MOTIV Bowling
MOTIV Bowling is an American company involved in the manufacture and sale of bowling balls. The company headquarters are in Spring Lake, Michigan, with the main manufacturing facility in nearby Muskegon Heights.[1][2]
History
[edit]MOTIV had its beginnings in the 1990s as Wilbur Products, a company that engineered cores for other high-performance bowling ball brands.[2] When its largest customer (Brunswick) chose to move its manufacturing from Michigan to Mexico, Wilbur Products embarked on a project to start its own bowling ball production,[3] launching the MOTIV brand in 2009.[2]
Patents
[edit]MOTIV patented a process called NeoMark[TM], which integrates logos and other graphics into the cover stock of the ball. (Other bowling ball manufacturers use etching or engraving for logos and graphics.)[3][4]
Current company
[edit]MOTIV continues to operate out of the Muskegon, MI area, and employs approximately 65 people.[5] It has become a notable high-performance brand among league, tournament and professional players,[6] and is now one of three parent companies (with Storm and Brunswick) producing balls authorized for use on the PBA and PWBA Tours.[7]
MOTIV-sponsored professional bowlers
[edit]MOTIV has produced many bowling balls used in the sport by competitive players, and has several sponsorship agreements on both the PBA and PWBA Tours.[8]
List of notable MOTIV-sponsored players as of January, 2023:
- Dick Allen
- Andrew Anderson
- Sam Cooley
- A. J. Johnson
- Sean Lavery-Spahr
- Wesley Low
- Erin McCarthy
- Maria José Rodriguez
- Tom Smallwood
- E. J. Tackett
- Zac Tackett
- Santtu Tahvanainen
References
[edit]- ^ "Motiv Bowling home page". motivbowling.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b c Alexander, Dave (April 4, 2019). "Things are rolling for Motiv bowling ball manufacturer Wilbur Products". MLive.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "MOTIV Bowling – About Us". motivbowling.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "MOTIV review at BowlerX.com". bowlerx.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "MOTIV Bowling at Owler". owler.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "What are the best bowling ball brands on the market?". beginnerbowlingtips.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "PBA Registered Products". PBA.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "MOTIV Team". motivbowling.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.