- Venom Shock Pearl

First Impressions
The Motiv Venom Shock Pearl was released on February 21, 2018 and is the long-awaited pearl addition to one of the most successful bowling balls of all time, the original Venom Shock. Visually, the ball impresses with an elegant Black/Purple Pearl design accented by eye-catching Neomarks in Green and Orange. Inside works the proven symmetrical Top Gear Core, a further development of the original Gear core, which is valued for its consistency. In the 15-pound version it shows a low RG of 2.47 and a moderate differential of 0.034. This core is wrapped in the innovative Hexion MFP (Medium Friction Pearl) Reactive coverstock, finished at the factory with a 5500 grit LSP (Laser Scan Polish). This combination aims to carry the legendary dynamics of the Venom series into a model that glides effortlessly through the heads and makes a sharp change of direction on the backend.
Comparison Compared directly to the original Motiv Venom Shock (solid), the Venom Shock Pearl offers noticeably more length and a considerably more angular reaction at the breakpoint. While the solid Shock is regarded as the ultimate benchmark ball for control and an early midlane read, the pearl is designed to save energy for the back third of the lane. Compared to the Storm Hy-Road Pearl, the Venom Shock Pearl shows a somewhat earlier and more stable roll phase due to the lower RG of the Top Gear core, whereas the Hy-Road Pearl often skids even longer and has an even more angular skid/flip character. Compared to the Motiv Fatal Venom, which came out later, the Venom Shock Pearl behaves a bit more controlled, since the Hexion cover responds to friction a shade earlier than the later Infusion technology. Against the Motiv Hydra, the Venom Shock Pearl offers noticeably more total hook and hitting power, which makes it a more versatile option for the transition from medium to drier conditions.
On the Lanes The ideal application for the Motiv Venom Shock Pearl is on medium to light oil conditions as well as in the late stage of a tournament block. It is the perfect step-down ball when the original Venom Shock starts to react too early or loses energy for the carry. Thanks to the Hexion MFP cover, the ball glides safely through burned-up heads, but reliably finds the friction at the end of the oil pattern to return powerfully to the pocket. If you have a high rev rate, you'll appreciate the controlled angularity, which lets you open up the lane without risking unpredictable jumps at the breakpoint. For bowlers with moderate speed, the low-RG core provides the necessary security that the ball won't simply slide past the spot. On very heavy oil, however, the ball is less effective, since the polished surface offers too little traction there. In the pocket, the Top Gear core technology delivers the excellent carry the Venom line is known for. All in all, the Venom Shock Pearl is an indispensable tool for bowlers who want to combine the reliability of a Venom core with the aggressiveness of a modern pearl cover.