- Notorious

First Impressions
The DV8 Notorious, released in February 2019, brings a technically fascinating combination to market that is often hard to find: an asymmetric core with higher RG, wrapped in a grabby solid coverstock. Visually, the ball stands out with its black, purple and green color combination, which gets a matte but not extremely rough texture from the factory 500/3000 Siaair Micro Pad finish. At the center sits the Antagonist Core. This asymmetric core shows an RG value of 2.536 at 15 lbs — a number noticeably higher than on typical "heavy oil" balls (which often sit around 2.47). This is paired with a 0.051 differential and a 0.012 intermediate differential. The shell is made of the proven Composite Fang Solid material. One key technical feature is the integration of DynamiCore technology in the outer core, which improves carry through optimized energy transfer and produces that characteristic "crack" sound at pin impact. The combination of a solid cover and a high-RG core aims to get the ball cleanly through the heads without giving up the braking power of a solid surface in the midlane.
Comparison
In a direct comparison with the DV8 Pitbull Bark, at the time the "snow tire" of the DV8 lineup, the Notorious shows a significant difference in ball motion. The Pitbull Bark (low RG) starts to roll almost immediately after release and covers an extreme number of boards, but often loses energy when there isn't enough oil. The Notorious, on the other hand, uses its higher RG value (2.536) to skid noticeably longer through the heads ("push") before it moves into the roll phase. That makes it the perfect complement when the Pitbull hooks too early. Compared to the Hammer Black Widow Black Gold (also asymmetric with a higher RG, but pearl/hybrid), the Notorious offers an earlier and rounder read through the midlane, while the Widow reacts more angular and aggressive at the breakpoint. Against a Storm Code X, the Notorious goes a bit longer and stores more energy for the area past the pattern, but it isn't quite as early-digging as the Code X in heavy oil. It sits right in the gap between extreme heavy-oil balls and polished pearl balls.
On the Lanes
The DV8 Notorious is made for medium to heavier oil patterns that still require a clean pass through the heads. It is often the better choice than a pure heavy-oil ball when the heads are already slightly played in or don't have enough volume to support a ball with extremely low RG. Thanks to the Composite Fang Solid surface it ignores small inconsistencies in the oil, but the Antagonist core still gives it enough length to play deeper angles as well. It is especially effective when you want to control the breakpoint without risking the overreaction ("skid/flip") that often shows up with pearl balls. The Notorious delivers a strong, continuous motion through the pin deck and uses the DynamiCore advantage to carry the corner pins even at flatter entry angles. It is an excellent benchmark ball for tournament players who prefer asymmetry but don't want to plow up the whole lane right away.