General Info
| Brand: | Motiv |
| Name: | Sigma Tour |
| Reviewed: | October 2011 |
| Empty | |
| Coverstock Specs | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Atomix Reactive |
| Type: | Reactive Solid |
| Box Finish: | 2000 Grit Wet Sand |
| Color: | Black |
| Empty | |
| Core Specs | |
| Name: | NA |
| Type: | Symmetrical |
| RG: | 2.47 |
| Diff: | 0.044 |
| Int. Diff: | 0.000 |
For details on our standard test layouts, please click here.
The Sigma Tour offers a new cover and new core for Motiv. The cover is a 2000 grit wet sanded solid version of what Motiv calls Atomix Reactive. This cover creates a stronger read of the midlane than the MOTIVator shell which was used on the QZ2 Backdraft.
The overall hook potential of the Sigma Tour matched up best with our medium pattern, which is similar to most typical house shots across the country. The length allowed the Sigma Tour to waste virtually no energy in the front of the lane. It picked up the midlane and made its strongest move at the breakpoint. All three testers were able to play this pattern with no difficulty. Cranker had the best overall reaction. His hitting power and carry were never in jeopardy, even after this pattern went through its transitions and breakdown. Slower ball speeds may want to use layouts that place the pin farther away from the PAP so they will be able to stay with the Sigma Tour for an entire league session. Stronger layouts will be fine to start, but might start using too much energy during later games.
The next best reaction we had was on the heavy test pattern. We needed more surface on the shell of the Sigma Tour because of how clean this ball is through the front of the lane. We went to 1000 grit wet sand on the test balls to open up our area on the lane. With a little move to the right with our feet all three testers could get to the pocket.
Moving to the dry test pattern, we needed to add polish to get the Sigma Tour down the lane. Our standard layouts worked for a short period of time, but really limited our usage on this pattern. The Sigma Tour would have performed better with much weaker layouts on this condition.
The smoothness and predictability of the Sigma Tour matched up fairly well on our sport pattern. Slight surface adjustments will be needed on this type of pattern if there is more or less volume than our pattern. Stroker needed only a light scuff with 1000 grit wet sand. This adjustment did the job on this pattern. The light scuff allowed the ball to burn off just enough energy and tamed down the breakpoint allowing him to hit the pocket with the same success as Tweener and Cranker.
Strengths
The versatility of the Sigma Tour is its biggest strength. When we shined them up we could strike on the dry, when we scuffed them we could strike on the oil, and out of the box it matched up with medium test pattern.
Weaknesses
Only the surface finish will handicap the bowler’s ability to use the Sigma Tour. Out of the box, the Sigma Tour will struggle on heavy conditions as well as very dry ones.
Overall Summary
The Sigma Tour is the single most useful ball to date from Motiv. This ball handled everything it was thrown on and could be drilled and surface prepped to be useful on nearly any condition.
