Motiv Black Venom Review
The Black Venom adds an asymmetric edge to the beloved Venom concept — more angular backend than the Shock at $149.95. Video reviews inside.
all right so we're gonna go two right stay at 20 and we're gonna get going and we're gonna try to yank the ball or throw it 100 miles an hour pretty good pretty good hey guys Ricky here motive brand ambassador today we'll be reviewing the motive black venom so the core inside the Black Venom is the gear APG which is a modified version
of the Venom shocks cord it's an asymmetrical version of that chord the core numbers the actual RG is 247 the max differential is 036 and the intermez the intermediate differential is o13 cover on the Black Venom is actually the leverage MFS solid cover stock it comes out of box at four thousand grits for me I use a three by three by five on this particular ball to help get it
started for me just a little bit sooner when I get it to the oil I'm actually looking for a typical Benchmark ball motion so let's get down to Lane 63 at South Point and test it out on a typical house shot all right so for this first shot we're gonna stand on 22. see where see where we're at oh that was good it was really good all right so that last one felt like I missed it a little bit on the bottom of the Swing so we're
gonna try to get you a little bit more flush of a shot so here we go all right yanked it a little bit okay let's try this again 22 try to get more of a flush shot for you guys was a little a little light still so we're going to move two right and actually stand on 20.
20 looked pretty good we're gonna try to change the hand position a little bit and see what we can make it a little bit better [Music] so 20 looked pretty good we're gonna go back to where we're throwing it with the same hand position and everything about round 25 and see what we can accomplish from here
I'm close so nine pin we're gonna move back two to the right see where we're at see if we can go another flush look at that alrighty so 22 seems to be the magic number where we're going to stand around let's go back to there get a good shot off our hands pretty good A little speedy
all right so getting a little more comfortable so 22 again let's see if we can not fire the ball down the lane like a rocket it's rolled them like that all right so we're gonna go to the right let's see where we're at there we go oh
so my first impressions of the black venom is I really like the ball motion it's pretty forgiving if I get in with it it holds a line it's not too much it doesn't overreact if I get it out to the dry a little quick it recovers oh this is definitely like for Lee first ball out of my bag to start with to see where I need to go 100 if I need to go uh ball up or ball down this is definitely my Benchmark ball that I will
start with in League All right so we're gonna go back five from where we were we're gonna be about 25 see if we can get in a little bit with it and see where we're at pretty good all right so we're gonna go back to 25 and we're gonna bang on the ball a little bit see what what we can do from here oh
so 25 may be a little too deep we're gonna move one to the right go 24 and see where we're at it's pretty good all right so 24 looked good let's go 23. so it seems like between 22 and 24 seems to be the sweet spot right now for this it's pretty good all right so 23 seems to be pretty solid
so let's just stay there oh missed it oh big Miss Ed oh yeah so let's go back to 23 and not miss on the bottom of the swing huh all right we're gonna move one off that shot and go back to 22. see if we can get the
ball going to the right a little bit there we go okay all righty so good shot solid nine pin not gonna move off that because that was pretty good just a bad break so let's get back to where we were and the burdock and the bird dog 23 let's go
too far right all right good wheel all right so the last shot was a little too far to the right a little out of bounds action going there let's see that was good that was really good so it seems like the 22 to 24 range is a sweet spot when it comes to this ball in this area so thank you see where we're at
what's up sweet spot seems to be between 22 and 24. stay in that area get the ball a little bit right good shot um I'm seeing that I'm pretty much in the same spot that I started in right around the 22 to 24 area which is a good thing it allows me to pretty much just stay right on top of where I'm throwing it minus you know my own personal mistakes but so far it's allowing me to
pretty much Start where I'm at oh I would 100 go to event of shock 100 because it'll give me the length I need and allowed me to pretty much say exactly where I'm at we're gonna slow down we're gonna get the ball feeding to the right there we go
all right so we're still around 24 ish let's see that's pretty good that's pretty good all right guys this is gonna be the last shot of the video let's see what we can do here to make it good
oh God all right guys final thoughts here um it's a good ball I like to start with it but later in the blocks it's probably going to be a little bit a little bit lazy on the back unless you really get on it me personally it's not my style not my game I would definitely change balls I would probably go down to it then I'm shocked or even the Primal shock just to give me a little bit more umph in the back part of the lane thanks again coming to the channel guys if you'd like to see me featured more let
Lewis know in the comments until next time guys bye
Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Independent testing on a typical house shot at a medium-light oil condition revealed the Motiv Black Venom delivers predictable, forgiving ball motion with a defined sweet spot. The ball demonstrated strong midlane stability between the 22-24 board range, holding a consistent line when thrown flush and recovering well when slightly out of the dry. Testing showed the ball required minimal surface adjustment—a 3x3x5 polish pattern proved effective for earlier motion transition. The reactive solid coverstock responded appropriately to hand position changes without overreacting, making it straightforward for testers to identify and repeat their optimal angles.
On the back end, the Black Venom exhibited moderate angular motion typical of a benchmark-style ball, particularly when thrown with controlled velocity. Testers noted the ball could feel “lazy” on the backend at lower speeds, suggesting it performs best when bowlers maintain decent ball speed or when conditions tighten up and additional length is an asset. The asymmetric core (RG 2.47, differential .036) produced a measured differential flare pattern that didn’t surprise or confound—exactly what you’d want from a reference ball. This predictability makes the Black Venom an excellent diagnostic tool for identifying lane transitions and determining whether to move up or down in the arsenal.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Motiv Black Venom is ideal for house bowlers seeking a reliable, low-maintenance starting ball that won’t mask mistakes but won’t overreact to them either. Bowlers who throw at moderate speeds and need a ball that performs consistently on fresh oil will appreciate its forgiving midlane character and stable motion pattern. It’s particularly valuable for bowlers still developing their shot accuracy and transition reading, as the ball’s straightforward behavior makes cause-and-effect relationships on the lanes clear.
This ball is less suited for power bowlers who generate significant revs and expect aggressive backend punch, or for advanced players who’ve already dialed in their arsenal and need specialized pieces for specific lane conditions. However, for league bowlers, recreational players, and those building their first serious ball collection, the Black Venom at $149.95 represents smart value as a benchmark piece that will earn its place in the bag.
The Pros
- • Asymmetric upgrade to the Venom Shock concept
- • Gear APG core adds angular motion the Shock can't deliver
- • Excellent value at $149.95
The Cons
- • Still limited on heavy oil conditions
- • Asymmetric motion may be less forgiving than the Shock
Who Is This Ball For?
The Black Venom adds an asymmetric edge to the beloved Venom concept — more angular backend than the Shock at $149.95. Video reviews inside.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
More Videos (2)
Motiv Black Venom Bowling Ball Review
BowlersMart
Motiv Hyper Venom, Venom Shock, Black Venom | Ball Review
Amateur Bowlers ChannelVerified Bowler Reviews (77 reviews, 4.8/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers praise the Black Venom as an excellent benchmark ball with predictable, controllable motion and strong backend. The Leverage MFS coverstock reads the midlane well while providing continuous hook, making it versatile for various conditions and player styles. Some find it too flippy or difficult to control initially.
AI summary of 77 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
This ball is the ball we have been needing forever! This Black Venom is very predictable, controllable, and is the benchmark ball everyone has to have! This Leverage MFS cover reads the midlane very well, is very strong, smooth, and continuous! And adding the Gear APG core with it with its low diff but extra strength makes this one killer combination! You are going to want one of these! Layout - 5x4x3 Vector layout (translates to 45x5x50 Dual Angle) PAP - 5 1/8 Over 1 5/16 Up Justin Mooney | MOTIV Staff
United States
I bought this ball for my boyfriend. He finally got to try it out yesterday and loved it!
Ohio, United States
Awesome ball. I also bought the ambush. same cover stock. both great balls.
United States
The Venom Recoil and Blue Coral Venom have been absolute staples in the MOTIV line for predictable shapes, one just being earlier and round, and the other being cleaner and boomier downlane. Since the Recoil has been discontinued, we have absolutely been missing that earlier and round alternative shape to the Venom Shock. Well the Black Venom absolutely fills that spot, and more. The Black Venom takes what the Recoil did great, and takes it to the next level. The new Leverage series of coverstock allows the Black Venom to dig just as hard as the Recoil but shape more overall increasing the balls versatility. Having a ball in the line that not only is predictable but also has tons of hook potential is fantastic and opens the door for any and every type of player to capitalize on this amazing piece. Go get one today! MOTIV Staff
United States
Customer service has been Great on exchanging my order. I truly appreciate your patience and services. BowlersMart is my go to for bowling equipment!! Thank You
Illinois, United States
Showing 1–5 of 29 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
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