This time we had the chance to try the new Motiv Ripcord Flight. This ball is the second release in the Ripcord series.
When I first read that this ball was going to use the same core from the original RIpcord and a modified versión of the Venom Shock cover (Turmoil Max Solid) I was excited about how this ball would be... Fortunately for me, this ball is what I was expecting and more.
We tried this ball on our typical house shot (Kegel Main Street, 41') and I felt really comfortable with the Ripcord Flight while doing the review. I started close to my comfort zone and the ball worked great. After some shots I moved right to open up the lane and the Ripcord Flight just kept coming back. Really impressive.
This ball is cleaner than the Tank Blitz and the Rogue Assassin. The Ripcord Flight provides a strong midlane read, but is not as early and smooth as the Blitz or the Assassin. The Ripcord Flight has a strong backend motion for a solid coverstock and it can be used to play straigther on fresh and it will also allow you to keep chasing the oil when you need to move inside.
The first thing I always try to find in a ball, regardless of the pattern, is how big of a margin of error this ball will provide me. Obviously to find the right ball for the right pattern you have to know where you are bowling and what reaction you need to succeed. On a house shot I usually like to start with a strong solid ball that will help me blend the pattern to fight the over/under or the over walled patterns that we see while we are bowling in a league. The Ripcord Flight is the perfect ball for it.
The Ripcord Flight is a great option to use on fresh. It has a predictable, smooth motion and a strong move down the lane. The ball is not early and is not angular either. The Ripcord Flight gives you the perfect balance of both, making it a great benchmark ball.
When I missed a little left of my target, the ball offered me great recovery, but I had to be careful with my speed. When I missed left and my speed was slower than usual, the ball went high and I left some six pins. When I missed inside the Ripcord Flight provided me enough length and enough strength to dig through the oil to make a strong and predictable move to the pocket. As long as I kept my speed, I had a big margin of error with the Flight.
I compared the Ripcord Flight with the Venom Shock. The Ripcord Flight is definitely stronger and it is more suited to handle more oil. The Venom Shock is cleaner through the front part of the lane and it has a stronger downlane motion. They have a similar shape, but the Venom Shock is weaker overall. The Ripcord Flight will be a great complement to the beloved Venom Shock when you want to keep the same shape but the Shock is not enough ball or when you are facing heavier volumes of oil.
The Ripcord Flight will be a great option for low rev and speed dominant bowlers. The ball offers easy revs and a smooth, predictable motion while at the same time retains enough energy to provide a strong move down the lane on most medium and heavy oil conditions.
For the league bowler, the Ripcord Flight is a must. You need a ball that can help you read the lanes and see what adjusments you can make based on the ball reaction. The Ripcord Flight provides the perfect balance of length and angularity to be a perfect benchmark ball. It is strong enough to blend the pattern and provide a smooth reaction and angular enough when you need more shape down the lane. This is a ball that you can easily use to start with on most league nights.
For the tournament bowler, this ball will be also a great benchmark ball. Is not earlier, is not angular, is just the perfect balance to be the first ball out of the bag to see how the pattern is going to play. The Ripcord Flight will provide enough control at the breakpoint and enough shape at the backend.
Overall, I feel that the Ripcord Flight is a versatile piece, easy to read and really easy to get used to. It will be useful for a lot of bowling styles and a great weapon to be used in a wide variety of patterns.
