Motiv
Hydra
PatternStTwCr
Oily:NANANA
Medium:999.5
Dry:899
Sport:56.55

(1-10 in order of Stroker (ST), Tweener (TW), Cranker (CR))

Coverstock Info
Name:
Hexion LFP Reactive
Type:
Reactive Pearl
Box Finish:
5000 Grit LSP
Color:
Black Pearl
Core Info
Name:
Halogen
Type:Symmetrical
RG:2.55
Total Diff:0.037
Int. Diff:NA

The Hydra is the newest weapon in the Motiv lineup to combat conditions that make balls hook too early. It features a high RG core design, the pearlized Hexion LFP Reactive cover, and a very shiny polished box finish. The Hydra had no trouble skipping past the front of the lane in our testing, even after our patterns had been broken down by rougher-finished bowling balls.

By a narrow margin over our dry pattern, our testers had their best reactions on our medium oil test pattern. The highly polished cover on the Hydra allowed all three testers to see very easy length through the front, along with a strong move when it saw dry at the end of the lane. The impressive thing we saw from the Hydra was how it maintained as much angle downlane on the burn as it did on the fresh. Cranker was able to have a better reaction than the other two testers on this pattern because of his higher rev rate. He never saw his ball skip past the breakpoint, while also never hooking too early. He was starting his ball on 30, projecting it over 18 at the arrows, and out to 10 at the breakpoint. The recovery downlane allowed him to have a few boards of area at the breakpoint. He could miss left of target and hit the pocket light, but he also saw enough length to stay in the pocket if he missed to the right into the dry. Tweener and Stroker both also liked...

To read the full review, please visit:
https://www.bowlingthismonth.com/bowling-ball-review/motiv-hydra/

Performance Ratings

NameValueComments
Torque
(1-10)
7.5
The Hydra offers a strong move at the back of the lane, which came in handy when we started to move left with our feet as the lanes dried up. By design, this ball isn't as angular as balls such as the Lethal Paranoia and Trident Quest, and it comes into play when those balls are too strong for the oil pattern.
Length
(1-25)
18
The Hydra comes at a 5000 grit LSP box finish. We have seen other Motiv releases at 5500 grit LSP finishes that don't produce as much length as this ball. This is a testament to how clean the pearlized Hexion LFP cover is through the front of the lane.
Back End
(1-20)
17
The back end motion of the Hydra allowed all three testers to get farther left than they could with the Freestyle or Freestyle Rush. The added motion at the back of the lane allows the Hydra to be useful on dry that is built into the pattern, or on dry that develops as oil breaks down.
Total Hook
(1-100)
47
The Hydra is toward the lower end of the hook spectrum for Motiv. This ball comes into play when other balls in the Motiv line are hooking too much or too early.

Strengths: The Hydra provided effortless length across all of our test patterns. We never had any trouble getting this ball to clear the front of the lane.

Weaknesses: As easily as this ball gets down the lane, it can miss the breakpoint on heavier volumes of oil. As with most balls designed for drier lanes, it is best when kept on these type of conditions.

Overall Summary: The Hydra will be the Motiv ball to have on the rack on short patterns, or on patterns that have already seen a lot of traffic. Bowlers who are looking for a ball that doesn't ever want to check up early will like what they see from the Hydra.