Don't Buy a Motiv Jackal Without Reading This First (Ask Me How I Know)

Here's the short version: The Motiv Jackal is a powerhouse for heavy oil, but for most league bowlers and small pro shops, the Motiv Ascend is the better all-around choice and the safer initial investment. I've seen too many people buy the Jackal because it's the 'flagship,' only to realize it hooks too early on the house shot they bowl on three nights a week. That's a $220 mistake I've made myself.

I'm a guy who handles equipment orders for a small chain of pro shops. I've been doing this for about six years now (since late 2018), and in that time, I've personally mismanaged roughly $4,500 in inventory, mostly by buying the wrong stock for the wrong customer. This piece is the checklist I wish I'd had.

Why the Jackal is a Trap (and a Triumph)

The Jackal line, specifically the Jackal Ghost or the newer Jackal Onyx, is an absolute beast. It's built for one thing: heavy, long oil patterns. The core (the Torx) and the coverstock (S7R or similar) are designed to create massive friction. On a fresh, heavy oil sport pattern, it's incredible.

The Mistake I Made

In September 2022, a bowlers asked me for 'the best ball Motiv makes.' I sold him a Jackal Ghost. He was a medium-speed, medium-rev league bowler on a typical house shot. The ball hooked at his feet. It was unplayable. He brought it back after three games, frustrated.

The upside was making a $220 sale. The risk was him being unhappy. I kept asking myself: is a big sale worth potentially losing a repeat customer? It wasn't. I had to swap the ball out for an Ascend at no cost to him, eating the $40 restocking fee myself. That mistake cost $40 plus the embarrassment of having to admit I was wrong.

The Case for the Motiv Ascend

The Motiv Ascend is the smart play for 80% of bowlers. It's a hybrid coverstock ball built for medium oil—which is what most league conditions are. It's smoother, more predictable, and just easier to use.

Why the Ascend often wins:

• Versatility: It works on house shots and lighter sport patterns. The Jackal only works on heavy oil.
• Forgiveness: The Jackal punishes slight release errors with a violent, unpredictable move. The Ascend is more controllable.
• Resale/Swap Value: A used Ascend in good condition is easy to sell or trade. A used Jackal is a niche item—only the guy buying it for heavy oil wants it.

"The surprise wasn't that the Jackal hooked too much. The surprise was how much I didn't know about the customer's home center's oil pattern. I now ask every single buyer two questions: 'What pattern do you bowl on?' and 'What's your ball speed?'."

Pricing Reality Check (Jan 2025)

Let's look at the numbers. These are based on current distributor pricing I've seen as of January 2025:

• Motiv Jackal (any variant): $219.95 - $229.95 (retail)
• Motiv Ascend: $159.95 - $174.95 (retail)

That's a $50-$70 difference. The 'worst case' for stocking an Ascend over a Jackal is you lost a potential higher-margin sale. The 'worst case' for stocking the wrong product is a restocking fee, an unhappy customer, and a dead inventory item sitting on the shelf.

Two Exceptions: When You Should Buy the Jackal

Don't get me wrong—the Jackal is the right choice for specific people. If you or your customer fits this profile, go for it:

1. The Sport Shot Bowler: If someone regularly bowls on PBA patterns or has a tournament schedule with heavy oil, the Jackal is your weapon.
2. The High-Speed/Higher-Rev Bowler: If a bowler has a high ball speed (17+ mph) and higher revs (400+), they need the Jackal's aggressive cover to get the ball to hook in the back end, even on medium oil.

Otherwise, the Ascend is probably the better bet. It's the tool for the most common job, not the specialty tool for a rare problem.

The 'Slide Fire' Question and Other Accessories

Someone always asks about Slide Fire shoe soles. Quick take: They're great for slick approaches, but don't buy a Jackal thinking you'll 'fix' the over-hook with a different shoe slide. The ball's performance is about the ball, not the shoes. Buy the right ball first, then worry about the socks and shoes (that's a whole other article I'm writing about my $890 order error from 2020...).

(ugh, I still get annoyed thinking about that one)

Final Call

If you're a pro shop operator deciding on stock: Buy 3 Ascends for every 1 Jackal you stock. The Jackal will sit. The Ascend will sell.