- Pride Dynasty

First Impressions
Released in September 2023, the Motiv Pride Dynasty comes in a dark, three-color scheme of Navy, Blue and Slate, which already hints visually at its character as a solid, controlled bowling ball. Inside works the proven Dominion core, an asymmetric design that was already used in the earlier models of the Pride series. At 15 lbs, this core carries an RG of 2.50, a differential of .042 and an intermediate differential of .010. These numbers technically classify the ball as asymmetric, though the asymmetry is moderate, which puts it physically in a unique position between typical symmetric benchmark balls and strong asymmetric balls. The decisive new element is the cover: Motiv uses the Leverage MFS Solid Reactive technology here. This coverstock formulation is a modified, somewhat weaker version of the shell used on the high-performance Jackal Ambush. The ball ships with a 2000 grit LSS finish. This combination of the rev-friendly Dominion core and the tacky solid cover suggests that the Pride Dynasty is designed to read the lane earlier than its predecessors and to generate stronger traction in oil without burning up its energy for the pocket too early.
Comparison
Within the Motiv product line, the Pride Dynasty represents a clear evolution over the original Pride and the Pride Empire. While the original Pride came with a hybrid cover and the Pride Empire with a pearl cover, the Dynasty positions itself through its solid cover as the strongest and earliest-rolling version of the series. It is designed to handle more oil than the original Pride and to work considerably earlier in the midlane than the Pride Empire, which is known for more length and backend reaction. In the manufacturer's wider portfolio, the Dynasty fills the gap below the extremely strong Jackal series (such as the Jackal Ambush or Jackal Ghost), but offers more overall hook and stability in oil than the Venom series. In direct competition, the Pride Dynasty falls into the category of "strong benchmark" balls. Conceptually it competes with balls like the Phaze II from Storm, with the Dynasty theoretically offering a somewhat more defined change of direction thanks to its asymmetric core. The TNT from Roto Grip aims at a similar segment as well, with the Pride Dynasty likely attempting to generate an even smoother reaction to friction through the Leverage MFS shell in order to avoid overreaction. It functions as the ideal step down when the big "tanks" like a Roto Grip Gem or a Motiv Jackal Ambush lose energy too early, but weaker balls don't yet build enough traction.
On the Lanes
The ideal application range for the Pride Dynasty is medium to heavier oil patterns, especially on fresh oil, where clean traction in the heads and through the midlane is required. Thanks to the 2000 grit finish and the solid cover, the ball should be able to smooth out the transitions on the lane ("blending the pattern"). You'll likely find that the ball does not react abruptly to dry boards, but instead makes a round, continuous move toward the target. That makes it an excellent choice as the first ball out of the bag to read the lane conditions. Once the transition sets in and the heads start to dry up, the ball may roll too early; at that point a move to shinier or weaker balls would be advisable. If you throw the ball fast, the Dynasty could offer enough traction to find the pocket reliably even on slicker surfaces, while if you play at lower speed you should benefit from the control, since the ball doesn't "jump" unpredictably. The ball is designed to optimize carry through a stable entry angle by releasing energy in a controlled manner instead of unloading it in a violent backend move. It works very well for playing a line where the ball is allowed to run gently into the friction, rather than throwing it across a lot of boards from left to right.