Got invited to a ball showcase by my proshop last week (thanks Rich Orf) that had all the big name manufacturers there.  I have mainly been throwing Roto Grip for several years and have been very happy with them but Motiv was a brand I had been thinking about trying.  I threw all the balls they had which included: Primal Rage Remix, Jackal, Revolt Vengeance, Forza Redline, Venom Panic, and the Tag.  The house was wood lanes and I had never bowled there, but they were hooking more than I'm used to right out of the gate and forced me deeper than I normally like to play.  The 3 balls that I liked the best were the Remix, Vengeance, and Redline. And I liked these 3 better than any other balls I threw that day.  I have a pretty full arsenal now and only bowl in one league and sub in another with very little tournament play so can't see buying a bunch of new stuff as much as I would like to.  I'm thinking of starting my Motiv adventure with the Redline as they are billing it as a benchmark kind of ball.  Does this sound like a good starting point?  The balls I'm using the most right now are the Berserk, Hypercell Skid, and Wreckers.

Out of the balls I didn't care as much for, here are my thoughts about them:
Jackyl - I think was just burning up, but I did not give it much time to try different lines.
Venom Panic: This seemed pretty good, I just preferred the Redline to it so didn't throw it as much either.
Tag: This ball was definitely weaker than anything else.  I think I had to move about 10 right with my feet from where I was throwing the Redline.  On this shot, it just didn't seem good to me so maybe if I was looking for a light oil ball, I might try the Ascent instead.

I really like the graphics on the Motiv's and the claims I have heard that their covers last a long time.

Watched a few bowlers throw the Redline over the weekend in a team tournament I was in and they were very happy with the way that ball reacts. I have the Forza as my benchmark ball and I absolutely love it. Most bowlers will say that it's too smooth but if you have a slow or mild ball speed with a lower rev rate, it's going to hit very well.

The Sigma Sting featured very similar core numbers with a pearl cover. The Redline is supposed to have the same or similar motion. The Sting is widely regarded as one of the best benchmarks of the last 2 years. Pearl cover and all.

To follow that up, Motiv has proven that you can throw the cover type out the window. The Tag is an angular ball (perhaps their most angular ball), yet it is a solid. The Jackal is a pearl that hooks earlier (and handles more oil) than a lot of solids and hybrids.

If the Redline is similar to the Sting, then it will most definitely be a benchmark ball for most people. It is smack in the middle of their ball guide. You can't just go by core numbers - some people get too caught up on those.

On that note, has anyone thrown the Redline who also used the Sting a fair amount? I still have one of my Stings. I plan to pick up two Redlines. It would be nice to know just how similar they are before I decide what layouts to use. My Sting is drilled pin down (below the ring I think) with a P2 hole. Sorry, not sure on the dual angle numbers. But I get a nice smooth, even hook with that ball and layout.

I have 2 Tags. Both drilled similarly to Justin's #1 and #2 layouts. The pin up one is at box finish and has pretty decent length and a strong back end. I haven't thrown my Octane in awhile, so I can't say which one is more angular. However, I'd say this Tag is #1 or #2 of all the Motiv balls I have had (which is a lot) in terms of being angular. The pin down Tag is earlier but still angular.

Brett Spangler has said that the Tag is their most angular piece as well. And he praised the Octane for being as such.

Brett Spangler has said that the Tag is their most angular piece as well. And he praised the Octane for being as such.

Tell Brett that isn't true in my bag.... lol 

Don't have a Tag, but Motiv didn't really have a truly angular ball until the Octane.  Now the Tag which may or may not be more angular.  Either way, this is one shape Motiv is trailing a lot of other manufacturers on.  Not sure if something more angular is really needed, but historically, Motiv hasn't had one.

I'm glad you said this because all though I seem to get Motiv stuff through the heads better than other equipment, I don't see a true angular move on the backend. I thought it was just my release since I had been changing some pitches.  Not sure if this is good or bad, but I think I would like to see something more angular.  My Octane is angular but very hit and miss and just hates "ANY" oil. I would like to see a "better" Octane.

Do the Frenzy and Octane not have the same core? Are they both drilled the same, Brick?