- Tank Rampage

First Impressions
In May 2017, Motiv released the Tank Rampage, an evolution intended to close the gap between traditional urethane balls and weaker reactive balls. The ball comes in a plain, matte wine red, which already hints visually at its controlled nature. Inside, Motiv relies on the proven symmetrical Gear core, which had already shown its reliability in the legendary Venom Shock. In a 15-pound ball, this core offers a very low RG of 2.48 and a moderate differential of 0.034. This combination produces an extremely early revving motion and a very stable rotation that is not very susceptible to variations in the release. The real highlight, however, is the Alchemy urethane cover. Unlike older urethane blends, this coverstock was developed to generate more friction on modern oil. The factory finish is listed as a 2000 grit sanded surface, which gives the ball a rough texture and ensures that it already builds a connection to the lane in the heads.
Comparison A direct comparison with the classic Motiv Tank shows that the Tank Rampage, thanks to the Alchemy cover and the Gear core, offers noticeably more overall hook and reacts to the lane earlier. Placed next to one of the best-known competitors in this category, the Storm Pitch Black, clear differences in ball motion become apparent. While the Storm Pitch Black shows an extremely traditional, almost "dead" urethane reaction, the Tank Rampage feels livelier due to its more dynamic core and offers better carry in the pocket. It reads the oil earlier than the Pitch Black but retains the typical urethane continuity. Compared to a weak reactive ball like the Storm Tropical Surge, the Tank Rampage offers considerably more control in the midlane, but gives up the angular hook at the breakpoint. Against the Hammer Black Widow Urethane, which provokes a noticeably more aggressive change of direction with its asymmetric core, the Tank Rampage behaves far more predictably and is easier to keep on a consistent line. It thus positions itself as a "strong urethane" that provides more traction than conventional plastic or urethane balls without showing the uncontrolled backend reactions of reactive materials.
On the Lanes The Motiv Tank Rampage is the ideal tool for short sport patterns or extremely dry house shots, where reactive balls react too sensitively to the transition. Its strength lies in its ability to make the playing field "small". You can choose a more direct line over the outside boards, because the early roll of the core and the traction of the surface reduce the ball's speed in a controlled manner. It does not skid through the oil but starts working immediately, which results in a very smooth, arcing hook. If you have a high rev rate, this ball is often the only solution for finding the pocket on burned-up lanes without the ball hooking uncontrollably into the left half of the pin deck (for right-handers). But even if you have less rotation, the Tank Rampage offers excellent control over the breakpoint on short patterns. In practice, the ball shines especially when the heads have already taken a lot of traffic and you have to play into the pocket with a flatter entry angle in order to avoid uncontrollable reactions. On very long or heavy oil, however, the ball will lose its energy too early and hit flat, which is why in a well-rounded arsenal it primarily takes on the role of the control ball for difficult, dry conditions.