- Jackal Ghost

First Impressions
The Motiv Jackal Ghost, originally released in January 2017, comes in a color combination of black and "Paranormal Violet." This dark coloring underscores its intended purpose on oily lane conditions. Technically, the ball is based on an asymmetric construction designed to generate a lot of friction on the lane. At the center of the ball works the proven Predator V2 core. At 15 lbs it shows a low RG of 2.47 and a high differential of 0.054, complemented by an intermediate differential of 0.015. These numbers point to a ball that tends to rotate early and possesses strong flare potential. This core is wrapped in the Coercion HFS (High Friction Solid) Reactive coverstock. The surface comes from the factory with a 3000 grit LSS finish. This matte preparation should let the ball read the heads in a controlled manner without burning up energy too early, while still providing enough traction in the oil. The combination of the low-RG core and the tacky solid cover defines the Jackal Ghost as a ball for heavy oil patterns. Even a first look at the specs conveys the impression of a "tanker" meant to provide stability and control rather than banking on an extremely angular backend reaction. The feel of the shell is very tacky, which underscores the intent not to slide past the breakpoint even at high oil volume.
Comparison
In a direct comparison within Motiv's product line, the Jackal Ghost should be understood as the link between the extremely aggressive balls for the heaviest oil and the more controllable benchmark balls. Against the later Motiv Alpha Jackal, the Ghost tends to react somewhat later and saves more energy for the back part of the lane, while the Alpha Jackal likely moves into the roll phase even earlier. Compared to symmetric solid balls from other manufacturers, such as the Phaze II from Storm, the Jackal Ghost shows a considerably more defined change of direction and more torque in the midlane thanks to its asymmetric core. Where a symmetric ball often describes a rounder arc, the Ghost's higher intermediate differential should let it respond to friction more quickly as soon as it exits the oil pattern. Looking at older balls such as the original Jackal or Motiv's Jackal Carnage, the Ghost was developed to offer similar overall strength, but with improved continuity of motion through the pin deck. Against pearl-covered balls such as the Mythic Jackal, the Ghost gets going considerably earlier and smooths out the reaction on the lane more. While pearl balls often react sensitively to transition and could slide too far on fresh oil, the Ghost offers more stability here. Compared to current "heavy oil" balls like the Gem from Roto Grip, the Jackal Ghost should be a bit more versatile, since it doesn't hook quite as early and thus ought to remain playable even once the heads are slightly broken down.
On the Lanes
The ideal scenario for the Motiv Jackal Ghost is lanes with high oil volume or fresh sport patterns where control is the priority. Thanks to the aggressive surface and the strong core, the ball should be able to cut through the oil in the heads and read reliably in the midlane. That makes it a primary choice as the first ball out of the bag, to read the lane and test how the boards respond. If you throw the ball fast, you'll appreciate the help from the core, which gets the ball rotating in time before it reaches the pin deck. If you play with lower speed or a high rev rate, the ball offers a smooth, predictable motion that keeps it from over-reacting to dry spots. In terms of ball motion, the Ghost is characterized by a strong but round hook. It isn't designed to jump extremely sideways at the end of the lane (skid/flip), but rather to bring a heavy, rolling motion into the pocket. That should improve carry, since the ball hits the pins at a favorable entry angle and transfers energy continuously through the deck. Once transition sets in and the heads dry up, the Jackal Ghost could start losing energy too early, which would show up as weaker pin carry. In that case, a move to a ball with higher RG or a polished surface would be advisable. In summary, the Jackal Ghost is a traction specialist meant to help bowlers open up the lane on fresh and oily conditions without losing control of the pocket.