The Villain is the latest addition to the Motiv lineup. It features the Sinister core that has been used on the Cruel line and it is wrapped in the Coercion MFS Solid coverstock, being best suited for medium and heavy oil conditions.
I had the chance to test the Villain on our House Shot pattern (Kegel Main Street, 41’) and I had a great reaction with this ball.
The first thing I noticed is how clean this ball is for having a solid, sanded coverstock. The Villain is clean through the front part of the lane with a smooth and continuous motion in the backend. For me, the Villain has a “benchmark ball†shape. Not overly smooth, while not angular either.
The higher RG on this ball allows it to be cleaner than other solid asymmetrical pieces, while the Coercion MFS Solid coverstock provides hook in the oil resulting in a strong midlane read and a strong, but controllable motion downlane.
The second thing I noticed with the Villain is how versatile this ball is. I was able to hit the pocket from different parts of the lane. I started laying out the ball around second arrow and having the 6 board as my breakpoint. The Villain had no issues clearing the fronts and delivered a smooth transition down the lane. I felt that I had a great margin of error with the Villain on this pattern. As you can see in the video, I was able to move inside and play in the oil a little bit more and the Villain created enough hook to hit the pocket.
The Villain blends the pattern quite nicely, is not jumpy when it hits the friction and is not too clean to miss the breakpoint in case you miss inside your mark.
I compared the Villain with the Jackal Rising and the Forza SS.
The Jackal Rising is stronger than the Villain. The Rising provides a strong midlane read, is earlier and smoother downlane. Overall, it has more hook potential.
The Forza SS has a similar motion, but it is earlier and has a slower response to friction than the Villain. The Forza SS is weaker than the Villain.
The Villain fits in between the Jackal Rising and the Forza SS in overall hook. When the Jackal Rising is too much ball or the Forza SS is not enough or you need more shape downlane, the Villain will be the ball to go.
Overall, The Villain is a versatile piece that will fit into a lot of different bowling styles and it can be used to play on different parts of the lane. Whether you want to play straighter angles on fresh or move in when the lane transition, this ball offers great versatility to be used on a wide variety of conditions. I feel that the Villain is a great option to use on everything but the extremes.
The Villain offers a clean, smooth and continuous motion on most medium and heavy oil patterns. Bowlers who want control at the breakpoint while keeping some shape down the lane, the Villain will be a great option. I feel this is the kind of ball that will always find a spot in your bag.
Thank you for watching!
