In this video I’m back on the lanes for the first Motiv review of 2026, and I’m testing the brand new Motiv Apex Jackal on a burnt-up 44ft EJ Tacket pattern. I start by getting lined up with one of my favorite balls from 2025, the Evoke Hysteria, because it’s one of the best transition balls in my bag—an asymmetric pearl that’s controllable and not too crazy off the spot (which is exactly what I want with my rev rate). From there, I put the Apex Jackal on the same look and start moving left as the lanes dry up to see how it handles misses and how much shape it can make downlane. The big takeaway: the Apex Jackal met my high expectations. It shares the same cover as the Evoke Hysteria, but with the stronger Jackal core and that power band technology, it covers a couple more boards and gives me a sharper motion in the back while still smoothing out misses. I also compare it to the Motiv Nebula, which is super sharp and continuous as a symmetric pearl, but it’s more touchy—when it sees friction, it can jump. I wrap it up with ratings (8/10 hook, 7.5 response, and an 11/10 shelf appeal) and talk about why learning to battle transition with pearl shapes is what actually separates good bowlers from the rest.