- Sigma Tour Pearl

First Impressions
With the Sigma Tour Pearl, Motiv picks up on a classic that first appeared back in 2011 and now, fifteen years later, gets a modern reissue. The color design combines dark purple, purple and red in a pearl finish, rounded out by the light blue and silver Neomark logo that puts the Sigma lettering prominently on display. Visually, the ball fits into the recent Motiv line without leaning too heavily on the current Hysteria or Nebula models. Inside works the proven symmetrical Sigma core, one of the oldest core designs in the Motiv portfolio. With a 2.47 RG and a 0.047 differential (15 lbs), the core sits in the medium range, revs up early and generates a flare potential of more than 4 inches. The core is wrapped in the newly developed Atomic Propulsion Pearl Reactive coverstock, finished at 5000 grit LSS out of the box. This surface catches the eye, since it has a slight sheen but is not polished. According to the manufacturer, the ball is meant to close the gap between a benchmark ball and a strongly angular pearl, and it is designed for medium oil conditions. It is available in 12 through 16 lbs, and in Germany the price runs somewhere between 235 and 270 euros depending on the retailer.
Comparison Within the Motiv line, the Sigma Tour Pearl slots in between the Motiv Nebula and the Motiv Venom Hysteria. The Atomic Propulsion cover should offer more traction in oil than the Dark Matter Propulsion on the Motiv Nebula, while at the same time creating more down-lane motion than the Propulsion MXV covers of the Motiv Evoke Hysteria and Motiv Venom Hysteria. In terms of reaction, that places it between a slightly earlier-rolling Venom Hysteria and a faster, more angular Nebula. Compared to the Motiv Evoke Hysteria it is a step down, but it is stronger and more dynamic than the balls in the Venom series with the Gear core. Compared to the earlier Motiv VIP Sigma, the reaction should follow the typical hockey-stick curve a bit less pronouncedly, since the Atomic Propulsion cover goes through the heads in more controlled fashion. Among the competition, there are parallels to the 900 Global Turbo X, which could be considered a nearly direct comparison ball. The Roto Grip Rockstar Amped comes across similarly, though with a somewhat stronger cover. Storm's Storm Phaze II Pearl should react smoother but overall stronger, while the Hammer Ember tends to be smoother but can likewise be rated as stronger. The Brunswick Crown Victory also offers a comparable basic shape, though a bit weaker in the cover.
On the Lanes The Sigma Tour Pearl is laid out for medium oil volumes and should show its potential above all once fresh lanes have already gone through some transition. On truly fresh oil it could run too clean and too fast through the heads for many player types, which is why a light surface adjustment would be advisable here if needed. If you are speed-dominant and have trouble with the very clean pearls like the Motiv Nebula or Motiv Venom Hysteria, you should find the Sigma Tour Pearl an option with a bit more traction that still offers sufficient down-lane motion. If your game is balanced, you can use the ball as an angular complement to a benchmark piece as soon as that one reads too early or reacts too sluggishly on the backend. If you are rev-dominant, on the other hand, you could even use the ball as your first one out of the bag on typical house shots, provided the surface is adjusted slightly, since the strong core in combination with the reactive pearl cover should then create a stable midlane reaction and a clear transition to the pocket. In an arsenal it fits primarily as a second or third ball, depending on how the collection is built. The Sigma core tends somewhat to roll forward, which is why players with higher axis rotation may have to get around the ball more to bring it cleanly through the boards into the pin deck.