchy as I had to amp up the speed to keep the ball from rolling up a bit too strong. I think that will be a good time to switch to the Desert Tank once I am able to smooth its cover out a bit.

All in all, I found the Tank Blitz very impressive so far. It gives you a firm read of the lane and all of the control of urethane with much better hit and continuation. I think that it's going to be terrific when the pattern is shorter and/or when control and predictability are called for more than power.

With that being said, I have three small complaints about the Tank Blitz:

1. The first is that I don't think this will be a great THS ball for me as it's not the kind of ball that puts me into attack mode. However, I didn't buy it for use on the THS, so that really doesn't bother me at all.

2. As the night moved along, there did seem to be more hang than normal building up to the right. That makes me wonder whether or not the Tank Blitz was pushing oil down the lane as urethane would. From what I've seen/read from others, most claimed that the Microcell Polymer balls do NOT create more carrydown. As such, I don't know if what I was seeing was due to the ball I was throwing, or if it was just the way that the lanes played that night. I guess time will tell.

3. The Tank Blitz picks up dirty and grime like a sponge. I don't normally feel like I NEED to clean a ball immediately after a set, but the Tank Blitz was visibly dirty after just two and a half games. This is obviously not a big deal, but it was something noticeable and not what I expected.

Still, all in all, I really like what I've seen from the Tank Blitz so far. I'm hoping that it and the Desert Tank will allow me to attack challenging patterns, especially shorter ones, with more confidence than I have in the past. Time will tell. Still, if you've been considering the Tank Blitz, based on what I've seen, I would tell you that it's worth taking the plunge.