Motiv Raptor Talon Bowling Ball Review

The latest addition to Motiv’s high performance line is the Raptor Talon. The Talon puts to use the Predator core used in the Raptor P7 and Raptor Attack. The difference this time around is that it is surrounded by the new Fusion solid coverstock. This cover comes out of the box at a very rough 2000 wet sand finish. All the elements of this ball told us it was going to hook a lot, but we had no idea what we were in for.

We lined up what we thought would be close on the heavy test pattern and every tester crossed over the headpin. Sometimes with rougher surface balls, after a few shots they tame down and give a more realistic idea of ball reaction, but the Raptor Talon just kept hooking. This ball clawed into the oil as soon as it hit the lane and wanted to go left. Eventually we lined up to get to the pocket, but we demolished the pattern within about a game. We actually raised the surface to a 4000 wet sand shortly after to try and tame down the reaction.

We applied the same surface adjustment to all three test balls on the medium pattern after just a shot or two. The higher finish allowed the Raptor Talon to get through the front without wanting to go left off our hands. The big hooking motion was still there and forced all three testers a lot farther left than they usually play on this pattern. We added a coat of Power Gel polish on top of the 4000 finish to add the length we needed to play farther outside on this pattern.

On our short dry test pattern, this ball was almost useless for the test staff. We kept the 4000/ Power Gel finish and the ball was still too strong for this pattern.

The Talon was able to completely overpower our sport pattern and made the out of bounds totally disappear.

Strengths

This ball can create friction on the slickest of lane conditions. Raptor Talon users will never complain about lanes being too wet.

Weaknesses

On the other side of the coin, we had trouble finding enough oil for this hooking monster. For anyone with some rotation, polish and pin up layouts will be requirements to use this ball on most THS.

Overall Summary

This is the highest hook rating we have given. We would have trouble around here finding enough oil to use it, but for those of you who bowl league and tournaments in houses where you have trouble getting the ball back to the headpin, the Raptor Talon is for you.