Description
About the Raptor Pursuit
The Motiv Raptor Pursuit was built to solve a trade-off every heavy oil ball runs into. To create traction in heavier volume, most balls grab the front and middle of the lane, and that friction costs them motion down-lane. When you want length and angle on the back end, that is the wrong trade. The Raptor Pursuit pairs Motiv’s biggest symmetric engine with one of its cleanest pearl covers to get both.
Inside is the Affliction V2 Core, the strongest symmetrical core Motiv makes, wrapped in the new Aerial Propulsion Pearl Reactive coverstock at a 5500 grit LSP polished finish. The result is a stable, fast-revving core with incredible length and speed down-lane, and a strong, angular move once it finds friction. Like all of Motiv’s high performance equipment, it is made in the U.S.A.
Understanding the Motiv Affliction V2 Core and Motiv Aerial Propulsion Pearl Reactive
Motiv built the Raptor Pursuit for bowlers who want a high performance piece on heavy oil without giving up the back end. The low RG Affliction V2 core revs quickly and stays stable, the .055 differential supplies plenty of flare, and the clean Aerial Propulsion Pearl cover conserves energy through the front so the ball can unleash it down-lane. The full per-weight specifications are listed below.
Motiv’s Strongest Symmetrical Core
At the heart of the Raptor Pursuit is the Affliction V2 Core, the strongest symmetrical core in the Motiv lineup. At 15 lb it measures a low 2.48 RG and a high .055 differential. The low RG helps the ball rev up quickly and gives it plenty of stability and control, while the high differential means there is no shortage of flare potential.
Motiv makes a point here worth repeating: many bowlers automatically reach for an asymmetric ball when they want high performance strength, but asymmetry is not always the answer. The Affliction V2 gives you that strength in a symmetric package, with the predictable, repeatable shape that comes with it.
A Clean Pearl That Saves Its Energy for the Back End
Wrapped around the core is the new Aerial Propulsion Pearl Reactive coverstock. The Propulsion cover system has become a staple of Motiv’s pearl lineup for generating length and response to friction, and the Aerial Propulsion shell is the second cleanest cover in the family, behind only the Dark Matter Propulsion shell on the Nebula.
That cleanliness was intentional. Motiv wanted a shell that would conserve energy through the front and release it down-lane. Motiv usually puts a 5000 grit finish on its higher volume pearls, but says this cover picks up in the right spot well enough to carry a 5500 grit LSP polished finish, and the angle down-lane shows it.
Raptor Pursuit Specs
| Weight | Radius of Gyration (RG) | Differential |
|---|---|---|
| 16 lbs | 2.48 | .053 |
| 15 lbs | 2.48 | .055 |
| 14 lbs | 2.50 | .053 |
| 13 lbs | 2.57 | .040 |
| 12 lbs | 2.64 | .029 |
RG and differential vary by weight. Specifications provided by the manufacturer.
Who This Ball Is Right For
- Speed-Dominant Players: Best on drier lanes that give it hook and pop; more flare means more fresh shell on the lane, and the low RG revs up far easier than most covers this clean
- Balanced Players: An early angular ball for when smoother, earlier reading covers force you in but do not provide enough pop down-lane to carry the corners
- Rev-Dominant Bowlers: An angular ball that is not as violent as the Nebula, with a clean shell for when too much angle gets you in trouble
- Arsenal Builders: A symmetric heavy oil pearl that sits between the Raptor Reign solid and Motiv’s cleaner back-end balls
Good to Know Before You Buy
- Strong, aggressive motion: This is a high-flare piece built for traction. If you want a controlled, lower-hook reaction, a lower-differential ball will suit you better.
- Ships polished: The 5500 Grit LSP (Polished) finish runs clean and long out of the box. For an earlier read on heavier oil, take the surface down at your pro shop.
- Colors vary: Actual colors vary somewhat from the photos shown; no two balls come out of the mold exactly alike.
- Tiny pit holes are normal: A few tiny pit holes in the coverstock are a normal part of the manufacturing process.
- Sold undrilled: Ships without finger holes, so it can be fitted to your hand and span.
Where It Fits in Your Arsenal
In the Motiv lineup, the Raptor Pursuit is the pearl follow-up to the Raptor Reign. Both run the same Affliction V2 core, so the difference is all cover: where the Reign’s sanded solid digs in early on fresh heavy oil, the Pursuit’s clean Aerial Propulsion Pearl gets down the lane and turns harder. It is the next ball out of the bag when the heavy pattern starts to break down, and a stronger, calmer option than the Nebula when you want angle without the violence.
Surface Adjustments
The 5500 grit LSP polished finish is what gives the Raptor Pursuit its length and back-end angle out of the box. Take it to a lower grit for an earlier, smoother read when the oil is fresh, and have surface changes done at your pro shop for an even, consistent finish.
Coverstock Care
A polished pearl shows oil and dirt quickly, and a dirty cover starts reading earlier than it should. Wipe the Raptor Pursuit down after every set and deep clean it periodically to keep the clean front-end look that defines the ball.
| Bowling Ball Coverstock Type | Pearl Reactive |
|---|---|
| Bowling Ball Cover Name | Motiv Aerial Propulsion Pearl Reactive |
| Bowling Ball Core Shape | Symmetrical Core |
| Bowling Ball Core Name | Motiv Affliction V2 Core |
| Radius of Gyration: RG (15LB) | 2.48 |
| Differential: Diff (15LB) | .055 |
| Mass Bias Strength | N/A |
| Flare Potential | 4 – 5 Inches |
| Surface Finish | 5500 Grit |
| Preferred Lane Conditions | Heavy Oil |
| Ball Weight | 12LB, 13LB, 14LB, 15LB, 16LB |
| Bowling Ball Color | Gold, Red |
| Ball Performance Level | High Performance Bowling Balls, Motiv Heavy Oil Bowling Balls |
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