Description: Through the Brunswick Vintage line of bowling balls they have brought back yet another legend, the Danger Zone. To celebrate this iconic ball's 20 year anniversary Brunswick has combined the Vintage Lightbulb Low RG core with a newer coverstock, the PK 2016 (a modern version of the PowrKoil 18).  This combination brings the retro Danger Zone motion of skidding through the heads while saving axis rotation for the backend to bring that memorable Danger Zone reaction to modern lane conditions.

Brunswick Vintage Danger Zone Ball Specs:

 

- Color: Black Solid All colors do vary somewhat from the picture shown.
- Core: Vintage Light Bulb Low RG
- Coverstock: PK 2016
- Factory Finish: 500 Siaair Micro Pad, Royal Compound
- Reaction: Skid/Flip
- Radius of Gyration (RG): 2.549**
- Differential (Diff): 0.048**
- ** RG and Diff are based off of 15 lb. balls
- Hook Potential: 220 (scale: 10-250)
- Length: 125 (scale: 25-235)
- Breakpoint Shape: Angular
- Recommended Lane Condition: Medium-Heavy Oil
- A few tiny pit holes in the cover stock of the ball are normal

This is a ball i have been waiting on.  I am not old enough to know how great it was to throw the original danger zone that everyone loved.  But with this ball, I get to see why everyone loved it so much.  I have heard so much about how this ball compares to the ball of old with today conditions.  I got a pin up layout and the ball is super clean.  To me its a compliment to an LT-48 for me but its like an LT-48 on steroids.  Its sooner and stronger than an LT-48 and hits like a truck.  I love mine on Medium conditions the most or when the lanes break down. 

LANE CONDITION

Length:38 ft

Volume: medium, second shift

Type (THS, Sport Pattern etc): THS


COMMENTS

Likes: The strong continuous arc was exactly the shape I was looking for out of it…the out of the box coverstock is stronger than expected and I had to tune it with a higher grit and a touch of polish to tame it a little.  This ball drives through the pins great…not as much as some of the recent asymmetric balls I have recently thrown, but it certainly has no issue with dying on the backend and leaving the corner pin. 
The versatility of this ball should make it a favorite in the bag, as the coverstock is tunable and the shape produced gives a combination that will fit most bowling styles and gives the ability to play much of the lane when necessary.  On the traditional house shot (THS) this ball will likely become your benchmark to read the lanes.  Very solid ball for light to medium oil and all skill levels.


Dislikes: had a bit of track wear faster than expected, although it didn't effect the reaction noticeably


PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS

The Legend is back! The Danger Zone is the new arrival in the Vintage line. Same ball motion, same performance with the latest technology. The vintage light bulb core is wrapped with the new PK2016 coverstock. For those who had the chance to throw the original, you’ll recognize the same feeling the original provided.
Mine was a test. I drilled it pin over the finger with a Motion hole. The result is a ball that goes through the front very easily with lot of control on the backend. It complements perfectly my Ridiculous, whose pin down. For now, I tried several surface but the best result was at 4k. It’s about 5-3 left stronger for me than my vintage Rhino Pro Gold.
For the one who wants a glimpse of the greatness that was the original Danger Zone, the new version will provide you the same feeling the original has given to you.

Laid my Vintage Danger Zone out 60x4.5"x45 (pin over ring) with no hole with the intent of it being an alternative to my pin up Diva as a benchmark ball for fresh medium lanes.
Out of the box, skidded through the front with ease in league and revved up like a true Zone ball in the midlane, yet never seemed to traction down the lane the way I expected.  My misses right rolled up and struck, but misses in were almost always 2pins.  Part of it was my eyes deceiving me in seeing the ball rev up with such a heavy roll that I expected to see more hook, thus I was standing too deep.  I also think that the ball was just a little too shiny given the volume on which I was bowling.  Realistically, this is about what my Danger Zone that I loved so much in juniors would have done on today's oils.

The next week I removed the polish with 4k and got closer to the track for one of my best looks on fresh all season.  The Danger Zone rolled up really early and was very smooth off the back end, allowing me to stay further right than usual, yet remain aggressive with my hand but not worrying about over reaction.  The angles were calm, yet effective and I had lots of room without having to cross many boards.

The best look that I have had yet with my Danger Zone was after sanding it down to 1k last weekend for a tournament on 35' 32ml 2.1-1 and had 258-265 games 2-3 staying right.  The early roll plus the soft move off the backend was perfect for reading the help in the heads, yet limiting my move off the backend for great carry that shorter, flatter pattern.

In terms of overall hook, the Danger Zone hooks a couple boards less than my pin up Original Diva (still and forever my benchmark) all due to movement on the backend.  In terms of shape, the Danger Zone is closest to my pin in ring Hooligan Taunt, but the lower rg core and solid cover allow the Zone to handle a little more oil.  The Zone fills a nice gap in my bag for medium/shorter patterns where I want to stay closer to the track with safer angles off the friction.

As a brand, Brunswick has changed their shapes from the early/rolly Zone type shape to being much cleaner through the fronts and stronger off the back and I appreciate that Brunswick has gone back to their roots in terms of reaction with this ball.  Bowlers with lower tracks or those who prefer to play the track will love this ball, but it will also be a nice option for higher rev players to straighten out their angles, particularly on shorter patterns. 

My name is Doug Cutler and I am a DV8 Regional Staffer.  I am left handed and my ball speed is between 15-17 mph. I remember how I drilled the my original Danger Zone and I drilled the New Danger the same.  I had the pin just above my ring finger and the CG kick out just a little to the left.  I had a 2-3" pin. The surface I took the original surface and just took a 4000 pad and lightly took the shine off. The Danger Zone is all that it is said to be. I was fortunate enough to throw the Original Danger Zone back in mid 90s. It was one of my favorite ball and I had 2 of them.Today's version with the tweaked PowerKoil 18 coverstock gave me the length I saw in the Original with a stronger arc motion on the back.
I have the Vintage Danger Zone about 5 boards stronger than my Diva XOXO and 3 more than my DV8 Vandal. The DV8 Vandal was my Benchmark Ball until now. The Vintage DangerZone is my new Benchmark Ball now. It's cleaner in the front and stronger arc on the back that my Vandal.
This is a ball that will let you close your angles without losing any reaction . The Danger Zone is a great ball for lower ball speed players but higher ball speed player might want a little surface on the ball. The Danger Zone is very controllable and predictable, and that is what I love to see.
I highly recommend the Vintage Danger Zone to anyone that is looking for that special Benchmark ball to add in their bag when the pattern tends to break down. So get to your local pro shop and get your Danger Zone Today. You will not be disappointed. #brunswickbowling #vintagedangerzone

Doug Cutler
DV8 Regional Staffer
PBA Regional Champion

Brunswick Danger Zone

     I waited to drill a Danger Zone until I got to see them in person. Well, after selling out of them, more than once, and getting beat down in brackets by everyone using it... I decided to drill one up. I drilled mine 40/5/35 to leave me enough side weight to tweak the layout with a balance hole (didn't need to). Hats off to Brunswick on this Vintage line release. They nailed this one! Clean through the fronts with ample midlane and continuous down lane motion. This ball is a house shot killer. I've been able to play multiple angles on the different house patterns I see. It's always the first ball out of my bag and, on most nights, the only ball that comes out to play. If you had one 20 years ago, you need to drill one of these, it's that good. If you were too young, or just didn't have one in your bag 20 years ago... GET ONE! Seriously, you don't want to miss this one.

I drilled mine 75 x 4 1/2 x 35, putting the pin above the fingers.
I wanted my drilling to match the characteristics of this ball.  The great job Brunswick did was improve the successful PowerKoil 18 coverstock and combined it with a bulb shape low RG core.  I think consumers will be surprised at the high performance level of this vintage ball.  The Danger Zone easily clears the fronts, and when it enters the end of the oil pattern uses its stored energy to provide a strong continuous ball motion through the pins.  Brunswick has been killing it with the release of the Vintage line and this might be the best performing ball of all them.

Troy Schaefer
Brunswick Regional Staff Player
#bowlwithbruns #teamBrunswick