- Desert Tank

First Impressions
The Motiv Desert Tank uses the symmetrical Flux core with a 2.57 RG and a very low differential of 0.015 (15 pounds), wrapped in the Frixion+ Pearl Microcell Polymer coverstock and a 2000 grit LSS finish. The high RG and very low differential should help the Desert Tank travel farther down the lane and smooth out its motion off the dry. This iteration of the Microcell Polymer technology takes the strength of the coverstock to a new level while adding more control through the higher RG, lower differential core. The pearl version of the MCP material should combine the motion of urethane with the continuation of reactive resin.
Comparison
The Desert Tank has the strongest cover of the three Microcell Polymer Tanks, but with a smaller core that allows this ball to get farther down the lane than the Motiv Tank Blitz and to behave more like a traditional urethane ball than the Motiv Covert Tank. Its pearl cover makes it slightly weaker than the Covert Tank and gives it the most urethane-like shape. Compared to the Motiv Tank Rampage, it lets you play about 3 boards deeper on the lane. By reducing the flare potential, the Desert Tank offers the most urethane-like shape that isn't actual urethane. The MCP cover retains exceptional hitting power, so despite the smooth, controlled shape, the pin action and carry can keep up with true reactive covers.
On the Lanes
The Desert Tank is best suited to shorter oil patterns when urethane is in play, but the unique thing about this ball is that you can move in and shape it without the loss of carry you see with traditional urethane. The coverstock, the core and the 2000 grit LSS finish come together to create a weapon tuned for controllable motion on high friction lane conditions, and if you're speed-dominant you'll appreciate these performance traits in particular. On house patterns it proves versatile, letting you play in the track area early and migrate inside without carry problems once the transition begins. The nature of this ball means it doesn't jump the moment it finds dry, which means you can stand straighter again and play less volatile angles. It only becomes a problem when there's too much oil up front and no traction can be gained until past the pattern, or when you try to open the angles too far and make it work harder on the backend than it was designed to.