Hoosier's 'ugly old ball' gives her top spot in Division 4 Singles at USBC Women's Championships

5/19/2006



By Bob Sagan USBC Communications

RENO. Nev. - Barbara Dynes bowls with a ball that some might consider old and ugly. But in this case, beauty is indeed in the eyes of the beholder, since it helped propel her into first place in Division 4 Singles at the 2006 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships presented by the Eldorado, Silver Legacy and Circus Circus.

The 61-year-old grandmother of six from New Castle, Ind., shot a 593 series (229, 206 and 158) with a ball of dubious age and lineage, and easily outdistanced previous Division 4 leader Rose Postle (554) of Rice Lake, Wis.

"I bought the ball off the lanes for $10 in 1970 at the Rose Bowl in New Castle," Dynes said, laughing. "I lied to the owner of the place that it was my birthday and that I really loved the ball, so he sold it to me. It's the only ball I own."

No one could describe Dynes as a serious bowler, nor would they dare follow her formula for success. She does bowl league once a week in winter, still at the aforementioned Rose Bowl. Her average is 124 and she's "never won anything." She can't remember her previous high game, though she guessed it probably wasn't 200. Her previous high series is equally a mystery.

What's more, two of her Jolly Five teammates, Vickie Graham and Sue McAtee, had to "twist my arm" for her to make the trip to Reno. On top of all that, her nicked and otherwise beat-up beauty of a bowling ball now has five holes drilled in it.

"I've got arthritis in my hands," Dynes said. "A few years ago, a woman I was bowling with let me try her ball. She had arthritis, too, and her ball had five holes. It felt good, so I had my ball re-drilled and that's how I bowl today."

As if to add insult to injury for all those who might take the sport more seriously, Dynes confessed, "I had to wash the ball off before I brought it to Reno. It was lying around in the basement getting moldy."

Kegel is the official lane maintenance supplier for the USBC. For more information on the USBC Women's Championships, visit www.usbcwomenschampionships.com.