See my profile for specs
Ball drilled 4x4 under ring finger

This ball has a solid version of the original Command Zone cover, but a low RG core.  I  had a few good games and series with it, but found that it was pretty condition sensitive for me.  As medium speed (15 mph) stroker with decent hit, I had hoped the low RG would let me use it on medium to slightly oily.  Since the cover was blended to help it go longer down the lane than the original Danger Zone/Powerkoil 18 cover, I was kind of caught in between.  On fresh shots with strong backends, it would bite a bit early and lose energy and the original/higher RG CZ was better.  On fresh shots with medium backends, it would hit weak polished, but slightly dulled it worked great.  On fresh oil with no backends, it would do nothing and I would switch to particles.  I would say this ball is better for a higher speed cranker, who finds that original CZ too over under or long.  For medium to lower speed players, it is too strong on the dry due to the low RG, and too weak on oily conditions due to the tweaked coverstock, and I would say the original CZ with an adjusted cover would cover a broader range of conditions either side of medium.

The CZ Arc has been the first ball out of my bag for three years and is going into its fourth season.  I have reconditioned it three times including using the Reactivator process once.  The 15 lb. ball is drilled label leverage with a 4" Pin to PAP and the CG in the center of the grip.  Please see my profile for my specs and other equipment.

The CZ Arc utilizes the N'Control coverstock and a mushroom core.  The coverstock is the same as the Monster ScreamR and Monster Frenzy except that it is a solid version.  The core is similar to the Frenzy and SmashR.  Although Brunswick now refers to the N'Control as its skid/flip coverstock, the Arc is not a skid/flip ball.  The Arc was designed to provide improved midlane read over the Command Zone, while providing a strong arc motion to the pocket when hitting the dry.

Strengths -
The result is a "Control Ball" that allows the bowler to get the ball to the breakpoint easily and consistently.  The coverstock is clean through the heads, while the core and solid coverstock rev the ball in the midlane waiting for the dry to start the strong arc to the pocket.  This is an excellent ball for medium to medium heavy fresh conditions and medium to medium heavy spotty heads.  It is an excellent ball to help in identifying the lane conditions, line and equipment needed to be successful.  But unlike many control balls provides better entry angle. The Arc provides the bowler area to both the outside and inside.  The ball has excellent recovery, even if thrown to far outside (although the HIT will be weaker).  There have been times I could not believe how far this ball recovered when I missed outside.  Due to its clean nature upfront, the ball will skid and provide area inside the target as well.  This provides the bowler "area" on the lane and still hit the pocket.

Weaknesses -
There are two significant weaknesses:  carrydown and "HIT".  If there is any carrydown near the breakpoint the ball is inconsistent in its move towards the pocket.  HIT is negatively impacted by burning up too early.  This is a ball that tends to leave corner pins and will not send many messengers hunting.  I don't think it is a coincidence that both Monster Series balls utilizing this coverstock were pearlized versions of the N'Control coverstock which will conserve energy better than the solid version resulting in better HIT.  To conserve energy better, I keep my CZ Arc polished with Track's Clean N Polish which improves the HIT to acceptable (but not excellent).  Even without the polish, the ball does not handle carrydown well, so when carrydown is present, it is time to switch to either a light particle or to a PowerKoil 18 ball which rev and turn earlier than the Arc.

Summary -
Overall, the CZ Arc is an excellent ball rating a 9 out of 10.  The key strengths are clean through the heads, midlane read and strong arc motion with good entry angle while providing the The loss of one point is due to its below average "HIT".  Great ball now discountinued, but worth finding.

I hope this review helps you.


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Mike D

This is my favorate ball.  I bought it used from an ebay seller and I got it plugged and stacked it up.  This ball is unbelievable.  It is great no matter what condition you are faced with, I bowled a 279 with it.  Only it didn't count for nothin cause I was just practicing.  
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NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY
<p>
NOTHIN HITS LIKE A ZONE

The flagship ball in my Brunswick arsenal is the Command Zone Arc.  Easy revving, extremely versatile, and deceptively strong define this monster.

Player Profile
Right handed tweener
17mph, 300rpms
PAP 4 3/4 right, 1/8 up

Center Profile
Many different houses, lane patterns, sport and PBA Patterns D & E1

Ball Specs
3 1/2 inch pin
3.3 oz topweight
4 x 4 drill with weighthole 6 inches away from center of grip
Factory Finish

Pro's
-Gives me a reliable strong arcing movement on virtually any condition
-I haven't found a condition yet(besides dry) where I can't play any part of the lane with it
-Finishes well from many different angles, which alot of balls cannot do
-Low R.G. gives pretty good length
-Even though it is very strong out of the dry(much stronger than Brunswick indicates) it is readable and controlable
-Flush shots leave very few corner pins
-Excellent ball on flat conditions, sport conditions, and PBA PAtterns D & E
-Great for players with higher speed and/or weaker revs

Con's
-Not the greatest ball to blend wet/dry patterns with in the box finish
-Doesn't seem to be at home on THS(doesn't like to be swung from oil to dry, it'll overreact with this drilling)
-Doesn't adapt well to speed changes(Speed must be firm and consistant with this ball, but for the experienced player it shouldn't be a problem)

Other Notes
I've had this ball for quite sometime, I have no idea why I haven't posted a review on one of my favorite balls in my lineup.  I recently brought it out of the closet to shoot 298 with it in league(got a little too happy on the last shot and boomed it for a 2-4 leave).  This ball reminds me how much I like the NControl coverstock from Brunswick.  It seems to combine the best of both worlds with Powerkoil 17 and Powerkoil 18.  You get the distance through the heads of Powerkoil 17, but the hard drive at the breakpoint(or out of the dry boards) with Powerkoil 18.  So basically, this coverstock is stronger than Powerkoil 17, but more forgiving and less over/under than Powerkoil 18, allowing you to blend the lane a little better while giving you more distance than PK18.  They had a gem with this ball, proven powerful core and this coverstock were overlooked by alot of bowlers and hated by bowlers who didn't have alot of hand.  

This ball does exactly what its advertised to do.....ARC.  Don't expect skid snap or a drastic angle out of this.  This is a sport and flat shot killer, a must have for any tournament bowler.  I love the fact that the Monster Frenzy is basically a pearlized version of this ball, I may have to seek out and find one.  After about 5-6 years after its release, the Command Zone Arc is still a dominant ball on many of today's conditions.

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-DJ Marshall
You're not Bowling if you're not using "B"runswick
Scratchbowling.com