Motiv Jackal Onyx Review
Motiv's heavy oil nuclear option. Maximum traction on flooded lanes from the Predator V2 core at $214.95. Video reviews inside.
what's going on folks this sto here from real experience Ball Reviews and today reviewing the brand new Jackal Onyx guys if you haven't had a chance please feel free to like And subscribe real experience Ball Reviews for all the best bowling content guys this ball is freaking awesome features The Leverage uh hxc cover stock which is kind of similar to what you've seen on the Subzero Forge and today we're going to compare this ball to the Jackal ghost The Jackal Ambush and the Crimson Jackal how do they stack up on this house shot here at station 300 and want to give a huge thanks to eron's Pro Shop to staff
of station 300 and motor bowling for you know allowing me to do these great reviews let's get on the lanes and let's see how that onx sacks up to all the other jackals in the line all right we got that new Jackal Onyx 40x 5x 40 put this layout on pretty much all my aims so we're going to start my fee here on this Fresh House shot around 25 and then gradually move left and we can talk about it as we move forward
okay as to be expected so Ball's pretty strong uh for me uh throwing this ball on a house shot it's going to be really really big probably going to be something I'm going to be staying a little bit farther left with shaping it and getting it a little bit more in the oil I just wanted to show you guys what it did playing a little bit straighter up the lane if you haven't had a chance we got these Rex shammies the link below Guys these shaming are awesome pretty much had this since the beginning of the Season Buffalo leather good stuff Let's Make a Move off that last
shot so much better shot that one got out to the friction it just annihilates oil I really like to see that um this Ball's going to be great in tournaments where I see it fitting in the bag right now something a little bit more than that Subzero Forge uh a little bit smoother overall than the ghost not as sharp but still that big ball that fits at the top of the motor chart really like what motives doing with their cover te right now um you know I'm seeing a lot more continuation out of the equipment I really love that new Primal Rage Evolution as well that Ball's
really good really got around that oh knocked out that nine pin so holy shape that is freaking sick that's a lot of ball uh in my bag preferably I don't throw the Subzero Forge a lot because for me that ball just hooks so dang much so soon surprisingly enough this is a little bit cleaner through the fronts a little bit more overall really like what I'm seeing now let's move a
couple more more boards left just keep going really got that one in the oil so started to dig up a little bit I thought that was going to hook early on me but it actually struck which is really really awesome so so far every shot I've thrown it's been really really good just going to keep going with this it's amazing something to keep in mind with these Ball Reviews guys how the ball is going through the pins how it's reading the lanes kind of front to back
ball motion I'm looking for is it burning up early is it continuing is it kicking out those nine pins yeah that's what I like to see that's really good wow this is going to be one of those Ball Reviews where I just strike every time holy crap so super smooth super round shape not as angular as that Jackal ghost but we will compare it to the Jackal ghost
the crimson and the Ambush here in a little bit so remember this ball is available January 8th 2025 let stop into Aaron's Pro Shop you got some great deals going on does a fantastic job Aaron you're amazing appreciate you brother pretty good man ball goes to the pins like a truck and also if you like use a ky
jerseys if you're an anime nerd like me link below Rex 10 to save 10% on your 12 bagger apparel oh yeah dude wow so all you're out there you love The Jackal series guys I think the Onyx is going to be a really really good fit for your bag I've already been asked questions how does this compare to the Subzero how does it compare to the Jackal Rising Jackal Legacy guys new
cover technology it's going to hook more it's going to be more continuous and they're going to last longer in your bag just because those covers are nice new nice and fresh and motives doing awesome little slow hook boom I did slow down on that one so not full speed I slowed it down but I just tells you guys you can shape up that ball really well it's a big core it's a big ball it's super strong all
right so now that we've had some shots with this Jackal Onyx let's compare it to some of the other Jack jackles so Jackal Ambush again drilled the same exact way as the Onyx does a 40x 5x 40 so this Ball's pretty slow it's a lot slower than that uh Jackal Onyx so the Onyx looked really good guys from standing you know i' probably say around 34 with my feet let's see how the Ambush handles oil standing around 34 and
covering some boards [Music] that's to be expected so that ball is a lot slower uh older cover technology whereas I feel like guys if we take that onx stand in the same spot try to throw in a similar area we might get a little bit different ball reaction let's try it out pretty
good so I pulled that one inside a little bit but clearly you guys can see that the onx this Hook's more overall a little bit cleaner it's not going to burn up as early as that Jackal Ambush with that older cover technology let's try something let's go back to this Ambush going move a little bit right with this ball so I'll go back to around say around 30 so let's go four more boards right let's see if we can trap this ball a little bit make it look good on this house shot here
I mean thought that was pretty good off my hand but guys pay really close attention to how that Ambush is reading the lanes compared to the new Onyx so you're going to see you're going to see a little bit smoother overall for the Ambush a lot slower in the mid lane whereas this Onyx doesn't have that problem so again I'm going to stand here on 30 with this onyx
there you go perfect comparison right there Onyx freaking awesome and if you're a freaking nerd like me up in the 90s I think Onyx I think Onyx the Pokemon that's just yeah typical too okay cool so we got the Ambush done let's go to that Jackal ghost all right so we got this Jackal ghost same layout 40x 5x 40 I'm going to go back to where I was striking around 34 I feel like I might be able to handle that with this ghost but you're going to see different shape down Lane compared to the Onyx
might be a little bit sharper overall so that ghost I mean that ghost is really good guys you know doing this comparison it's not about okay how much the ball strikes how much it doesn't strike pay attention to the ball motion down Lane the ghost a little more length little bit little bit more angular right stay in that same spot with Jackal
onx see how she Compares I think that's really good ball representation more shape overall a little more in the mid lane guys can't even tell you how freaking awesome that new Jackal onx is let's move even more left let's move about three left with my feet with this ghost let's see if it can battle up with this
Onyx okay so as a contender right now from what I'm seeing ghost right now is probably the closest thing to that uh Jackal onx just because guys the ghost has been around for a very very long time I believe since 200 17 there's a reason why the Jackal ghost is the longest running asymmetrical ball on the market all right we're going to go to this Crimson Jackal Crimson Jackal same layout guys so this should be a little bit more length uh even a little bit more angular than that ghost
so okay I thought I threw that pretty good got a little tilt and rotation on it that way left probably not going to look the best on this shot uh let's go to that Onyx stand in the same spot see what happens really got around it holy guys I don't even care that did that didn't strike I mean ball speed was pretty similar to the Crimson almost the same amount of rotation and tilt it just over hooked so I got it right a little
bit early but also I did with the Crimson that's a great comparison right there um um with all these different Jackal guys got some great options I think Modo is coming out with some really amazing equipment really hope everybody enjoyed this ball review and uh see you guys in the new year [Music]
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Performance Analysis
Performance Analysis
Independent testing revealed the Motiv Jackal Onyx to be a consistently strong performer on house shot conditions, delivering reliable strike action throughout extended play. Testers threw multiple full games with the ball on standard house oil patterns and observed numerous strikes with solid pin carry. The ball demonstrated manageable backend motion—not overly aggressive, but responsive enough to handle typical lane conditions. When fresh surface was applied, the Jackal Onyx showed improved lane control and consistency compared to higher-flaring asymmetric models, making it suitable for bowlers who want backend reaction without excessive early hook.
The testing also highlighted the ball’s versatility regarding surface adjustments. Testers noted that while fresh polish on similar high-flare asymmetrics can make them impractical for house play, the Jackal Onyx maintained workability even with minimal surface preparation. As oil accumulated on the coverstock during play, the ball’s motion evolved naturally without becoming uncontrollable. When compared directly to other strong asymmetric offerings, the Jackal Onyx occupied a middle ground—more aggressive than entry-level reactive solids but more manageable than the most extreme asymmetric designs currently available. Testers observed that on typical house conditions, the ball recovered well from less-than-perfect releases, demonstrating the kind of forgiveness that appeals to serious recreational and semi-competitive bowlers.
Who Is This Ball For?
The Jackal Onyx is ideally suited for bowlers who have moved beyond basic reactive solid balls and want reliable heavy oil performance without committing to extreme asym designs. House bowlers throwing 15+ games weekly will find this ball strikes consistently on standard oil patterns while remaining workable for adjustments—no need to switch to a weaker option until oil breaks down significantly. The ball also appeals to competitive bowlers building a varied arsenal: it fills the role of a strong asymmetric that doesn’t require polishing before league play and handles the transition from fresh to worn lane conditions reasonably well.
This ball is less ideal for pure house bowlers on tight budgets seeking one workhorse ball, or for bowlers specifically chasing the absolute longest skid and latest hook-point on the market. However, for the bowler willing to invest in quality equipment and wanting a predictable, manageable asymmetric that pairs well alongside other pieces in a complete bag, the Jackal Onyx delivers solid performance and value at its $214.95 price point.
The Pros
- • Motiv's strongest ball — Predator V2 core is devastating
- • 1000 grit OOB for immediate heavy oil traction
- • Competes directly with Storm Ion Max and Hammer Zero Mercy
The Cons
- • Premium price at $214.95
- • Too aggressive for anything below heavy oil
- • Can burn up quickly as lanes transition
Who Is This Ball For?
Motiv's heavy oil nuclear option. Maximum traction on flooded lanes from the Predator V2 core at $214.95. Video reviews inside.
Technical Specifications
How It Compares
More Videos (6)
Can I Bowl a 300 Game? | Motiv Jackal ONYX
The Hype
Who's Biggest and Baddest? | Motiv Jackal Onyx vs Storm Ion Max
The Hype
The Big Hook | Motiv Jackal Onyx | Deep Dive Ball Review
Creating the Difference
Jackal Onyx | Ball Review ft AJ Johnson
Motiv Bowling
Jackal Onyx | Playing Straighter
Motiv Bowling
Jackal Onyx | First Look
Motiv BowlingVerified Bowler Reviews (60 reviews, 4.9/5 avg)
Bowlers Say
Bowlers say the Jackal Onyx is extremely strong for heavy oil patterns with maximum hook potential and early traction. 2-handers particularly love its aggressive grip and consistent motion through pins. Bowlers praise its versatile use from fresh oil to tournament patterns and strong backend continuation.
AI summary of 60 verified purchase reviews
Bowlers frequently mention:
I heard. This ball is awesome on the lanes and I had to get it. This is my first Motiv ball to purchase and added it to my brand name bowling balls.
United States
Great ball for heavy oil patterns, hooks hard, feels good, and looks great. 2-Handed bowler.
United States
Very strong ball. Extremely good for heavy patterns. I got mine drilled for 2 hands and it’s perfect
United States
Big fan of Motiv products, especially the Jackal line. Jackal Onyx does not disappoint!
NJ, United States
I really like this ball. I use it for when the lane is newly oiled, for about 1-2 games, at which point I switch to another ball. It's very aggressive, and as a tweener, I had the person drilling the ball make it slightly less aggressive for my style. I also have a Venom and a Sniper. Really liking Motiv balls.
Arkansas, United States
Showing 1–5 of 20 verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
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