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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.motivbowling.com/ |title=Motiv Bowling home page |website=motivbowling.com |access-date=November 18, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2009/01/things_are_rolling_for_motiv_b.html |title=Things are rolling for Motiv bowling ball manufacturer Wilbur Products |last=Alexander |first=Dave |website=MLive.com |date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=November 18, 2021}}
History
MOTIV had its beginnings in the 1990s as Wilbur Products, a company that engineered cores for other high-performance bowling ball brands. 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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.motivbowling.com/company/about-us.html |title=MOTIV Bowling – About Us |website=motivbowling.com |access-date=November 18, 2021}} launching the MOTIV brand in 2009.
=Patents=
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.){{Cite web|url=https://www.bowlerx.com/motiv-bowling-gear.htm |title=MOTIV review at BowlerX.com |website=bowlerx.com|access-date= November 18, 2021}}
Current company
MOTIV continues to operate out of the Muskegon, MI area, and employs approximately 65 people.{{cite web|url=https://www.owler.com/company/motivbowling |title=MOTIV Bowling at Owler|website=owler.com|accessdate=November 18, 2021}} It has become a notable high-performance brand among league, tournament and professional players,{{cite web|url=http://beginnerbowlingtips.com/best-bowling-ball-brands |title=What are the best bowling ball brands on the market? |website=beginnerbowlingtips.com|accessdate=November 18, 2021}} and is now one of three parent companies (with Storm and Brunswick) producing balls authorized for use on the PBA and PWBA Tours.{{cite web|url=https://www.pba.com/registered-products |title=PBA Registered Products |website=PBA.com|accessdate=November 18, 2021}}
=MOTIV-sponsored professional bowlers=
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.motivbowling.com/team/ |title=MOTIV Team |website=motivbowling.com|accessdate=November 18, 2021}}
List of notable MOTIV-sponsored players as of December, 2024:
- Dick Allen
- Sam Cooley
- Ethan Fiore
- A. J. Johnson
- Sean Lavery-Spahr
- Wesley Low
- Erin McCarthy
- Maria José Rodriguez
- Ronnie Russell
- Matt Russo
- Tom Smallwood
- E. J. Tackett
- Zac Tackett
- Santtu Tahvanainen