Bowler Ratings

PatternStTwCr
Oily:NANANA
Medium:99.59.5
Dry:887
Sport:776

Bowler ratings are from 1 to 10 in order of Stroker (ST), Tweener (TW), Cranker (CR)

General Info

Brand:
Name:Octane
Reviewed:July 2014
Empty
Coverstock Specs
Name:Agility SFX
Type:Reactive Pearl
Box Finish:5000 Grit LSP
Color:Black / Purple Pearl
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Core Specs
Name:Quadfire
Type:Symmetrical
RG:2.55
Diff:0.043
Int. Diff:0.000

The Octane is the newest skid/flip ball from Motiv. Unlike other balls that are clean in the front and angular downlane, this one can create enough motion to eliminate any over/under reaction on medium volume patterns.

All three testers were able to open up their angles in the front of the lane on our medium pattern, allowing the strong back end shape to take over down lane. This ball has enough strength to chew through the oil in middle of the lane and still have a sideways motion when it sees some friction. Our testers were able to stand left, throw it right, and watched it come roaring back to the pocket. We did not have to make any surface changes to the balls on this pattern. We threw this one right on top of the Primal Rage and saw more length, the same strong change of direction, and even more back end recovery from the Octane.

We tried this ball at the box finish on our dry pattern and had a decent reaction on the fresh. Tweener and Cranker quickly saw their Octanes start hooking too early. Both of them laid into their test ball with a layer of Power Gel Polish on the ball spinner. The extra shine gave them the push they needed in the midlane to get the ball far enough down the lane to get back into the pocket.

The box finish offered a decent reaction on the fresh when we moved to our sport pattern. We were slightly surprised that a ball that was so angular would still allow us to have a consistent reaction on the fresh on this flatter pattern. As the pattern started to break down, Cranker started to see his ball overreact when it found friction, and start to slide past the breakpoint in the oil. He used a 2000 sanding pad to rough up the surface and smooth out the reaction.

On the heavy test pattern, the box finish was not strong enough for Tweener and Stroker to get back to the pocket. They sanded the surface to 2000 grit to get the Octane to pick up the lane sooner. Cranker could strike on this pattern with the box finish, but had to move his feet and target farther right on the lane.

Performance Ratings

NameValueComments
Torque7.5
The Octane makes a pretty defined move when it exits the oil pattern. This ball stores everything it has for friction down lane.
Length16
We never saw the Octane start too early, even when the fronts started to go. The pearl coverstock and polish from the box finish are to thank for the easy length that the Octane provides.
Back End18.5
The strong breakpoint turns into one of the biggest back end reactions we have seen to date. There is no quit downlane for the Octane.
Total Hook52
The majority of this ball’s movement takes place from the breakpoint to the pins. The cover is strong enough to handle most medium volume patterns.

Strengths

Back end, back end, and more back end is the Octane’s strongest attribute. Bowlers wanting a ball that provides a sharp change of direction will love what the Octane offers.

Weaknesses

There is little to keep the Octane from being useful on the lanes. That said, our fresh heavy test pattern did have enough volume for there to be a few better options available for a better ball reaction.

Overall Summary

Motiv is starting to turn some heads with the big back end reactions from balls like the Primal Rage and the Octane. We have thrown every Motiv release from the start of the brand and the reactions are getting stronger and better with each new ball.

Motiv Octane Comparisons

Click below to see a comparison table of the pair of bowling balls shown:

To compare the Motiv Octane to any other bowling ball(s), please use our Bowling Ball Comparison tool.

The BTM Ball Testing Team

About The BTM Ball Testing Team

The BTM Ball Testing Team is led by Eric Martinez. Our team of three testers has thrown and reviewed hundreds of bowling balls for Bowling This Month. When not testing balls for BTM, Eric owns and operates University Pro Shop in San Antonio, TX and he is an avid competitive bowler. Click here to learn more about how we test and review bowling balls.